bh.houseatreides-第87部分

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　Leto　put　his　hands　on　his　hips。　〃I　may　be　young；　but　I'm　not　blind。　Consider　this；　members　of　the　Landsraad；　with　your　shifting　alliances　and　false　loyalties　　what　pledge　can　you　offer　one　another　if　your　promises　blow　away　like　dust？〃　He　then　repeated　the　words　his　father　had　greeted　him　with　when　he'd　stepped　off　the　rescue　ship　from　Ix。　〃House　Atreides　values　loyalty　and　honor　far　above　politics。〃
　He　raised　a　hand；　and　his　voice　took　on　a　sweeping；　manding　resonance。　〃I　admonish　each　of　you　to　remember　House　Vernius。　It　can　happen　to　you；　and　it　will　if　you　are　not　careful。　Where　can　you　place　your　trust　if　each　House　turns　upon　the　other　at　the　slightest　opportunity？〃　He　saw　his　words　strike　home　to　some　of　the　representatives；　but　he　knew　in　his　heart　that　when　he　called　for　a　vote　to　advocate　removal　of　the　blood　price　on　House　Vernius；　few　would　stand　in　his　support。
　Leto　took　a　long　breath。　He　turned；　pretending　to　be　finished；　but　called　back　over　his　shoulder。　〃Perhaps　you　would　all　be　better　advised　to　think　about　your　own　situations。　Ask　yourselves　this：　Whom　can　you　really　trust？〃
　He　stalked　toward　the　arched　doorway　of　the　Landsraad　Council　chamber。　There　was　no　applause。。。no　laughter　either。　Only　shocked　silence；　and　he　suspected　he　had　gotten　through　to　some　of　them。　Or　perhaps　he　was　just　being　optimistic。　Duke　Leto　Atreides　had　much　to　learn　about　statecraft　　as　no　doubt　Hawat　would　tell　him　on　the　trip　home　　but　he　vowed　not　to　bee　like　the　lip…service　importers　in　that　chamber。　For　all　of　his　days；　for　as　long　as　he　could　draw　breath；　Leto　would　remain　reliable　and　faithful　and　true。　Eventually　the　others　would　see　that　in　him。。。perhaps　even　his　enemies　would。
　Thufir　Hawat　joined　him　at　the　colonnaded　portals；　and　they　both　passed　out　of　the　enormous　Hall　of　Oratory　as　the　Landsraad　continued　its　business　without　them。
　History　demonstrates　that　the　advancement　of　technology　is　not　a　steady　upward　curve。　There　are　flat　periods；　upward　spurts；　and　even　reversals。
　…Technology　of　the　Imperium；　532nd　Edition
　While　two　shadowy　figures　watched；　a　bland…faced　Dr。　Yungar　passed　a　Suk　scanner　over　the　old　man；　who　lay　ashen…faced　on　the　bed　as　if　drowning　in　voluminous　coverings；　embroidered　sheets；　and　diaphanous　netting。　The　diagnostic　instrument　hummed。
　He　won't　be　needing　his　concubines　ever　again；　Shaddam　thought。
　〃The　Emperor　is　dead；〃　Yungar　announced；　tossing　his　long　iron…gray　ponytail　over　his　shoulder。
　〃Ah；　yes。　At　least　now　he's　at　peace；〃　Shaddam　said　in　a　low；　husky　voice；　though　a　superstitious　chill　ran　down　his　spine。　Had　Elrood　known；　at　the　very　end；　who　had　been　responsible　for　his　demise？　Just　before　death；　the　ancient　man's　reptilian　eyes　had　focused　on　his　son。　With　a　twisting　in　his　gut；　the　Crown　Prince　remembered　the　terrible　day　when　the　Emperor　had　discovered　Shaddam's　plicity　in　the　murder　of　his　elder　son　Fafnir。。。and　how　the　old　man　had　chortled　upon　discovering　that　his　younger　child　had　been　slipping　contraceptives　into　the　food　of　his　own　mother；　Habla；　so　she　couldn't　conceive　another　son　and　rival　to　him。
　Had　Elrood　suspected　this？　Had　he　cursed　his　own　son　and　heir　with　his　dying　thoughts？
　Well；　it　was　certainly　too　late　to　change　his　mind　now。　The　ancient　ruler　was　dead；　at　last；　and　Shaddam　had　been　the　cause　of　it。　No；　not　him。　Fenring。　Let　him　be　the　scapegoat；　if　necessary。　A　Crown　Prince　could　never　admit　such　guilt。
　Soon　he　would　no　longer　be　Crown　Prince　　he　would　be　Emperor；　at　last。　Padishah　Emperor　of　the　Known　Universe。　It　was　imperative；　though；　that　he　not　show　his　excitement　or　triumph。　He　would　wait　until　after　the　formal　coronation。
　〃Not　that　this　is　unexpected；〃　Hasimir　Fenring　said　at　his　side；　his　large　head　bowed　low；　weak　chin　tucked　against　his　throat。　〃The　poor　man　has　been　degenerating　for　some　time；　ah…mm…m…m…m。〃
　The　Suk　doctor　folded　his　scanning　instrument　shut　and　slipped　it　into　the　pocket　of　his　tunic。　Everyone　else　had　been　ordered　out　of　the　room：　the　concubines；　the　guards；　even　Chamberlain　Hesban。
　〃Something　odd　about　this　case；　though；〃　Yungar　said。　〃For　days　now　I've　had　a　feeling　of　unease。。。something　more　here　than　an　old　man　dying　of　natural　causes。　We　must　be　exceedingly　cautious　with　our　analysis；　since　it　is　the　Emperor　〃
　〃Was　the　Emperor；〃　Shaddam　said；　too　quickly。　Fenring　made　a　subtle　warning　gesture　to　get　his　attention。
　〃My　point　exactly。〃　The　Suk　doctor　brushed　a　hand　across　the　black…diamond　tattoo　on　his　forehead。　Shaddam　wondered　if　he　was　just　distressed　that　he　would　no　longer　receive　extravagant　fees　for　continuing　treatment。
　〃My　good　Doctor；　Emperor　Elrood　was　ancient　and　under　a　great　deal　of　stress。〃　In　an　odd　benediction；　Fenring　bent　down　and　placed　his　fingertips　on　the　old　man's　cold　brow；　which　reminded　Shaddam　of　a　parchment…covered　rock。　〃We　who　were　closest　to　him　saw　visible　changes　in　his　health　and　mental　capacity　in；　say；　the　past　two　years。　It　would　be　best　if　you　do　not　voice　innuendos　and　unfounded　suspicions　that　could　only　damage　the　stability　of　the　Imperium；　especially　in　this　difficult　time；　hm…m…m…m？　Padishah　Emperor　Elrood　IX　was　more　than　a　hundred　and　fifty　years　old；　with　one　of　the　longest　reigns　in　the　history　of　the　Corrinos。　Let　us　leave　it　at　that。〃
　Shaddam　cleared　his　throat。　〃What　else　could　it　be；　Doctor？　The　security　around　my　father　is　impenetrable；　guards　and　poison…snoopers　everywhere。　No　one　could　possibly　have　harmed　him。〃
　Yungar　looked　uneasily　past　the　Crown　Prince　to　the　ferretlike　man　behind　him。　〃Identity；　motive；　and　opportunity。　Those　are　the　questions；　and　though　I'm　not　a　police　investigator；　I'm　certain　a　Mentat　could　provide　answers　to　all　three。　I　will　pile　my　data　and　provide　it　to　a　review　board。　It　is　strictly　a　formality；　but　it　must　be　done。〃
　〃Who　would　do　such　a　thing　to　my　father？〃　Shaddam　demanded；　stepping　closer。　The　doctor's　abruptness　made　him　stiffen；　but　this　Suk　had　already　demonstrated　his　pompous　nature。　The　dead　man　on　the　bed　seemed　to　be　watching　them；　his　clawed　fingers　pointing　in　accusation。
　〃More　evidence　needs　to　be　gathered　first；　Sire。〃
　〃Evidence？　Of　what　sort？〃　He　calmed　himself。　Sweat　broke　out　on　his　brow；　and　he　ran　a　hand　across　his　carefully　styled　reddish　hair。　Perhaps　he　was　carrying　the　act　too　far。
　Fenring　seemed　entirely　calm　and　moved　to　the　other　side　of　the　bed；　near　where　the　remains　of　the　Emperor's　last　glass　of　spice　beer　sat。
　In　a　whisper　that　only　Shaddam　could　hear；　the　doctor　said；　〃It　is　my　duty　as　a　loyal　Suk　to　warn　you；　Prince　Shaddam；　that　you；　too；　may　be　in　extreme　danger。　Certain　forces。。。according　to　reports　I've　seen。。。do　not　want　House　Corrino　to　remain　in　power。〃
　〃Since　when　does　the　Suk　School　obtain　reports　about　Imperial　alliances　and　intrigues？〃　Fenring　asked；　slithering　closer。　He　had　not　heard　the　specific　words；　but　years　ago　he　had　taught　himself　the　valuable　skill　of　reading　lips。　It　helped　greatly　with　his　spying　activities。　He　had　tried　to　teach　Shaddam　the　trick；　but　the　Crown　Prince　had　not　caught　the　knack　of　it　yet。
　〃We　have　our　sources；〃　the　Suk　doctor　said。　〃Regrettably；　such　connections　are　necessary　even　for　a　school　such　as　ours　dedicated　to　healing。〃　Recalling　the　doctor's　insistence　on　full　payment　before　even　looking　at　a　patient；　Shaddam　frowned　at　this　irony。　〃We　live　in　perilous　times。〃
　〃Do　you　suspect　anyone　in　particular？〃　Shaddam　husked；　following　the　direction　of　the　doctor's　gaze。　Perhaps　they　could　set　up　Chamberlain　Hesban　to　take　the　fall　　plant　evidence；　start　rumors。
　〃In　your　position　it　would　be　safest　to　suspect　everyone；　Sire。　I　would　like　to　conduct　an　autopsy　on　Emperor　Elrood。　Working　with　a　partner　from　the　Inner　School；　we　can　scanalyze　every　organ；　every　tissue；　every　cell。。。just　to　be　safe。〃
　Shaddam　frowned。　〃It　seems　a　terrible　disrespect　to　my　father；　slicing　him　up　into　little　pieces。　He　had　quite　a。。。a　horror　of　surgery。　Ah；　yes。　Better　to　let　him　lie　in　peace。　We　must　prepare　immediately　for　the　funeral　of　state。　And　my　coronation　ceremony。〃
　〃On　the　contrary；〃　Yungar　persisted；　〃we　show　respect　for　Elrood's　memory　by　trying　to　determine　what　happened　to　him。　Perhaps　something　was　implanted　in　his　body　some　time　ago；　when　his　behavior　began　to　change　　something　that　caused　his　slow　death。　A　Suk　doctor　could　find　the　subtlest　traces；　even　after　two　years。〃
　〃The　very　thought　of　an　autopsy　sickens　me；〃　Shaddam　said。　〃I　am　the　heir　to　the　Imperium；　and　I　forbid　it。〃　He　looked　down　at　the　dead　old　man；　and　his　arms　broke　out　in　gooseflesh；　as　if　the　ancient　creature's　ghost　hovered　over　his　head。　He　glanced　warily　at　shadows　in　the　corners　and　in　the　cold　fireplace。
　He　had　expected　to　experience　elation　when　his　father　finally　passed　the　Golden　Lion　Throne　to　him　　but　now；　knowing　that　his　own　chaumurky　had　been　the　cause　of　the　Emperor's　death；　Shaddam's　skin　crawled。
　〃According　to　Imperial　Law；　I　could　formally　insist　upon　it；　Sire；〃　the　Suk　doctor　explained；　his　voice　still　low　and　calm。　〃And　for　your　own　good　I　must　do　exactly　that。　I　see　that　you　are　inexperienced　in　the　ways　of　intrigue；　since　you　have　grown　up　protected　in　the　Court。　You　undoubtedly　think　I'm　being　foolish；　but　I　assure　you　I　am　not　wrong　about　this。　I　feel　it　in　the　pit　of　my　stomach。〃
　〃Perhaps　the　good　doctor　is　right；〃　Fenring　said。
　〃How　can　you。。。〃　Seeing　a　peculiar　gleam　in　Fenring's　eyes；　Shaddam　cut　himself　short；　then　glanced　at　the　doctor　and　said　to　him；　〃I　must　confer　with　my　advisor。〃
　〃Of　course。〃　Yungar　watched　them　move　off　to　one　side；　by　the　door。
　〃Are　you　mad？〃　Shaddam　whispered；　when　he　and　Fenring　were　a　distance　away。
　〃Go　along　with　him　for　the　moment。　Then　through　a。。。〃　Fenring　smiled；　selected　just　the　right　word。　〃。。。misunderstanding。。。old　Elrood　will　be　cremated　before　they　can　cut　him　open。〃
　〃I　see；〃　Shaddam　said；　with　sudden　understanding。　Then；　to　Yungar；　he　said；　〃Send　for　your　associate　and　plete　your　autopsy。　My　father　will　be　moved　to　the　infirmary；　where　you　may　plete　the　procedure。〃
　〃A　day　will　be　needed　to　bring　in　the　other　doctor；〃　the　Suk　said。　〃You　can　arrange　to　keep　the　body　chilled？〃
　Shaddam　smiled　politely。　〃It　shall　be　done。〃
　〃By　your　le