bh.houseatreides-第94部分

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moke　spewed　from　exhaust　ports　and　lifeblood　lubricants　sizzled　out　of　severed　transport　lines。　The　craft　spun；　whined；　and　lumbered　toward　the　ground。
　The　'thopter　struck　the　side　of　the　cliff；　split　open；　and　continued　to　scrape　down　the　rock　wall。　In　vain；　the　articulated　wings　kept　beating；　twitching　like　involuntary　muscles；　until　the　craft　smashed　into　the　base　of　the　ridge。
　〃I　know　of　no　sietch　up　here；〃　Frieth　said；　breathless　and　confused。　〃Who　are　these　people？　What　tribe　claims　them？〃
　〃Troops　of　mine；　defending　the　project。〃
　Below；　he　noticed　that　the　Harkonnen　pilot　had　survived　the　crash。　Part　of　the　canopy　popped　open；　and　the　wounded　man　began　to　crawl　out；　holding　one　dangling　arm。　Within　moments　camouflaged　Fremen　troops　boiled　out　of　the　rocks　and　swarmed　over　the　wreckage。
　The　pilot　tried　to　duck　back　into　the　dubious　safety　of　his　craft；　but　two　Fremen　pulled　him　out。　A　flash　of　blue…white　crysknife；　then　a　splatter　of　crimson；　and　the　pilot　was　dead。　Watermen　　consecrated　body　handlers　　whisked　away　the　corpse　to　where　its　water　could　be　recovered。　Kynes　knew　any　moisture　or　fertilizer　chemicals　derived　from　this　victim　would　be　devoted　to　the　Plaster　Basin　project；　rather　than　to　enriching　any　particular　family　unit。
　〃But　what　could　be　so　important　up　here？〃　Frieth　asked。　〃What　is　it　you　are　doing；　husband？〃
　He　rewarded　her　with　a　sparkling　smile。　〃You　will　see。　I　wanted　you　to　be　our　first　visitor。〃
　Frieth　hurried　back　to　retrieve　their　child　from　his　sheltered　hiding　place。　She　picked　up　the　baby；　checked　him　for　injuries。　Young　Liet　had　not　even　begun　to　cry。　〃He's　a　true　Fremen；〃　she　said　proudly；　holding　him　up　for　Kynes　to　see。
　Below；　organized　teams　began　dismantling　the　ruined　'thopter；　stripping　away　the　metal；　the　engines；　the　stash　of　supplies。　Younger　Fremen　crawled　up　the　dangerous　cliff　face　to　retrieve　the　fallen　lasgun　rifle。
　Kynes　led　his　wife　past　the　remains　of　the　butchered　kulon。　He　gave　a　sad　sigh。　〃We'll　have　meat　at　least　　that's　a　rarity。　And　I　think　there's　good　cause　for　celebration；　once　we　get　to　the　cave。〃
　The　Fremen　worked　furiously　to　scour　away　all　traces　of　the　crash；　dragging　the　heavy　ponents　into　hidden　tunnels；　repairing　scars　in　the　rock；　even　bing　the　sand　on　the　desert　floor。　Though　Kynes　had　been　with　these　people　for　some　time；　their　hardened　efficiency　still　astonished　him。
　Striding　in　the　lead　now；　he　led　Frieth　to　the　low；　shielded　opening　shortly　past　noon。　The　sun　burned　down；　its　line　of　yellow　fire　sharpening　the　jagged　crest　of　the　mountains。　Drifting　out　of　the　cave；　the　smell　of　cool；　rock…moist　air　was　like　a　refreshing　breath。
　Kynes　plucked　out　his　nose　plugs　and　inhaled　deeply；　gesturing　for　his　wife　to　do　the　same；　though　she　seemed　reluctant　to　shuck　her　desert　survival　instincts。　Then　she　grinned　in　amazement　as　she　looked　deep　into　the　shadows。　〃I　smell　water；　my　husband。〃
　He　took　her　arm。　〃e　with　me。　This　is　something　I　want　you　to　see。〃
　As　they　rounded　a　sharp　corner　whose　purpose　was　to　block　light　and　evaporation　from　the　grotto；　Kynes　gestured　magnanimously　to　indicate　the　Eden　he　had　made　in　Plaster　Basin。
　Yellow　glowglobes　hovered　at　the　ceiling。　The　air　was　rich　with　humidity；　redolent　with　the　scents　of　flowers；　shrubs；　trees。　The　sweet　sound　of　running　water　chuckled　from　narrow　grooved　troughs。　In　a　carefully　arranged　appearance　of　randomness；　flower　beds　burst　with　magenta　and　orange　blossoms。
　Irrigation　systems　trickled　droplets　into　algae…packed　tanks；　while　fans　stirred　the　air　to　keep　the　moisture　level　constant。　The　grotto　was　alive　with　flittering　patches　of　color；　butterflies；　moths；　and　bees；　heady　with　the　treasure　of　pollen　and　nectar　around　them。
　Frieth　gasped；　and　for　a　moment　Kynes　saw　through　the　porcelain　mask　of　her　face；　saw　much　more　than　he　had　ever　noticed　before。　〃This　is　paradise；　my　love！〃
　A　hummingbird　hovered　in　front　of　her　with　a　tiny　blur　of　wings；　then　darted　off　again。　In　their　own　euphoria　Fremen　gardeners　moved　about；　tending　the　plants。
　〃One　day　gardens　like　this　will　grow　all　across　Dune；　out　in　the　open　air。　This　is　a　showcase　with　growing　crops　and　plants　and　open　water；　fruit　trees；　decorative　flowers；　green　grasses。　We　have　here　a　symbol　for　all　Fremen；　to　show　them　my　vision。　Seeing　this；　they'll　understand　what　they　can　acplish。〃
　Moisture　ran　down　the　walls　of　the　cavern；　touching　parched　rock　that　had　known　nothing　but　thirst　for　uncounted　eons。　〃Even　I　did　not　truly　prehend；〃　Frieth　said；　〃。　。　。　until　now。〃
　〃Do　you　see　why　all　this　is　worth　fighting　for？　And　dying　for？〃
　Kynes　walked　around；　inhaling　the　scents　of　the　leaves；　sniffing　the　perfume　of　the　flowers。　He　found　a　tree　from　which　dangled　orange　globes　of　ripening　fruit。　He　plucked　one；　large　and　golden。　None　of　the　workers　would　question　his　right　to　the　fresh　produce。
　〃A　portygul；〃　he　said；　〃one　of　the　fruits　I　was　talking　about　back　at　Red　Wall　Sietch。〃　He　gave　it　to　Frieth　as　a　gift；　and　she　held　it　reverently　in　her　tanned　hands　as　the　greatest　treasure　she　had　ever　been　offered。
　Kynes　waved　expansively　at　the　enclosed　grotto。　〃Remember　this　well；　my　wife。　All　the　Fremen　must　see　this。　Dune；　our　Dune；　can　be　like　this　in　only　a　few　centuries。〃
　Even　innocents　carry　within　them　their　own　guilt　in　their　own　way。　No　one　makes　it　through　life　without　paying；　in　one　fashion　or　another。
　…LADY　HELENA　ATREIDES；
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　Immediately　after　hearing　the　announcement　of　the　first　Imperial　coronation　ceremony　in　almost　a　century　and　a　half；　House　Atreides　began　work　on　their　family　preparations。　From　dawn　until　the　fall　of　darkness；　the　servants　in　Castle　Caladan　went　from　wardrobe　to　storeroom；　gathering　the　clothing；　trinkets；　and　gifts　necessary　for　the　formal　journey　to　the　Imperial　Court。
　Meanwhile；　Leto　wandered　through　his　rooms；　trying　to　refine　his　plan　and　decide　the　best　way　to　obtain　a　dispensation　for　Rhombur　and　Kailea。　The　new　Emperor　Shaddam　must　hear　my　plea。
　His　protocol　advisors　had　bickered　for　hours　over　the　proper　colors　of　capes；　armbands；　and　merh…silk　tunics。。。whether　the　jewelry　should　be　gaudy　or　understated；　expensive　imported　Ecazi　stones　or　something　simpler。　Finally；　because　of　his　memorable　times　with　Rhombur；　Leto　insisted　on　wearing　a　small　coral　gem　suspended　in　a　transparent　sphere　filled　with　water。
　Kailea　desperately　wanted　to　go。　Visiting　the　Palace　on　Kaitain；　where　her　mother　had　once　served　the　Emperor；　had　been　a　lifelong　dream　of　hers。　Leto　could　see　the　longing　in　her　green　eyes；　the　hope　on　her　face；　but　still　he　had　no　choice　but　to　forbid　it。　Rhombur　had　to　acpany　the　entourage；　to　make　his　family's　case；　but　if　they　failed；　the　Vernius　heir　could　be　executed　for　having　left　his　sanctuary。　Kailea's　life　would　be　forfeit　as　well。
　If　their　mission　succeeded；　though；　Leto　vowed　to　take　Kailea　to　the　capital　world　himself；　a　glamorous　vacation　that　would　be　all　she　imagined　it　to　be。
　Now；　in　the　quiet　hour　before　dawn；　he　paced　back　and　forth　on　the　wooden　floors　of　his　upper　room；　listening　to　the　old　beams　creak。　It　was　the　forting　sound　of　home。　How　many　times　had　other　Dukes　paced　the　same　floor　pondering　decisions　of　state？　Duke　Paulus　had　undoubtedly　done　so　time　and　again；　troubled　as　he　was　by　uprisings　of　the　primitives　in　the　southern　continent　or　by　requests　from　the　Emperor　to　put　out　brushfire　rebellions　on　outer　worlds。　In　those　times；　Paulus　Atreides　had　first　blooded　his　sword；　and　had　bee　a　rade…in…arms　with　Dominic　Vernius。
　Throughout　his　years　the　Old　Duke　had　served　with　talent　and　finesse；　knowing　when　to　be　hard　and　when　to　be　lenient。　He　had　employed　the　ingredients　of　dedication；　ethics；　and　economic　stability　to　create　a　population　devoutly　loyal　to　and　proud　of　House　Atreides。
　How　could　Leto　ever　hope　to　do　the　same？
　His　voice　filled　the　room。　〃Father；　you　left　large　shoes　for　me　to　fill。〃　He　drew　a　deep　breath；　angrily　forcing　away　his　self…pity。　He　could　do　no　less　than　his　very　best；　for　Caladan　and　for　the　memory　of　the　Old　Duke。
　On　calmer　dawns；　he　and　Rhombur　might　have　gone　down　to　the　practice　courtyard　to　train　with　knives　and　shields　under　the　watchful　eye　of　Thufir　Hawat。　Today；　though；　Leto　had　hoped　to　get　more　rest；　a　hope　that　hadn't　materialized。　He'd　slept　badly；　haunted　by　the　weight　of　decisions　that　seemed　to　make　the　stones　of　the　tall　Castle　grind　together　under　the　burden。　Far　below；　the　sea　crashed　like　gnashing　teeth　　uneasy　water　that　reflected　Leto's　churning　thoughts。
　Wrapping　himself　in　a　robe　lined　with　expensive　imported　whalefur；　he　cinched　the　sash　at　his　waist　and　padded　barefoot　down　the　curving　steps　toward　the　main　hall。　He　smelled　bitter　coffee　brewing　and　the　faint　hint　of　melange　that　would　be　added　to　his　cup。　Leto　smiled；　knowing　the　cook　would　insist　on　the　young　Duke　receiving　an　extra　boost　of　energy。
　He　could　hear　noises　from　the　distant　kitchen；　food…prep　units　being　primed；　breakfast　being　prepared；　old…fashioned　fires　being　stoked。　The　Old　Duke　had　always　preferred　real　crackling　fires　in　some　of　the　rooms；　and　Leto　had　continued　the　tradition。
　When　he　passed　on　bare　feet　through　the　Hall　of　Swords　on　the　way　to　the　banquet　hall；　he　stopped　upon　encountering　an　unexpected　person。
　The　young　stableboy；　Duncan　Idaho；　had　removed　one　of　Paulus's　tall　and　ornately　carved　ceremonial　swords　from　the　rack。　He　held　it；　point　downward；　resting　against　the　flagstoned　floor。　Though　the　long　weapon　was　nearly　as　tall　as　the　ten…year…old；　Duncan　gripped　its　pommel　with　determination。　The　inlaid　rope　pattern　on　the　hilt　gave　him　all　the　leverage　he　needed。
　Duncan　spun　around；　startled　at　being　discovered　here。　Leto's　voice　caught　in　his　throat　in　time　to　squelch　a　chiding　speech。　He　meant　to　demand　what　the　boy　was　doing　here；　unsupervised　and　without　permission。　Then　Leto　saw　Duncan's　wide　eyes　with　the　tracks　of　tears　running　like　salty　tributaries　down　his　face。
　Embarrassed　but　filled　with　pride；　the　young　man　stood　up　straighter。　〃I　am　sorry；　m'Lord　Duke。〃　His　voice　was　full　of　sorrow　and　much　deeper　than　any　child's　had　a　right　to　be。　He　looked　down　at　the　sword　and　then　through　the　arched　columns　into　the　dining