bh.houseatreides-第93部分

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kers　then　set　about　sowing　the　sands　and　spreading　the　precious　seeds；　each　one　a　vital　kernel　of　life；　a　grain　of　Dune's　future。
　From　a　water　merchant；　Kynes　had　learned　of　the　death　of　Emperor　Elrood　IX。　That　had　brought　back　vivid　memories　of　his　audience　on　Kaitain；　when　the　ancient　ruler　had　given　him　his　assignment　to　e　here　and　research　the　ecology　of　Arrakis。　The　Planetologist　owed　his　entire　future　to　that　one　meeting。　He　owed　Elrood　a　great　debt　of　gratitude；　but　he　doubted　the　ancient　Emperor　had　even　remembered　him　in　the　last　year　or　so。
　Upon　hearing　the　startling　news；　Kynes　had　considered　trudging　back　to　Arrakeen；　booking　passage　on　a　Heighliner；　and　attending　the　state　funeral　　but　decided　he　would　have　felt　entirely　out　of　place。　He　was　a　desert　dweller　now；　rugged；　hardened；　and　far　from　the　niceties　of　Imperial　politics。　Besides；　Pardot　Kynes　had　much　more　important　work　to　plete　here。
　In　the　deep　south；　far　from　Harkonnen　watchers；　the　Fremen　had　planted　adaptive　poverty　grasses　along　the　downwind　sides　of　chosen　dunes；　anchoring　them　across　the　prevailing　westerly　winds。　Once　the　slipfaces　were　held　stable；　the　windward　faces　of　the　dunes　grew　higher　and　higher；　trying　to　overe　the　plantings；　but　the　Fremen　moved　their　grasses　to　keep　pace；　eventually　building　gigantic　sifs　that　rose　as　a　sinuous　soft　barrier　for　many　kilometers；　some　of　them　more　than　fifteen　hundred　meters　high。。。。
　As　he　contemplated；　Kynes　heard　his　wife　stirring　under　the　shadefloater。　She　talked　gently　to　the　child　as　young　Liet　suckled　her　breast　through　a　stillsuit　flap。
　Next；　Kynes　pondered　the　second　phase　of　the　ecological　transformation　process；　in　which　he　and　his　team　would　plant　tougher　sword　grasses；　add　processed　chemical　fertilizers；　build　windtraps　and　dew；　precipitators。　Later；　careful　not　to　pressure　the　fragile　new　ecology；　they　would　add　deeper　plantings；　including　amaranth；　pigweed；　scotch　broom；　and　dwarf　tamarisk；　followed　by　familiar　desert　icons　such　as　saguaro　and　barrel　cactus。　The　timetable　scrolled　out　toward　the　horizon；　decades　and　centuries　hence。
　In　Dune's　northern　inhabited　areas；　the　Fremen　had　to　content　themselves　with　small　plantings　and　hidden　growths。　The　vast　population　of　Fremen　knew　the　terraforming　secret　and　labored　with　their　collective　sweat　and　lifeblood。。。and　managed　to　keep　the　monumental　task　and　its　acpanying　dream　hidden　from　prying　eyes。
　Kynes　had　the　patience　to　see　the　metamorphosis　take　place　little　by　little。　The　Fremen　had　intense　faith　in　their　〃Umma。〃　Their　unquestioning　belief　in　one　man's　dreams　and　cooperation　with　his　difficult　demands　warmed　his　heart；　but　Kynes　was　determined　to　give　them　more　than　just　grand　lectures　and　empty　promises。　The　Fremen　deserved　to　see　a　brilliant　glimmer　of　hope　　and　he　had　acplished　just　that。
　Others　knew　about　his　place　in　Plaster　Basin；　of　course；　but　he　wanted　to　be　the　first　to　show　it　to　Frieth　and　their　baby　son　Liet。　〃I'm　taking　you　to　see　something　incredible；〃　Kynes　said　as　his　wife　dismantled　the　minicamp。　〃I　want　to　show　you　exactly　what　Dune　can　be。　Then　you'll　understand　why　I　work　at　it　so　hard。〃
　〃I　already　understand；　husband。〃　Frieth　smiled　knowingly；　then　zip…sealed　her　pack。　〃You　cannot　keep　secrets　from　me。〃　She　looked　at　him　with　a　strange　confidence；　and　Kynes　realized　that　he　did　not　need　to　rationalize　his　dreams　to　the　Fremen。　Any　Fremen。
　Surveying　the　increasing　steepness　and　hazards　of　the　trail；　Frieth　didn't　place　the　child　back　on　the　kulon；　but　chose　to　carry　him　in　her　arms　instead。
　Caught　up　in　his　thoughts　again；　Kynes　began　speaking　aloud　to　Frieth　as　if　she　were　one　of　his　most　dedicated　students。　〃The　thing　the　ecologically　illiterate　don't　realize　about　an　ecosystem　is　that　it's　a　system。〃　He　grabbed　on　to　a　rock　on　the　rough　mountain　wall　and　hauled　himself　forward。　He　didn't　look　back　to　observe　the　kulon's　difficulties　in　negotiating　the　tight　turn。　Its　hooves　stumbled　on　loose　rock；　but　it　followed。
　In　his　mother's　arms；　the　baby　Liet　whimpered；　then　silenced　himself。　Frieth　continued　to　listen　to　her　husband。
　〃A　system　maintains　a　certain　fluid　stability　that　can　be　destroyed　by　a　single　misstep　in　only　one　niche。　Everything　es　crashing　down　with　the　slightest　of　mistakes。　An　ecological　system　flows　from　point　to　point。。。but　if　something　dams　that　flow；　then　the　order　collapses。　An　untrained　person　might　miss　the　impending　collapse　until　it　is　too　late。〃
　Already　the　Fremen　had　introduced　insect　forms；　populations　of　tunneling　creatures　to　aerate　the　soil。　Kit　fox；　kangaroo　mouse；　and　larger　animals　such　as　desert　hares　and　sand　terrapin；　along　with　their　appropriate　predators；　desert　hawk　and　dwarf　owl；　scorpions；　centipedes；　and　trapdoor　spiders。。。even　the　desert　bat　and　biting　wasps　　every　small　point　interconnected　on　the　web　of　life。
　He　couldn't　tell　if　Frieth　understood　what　he　was　saying　or　if　she　was　interested。　In　her　silence；　she　agreed　with　him　wholeheartedly。　Just　once；　though；　he　wished　his　wife　would　debate　with　him。　But　Pardot　Kynes　was　her　husband　and　considered　a　prophet　among　the　Fremen。　Her　own　ingrained　beliefs　were　too　strong　for　her　to　question　anything　he　said。
　Kynes　drew　a　deep　breath　through　his　nose　filters　and　continued　up　the　side　of　the　mountain。　If　they　didn't　reach　the　cave　opening　before　afternoon；　the　sun　would　pass　overhead　and　bake　them。　They'd　have　to　find　shelter　and　wouldn't　get　to　Plaster　Basin　until　the　following　day。　Anxious　to　show　them　his　ecological　treasure　vault；　Kynes　picked　up　the　pace。
　The　rocks　stood　above　them　and　to　their　right　like　the　knobbed　spine　of　a　starving　lizard；　casting　shadows；　muffling　sounds。　The　kulon　plodded　along；　sniffing　the　ground　for　something　to　eat。　Frieth；　who　carried　the　baby　boy　without　plaint；　suddenly　froze。　Her　blue　eyes　grew　wide；　flashing　from　side　to　side。　She　cocked　her　head　to　listen。
　Kynes；　weary　and　hot；　but　with　a　spring　of　eager　anticipation　in　his　step；　went　for　five　meters　before　he　noticed　that　his　wife　had　paused。　〃Husband！〃　she　said　in　a　quick；　harsh　whisper。　Frieth　looked　up　into　the　blue…white　sky；　as　if　trying　to　see　through　the　mountainous　barricade。
　〃What？〃　he　asked；　blinking。
　An　armored　scout　'thopter　thrummed　over　the　ridge　and　rose　high　from　the　other　side　of　the　mountain　wall。　Kynes　stared　up　at　it；　standing　out　in　the　sunlit　open　path。　He　noted　the　sandstorm…scarred　Harkonnen　markings；　the　scratched　paint　of　the　blue…griffin　symbol。
　Frieth　clutched　the　baby　close　and　scrambled　for　cover。　〃Husband！　This　way！〃　She　tucked　their　baby　into　a　sheltered　cranny　of　rock　far　too　small　for　either　of　the　adults；　then　ran　back　to　get　Kynes　before　he'd　managed　to　react。　〃Harkonnens　　we　must　hide！〃　She　grabbed　his　stillsuit　sleeve。
　The　two…man　'thopter　circled　around　close　to　the　cliffside。　Kynes　realized　they　had　been　seen；　he　and　his　family　made　obvious　targets　on　the　exposed　ridge。　Harkonnen　troops　often　made　sport　of　attacking　lone　Fremen；　hunting　them　down　with　impunity。
　Weapons　emerged　from　the　snub　nose　of　the　craft。　The　plaz　side　window　slid　open　so　that　one　grinning　soldier　in　Harkonnen　uniform　could　extend　his　lasgun　rifle。　He　had　room　to　swing　the　stock　and　take　aim。
　As　his　wife　passed　the　desert　ass；　she　gave　a　bloodcurdling　shriek　and　slapped　the　kulon　hard　on　its　hindquarters。　The　startled　animal　brayed　and　bucked　before　galloping　off　up　the　winding　path；　spraying　loose　rocks　with　its　hooves。
　Frieth　turned　the　other　way　and　ran　downhill；　her　face　hard　and　intent。　Kynes　did　his　best　to　follow。　They　stumbled　back　down　the　slope；　dodging　boulders；　seeking　shadows。　Kynes　couldn't　believe　she　had　left　Liet　alone；　until　he　realized　that　his　young　son　was　far　more　protected　than　either　of　them　was。　The　baby　folded　into　the　shadows；　instinctively　falling　silent　and　remaining　still。
　He　felt　clumsy　and　exposed；　but　Frieth　seemed　to　know　what　to　do。　She　had　been　raised　as　a　Fremen　and　understood　how　to　melt　into　the　desert。
　The　'thopter　roared　past　them　and　targeted　on　the　panicked　kulon。　Frieth　must　have　known　the　Harkonnens　would　pick　off　the　animal　first。　The　side　gunner　leaned　out　of　his　open　window；　his　sunburned　face　smiling。　He　fired　a　near…invisible　bolt　of　white…orange　fire　from　the　lasgun；　which　sliced　the　desert　ass　into　slumping　hunks　of　meat；　several　of　which　tumbled　down　the　steep　cliffside；　while　the　head　and　forelegs　lay　steaming　on　the　path。
　Then　lasgun　explosions　began　to　track　down　the　rock　wall；　sparking　chips　of　stone　that　flew　off。　Barely　able　to　keep　their　footing；　Kynes　and　Frieth　ran　pell…mell。　She　threw　him　against　the　wall　behind　the　barest　protrusion　of　lava　rock；　and　the　lasgun　bolts　ricocheted　off；　missing　them　by　centimeters。　Kynes　could　smell　the　fresh　ozone　and　stone　smoke　in　the　air。
　The　'thopter　came　closer。　The　side　gunner　leaned　out；　aiming　his　weapon；　choosing　this　kind　of　sport　rather　than　letting　the　pilot　target　them　with　the　heavier　weaponry　built　into　the　craft　itself。
　At　that　moment　Kynes's　guardian　troops　opened　fire。
　From　hidden　battlements　in　the　camouflaged　cliff　wall　near　the　cave；　Fremen　gunners　shot　the　armored　hull　of　the　'thopter。　Brilliant　lasers　dazzled　the　cockpit　viewport。　One　unseen　defender　used　an　old…fashioned　artillery　launcher；　shoulder…mounted；　to　fire　small　explosives　obtained　from　smugglers。　The　artillery　shell　struck　the　underbelly　of　the　scout　craft；　making　it　lurch　and　rock　in　the　air。
　The　sudden　jolt　knocked　the　precariously　balanced　side　gunner　from　his　seat。　He　tumbled　out　of　the　craft；　screaming；　and　fell　through　the　air　to　shatter　in　an　explosive　spray　of　red　flesh　against　the　rocks　far　below；　his　abandoned　lasgun　rifle　clattered　after　him。
　Frieth　huddled　against　the　cliff　wall；　holding　Kynes　close；　astonished　at　the　unexpected　Fremen　defense。　He　could　tell　she　had　expected　to　fight　the　attackers　single…handedly　　but　he　had　other　protectors　as　well。
　As　the　Harkonnen　'thopter　reeled　in　the　sky；　Fremen　defenders　opened　fire　on　its　vulnerable　engine　ponents。　The　air　smelled　of　fire　and　burned　metal。　The　pilot　desperately　attempted　to　stabilize；　while　black　smoke　spewed　from　exhaust　ports　and　lifeblood　lubricants　sizzled　out　of　severed　transport　lines。　The