bh.houseatreides-第96部分

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ou'll　be　like　a　killer　ghost。〃
　〃Oh；　yes！〃　Rabban　paused　as　realization　flooded　across　his　face。　〃Me？〃
　Chobyn　closed　an　access　hatch　behind　the　engines。　〃Everything　is　simple　and　functional。　The　ship　will　be　ready　by　tomorrow　when　you　depart　for　the　Padishah　Emperor's　coronation。〃
　〃I　have　verified　it；　my　Baron；〃　de　Vries　said。
　〃Excellent；〃　the　Baron　said。　〃You　have　proven　yourself　most　valuable；　Chobyn。〃
　〃I'm　going　to　pilot　it？〃　Rabban　said　again；　as　if　he　still　couldn't　believe　the　idea。　His　voice　cracked　with　excitement。　Baron　Harkonnen　nodded。　His　nephew；　despite　his　shortings；　was　at　least　an　excellent　pilot　and　an　excellent　shot；　along　with　being　the　Baron's　heir　apparent。
　The　inventor　smiled。　〃I　believe　I　made　the　correct　choice　in　ing　to　you　directly；　Baron。　House　Harkonnen　has　immediately　seen　the　possibilities　of　my　discovery。〃
　〃When　the　new　Emperor　learns　of　this；　he'll　demand　a　no…ship　for　himself；〃　Rabban　pointed　out。　〃He　might　even　send　the　Sardaukar　in　to　take　it　away　from　us。〃
　〃Then　we　must　make　sure　Shaddam　doesn't　find　out。　At　least　not　yet；〃　Piter　de　Vries　replied；　rubbing　his　hands　together。
　〃You　must　be　a　brilliant　man；　Chobyn；〃　the　Baron　said。　〃ing　up　with　all　this。〃
　〃Actually；　I　just　adapted　a　Holtzman　field　to　our　uses。　Centuries　ago　Tio　Holtzman's　mathematics　were　developed　for　shields　and　foldspace　engines。　I　simply　carried　the　principles　several　steps　further。〃
　〃And　now　you　expect　to　bee　wealthy　beyond　your　wildest　dreams？〃　the　Baron　mused。
　〃Deservedly　so；　would　you　not　agree；　Baron？〃　Chobyn　said。　〃Look　what　I've　done　for　you。　If　I'd　stayed　on　Richese　and　gone　through　channels；　I　would　have　had　to　endure　years　of　legalities；　title　searches；　and　patent　investigations；　after　which　my　government　would　have　taken　the　lion's　share　of　profit　derived　from　my　own　invention　　not　to　speak　of　the　imitators　who　would　set　to　work　once　they　got　wind　of　what　I　was　doing。　A　minor　adjustment　here；　another　there；　and　then　someone　else　has　a　different　patent；　one　that　acplishes　essentially　the　same　thing。〃
　〃So　you　kept　it　a　secret　until　you　came　to　us？〃　Rabban　said。　〃No　one　else　knows　of　the　technology？〃
　〃I'd　have　been　foolish　to　tell　anyone　else。　You　have　the　only　no…field　generators　in　the　universe。〃　Chobyn　crossed　his　arms　over　his　stained　jumpsuit。
　〃Perhaps　for　the　time　being；〃　the　Baron　said；　〃but　the　Ixians　were　a　clever　lot；　and　so　are　the　Tleilaxu。　Sooner　or　later　someone　else　will　have　something　like　this；　if　they　don't　already。〃
　Rabban　maneuvered　himself　closer　to　the　unwary　Richesian。
　〃I　see　your　point；　Baron；〃　Chobyn　said；　with　a　shrug。　〃I　am　not　a　greedy　man；　but　I　would　like　to　profit　from　my　own　invention。〃
　〃You　are　a　wise　man；〃　the　Baron　said；　flashing　a　meaningful　glance　at　his　burly　nephew。　〃And　deserve　to　be　paid　in　full。〃
　〃It's　good　to　keep　secrets　about　important　things；〃　Rabban　chimed　in。
　He　stood　directly　behind　the　rotund　inventor；　who　beamed　at　the　praise　and　wiped　his　hands　on　his　pant　legs。
　Rabban　moved　swiftly；　like　a　whiplash；　wrapping　his　muscular　forearm　around　Chobyn's　neck；　then　squeezed　tightly　like　a　vise。　The　inventor　gasped　but　could　make　no　other　sound。　Rabban's　face　reddened　with　the　strain　as　he　pulled　back　with　his　arm　until　he　was　rewarded　with　the　loud　crack　of　a　crushed　spine。
　〃We　must　all　be　more　careful　with　our　secrets；　Chobyn；〃　the　Baron　muttered；　smiling。　〃You　haven't　been　careful　enough。〃
　Like　a　broken　doll；　Chobyn　collapsed　with　only　a　rustle　of　his　clothes　to　the　oil…stained　floor。　Rabban　had　been　so　forceful　that　Chobyn　gurgled　no　death　rattle；　gasped　out　no　final　curses。
　〃Was　that　wise；　my　Baron？〃　de　Vries　asked。　〃Shouldn't　we　have　tested　the　ship　first；　to　make　sure　we　can　reproduce　the　technology？〃
　〃Why？　Don't　you　trust　our　inventor。。。the　late　Chobyn？〃
　〃It　works；〃　Rabban　said。　〃Besides；　you've　had　him　under　eye　surveillance；　and　we　have　the　detailed　plans　and　holorecordings　he　made　during　the　construction　process。〃
　〃I've　already　taken　care　of　the　workers；〃　the　Mentat　said；　nodding　in　agreement。　〃No　chance　for　leaks　there。〃
　Rabban　smiled　greedily。　〃Did　you　save　me　any　of　them？〃
　De　Vries　gave　a　jittering　shrug。　〃Well；　I've　had　my　fun；　but　I'm　not　a　pig。　I　did　leave　a　few　for　you。〃　He　nodded　toward　a　bank　of　solid　doors。　〃Second　room　on　the　right。　Five　of　them　are　in　there　on　gurneys；　drugged。　Enjoy　yourself。〃　The　Mentat　patted　the　beefy　Harkonnen　on　the　shoulder。
　Rabban　took　a　couple　of　steps　toward　the　door；　then　hesitated　and　looked　back　at　his　uncle；　who　had　not　yet　given　permission　for　him　to　leave。　The　Baron　was　studying　de　Vries。
　The　twisted　Mentat　furrowed　his　brow。　〃We　are　the　first　with　a　no…ship；　my　Baron。　With　the　advantage　of　surprise；　no　one　will　ever　suspect　what　it　is　we　intend　to　do。〃
　〃What　I'm　going　to　do；〃　Rabban　said　gruffly。
　De　Vries　used　a　handheld　…unit　to　speak　to　several　sluggish　workers　in　the　lab。　〃Clean　up　this　mess　and　get　the　attack　ship　moved　to　the　family　frigate　before　departure　time　tomorrow。〃
　〃I　want　all　technical　notes　and　records　confiscated　and　sealed；〃　the　Baron　ordered　as　the　Mentat　switched　off　the　municator。
　〃Yes；　my　Baron；〃　de　Vries　said。　〃I'll　see　to　it　personally。〃
　〃You　may　go　now；〃　the　Baron　said　to　his　anxious　nephew。　〃An　hour　or　two　of　relaxation　will　do　you　good。。。it'll　get　your　mind　in　order　for　the　important　work　ahead。〃
　They　demonstrate　subtle；　highly　effective　skills　in　the　aligned　arts　of　observation　and　data　collection。　Information　is　their　stock…in…trade。
　…Imperial　Report　on　the　Bene　Gesserit；　used　for　tutoring　purposes
　This　is　most　impressive；〃　Sister　Margot　Rashino…Zea　said；　as　she　gazed　at　the　imposing　buildings　on　each　side　of　the　enormous　oval　of　the　Imperial…Landsraad　mons。　〃A　spectacle　for　all　the　senses。〃　After　long　years　on　the　cloudy；　bucolic　world　of　Wallach　IX；　her　eyes　now　ached　from　so　many　sights。
　A　refreshing；　fine　mist　rose　from　the　fountain　at　the　center　of　the　mons；　an　extraordinary　artistic　position　that　towered　a　hundred　meters　overhead。　In　the　design　of　a　glittering　nebula　swirl；　the　fountain　was　replete　with　oversize　planets　and　other　celestial　bodies　that　spurted　perfumed　streams　in　myriad　colors。　Tightbeam　spotlights　refracted　from　the　water；　creating　loops　of　rainbows　that　danced　silently　in　the　air。
　〃Ah；　yes；　you　have　never　been　to　Kaitain；　I　see；〃　Crown　Prince　Shaddam　said；　strolling　casually　beside　the　lovely　blonde　Bene　Gesserit。　Sardaukar　guards　hovered　in　the　background；　assuming　they　were　near　enough　to　prevent　any　harm　from　ing　to　the　Imperial　heir。　Margot　suppressed　a　smile；　always　pleased　to　see　how　much　other　people　underestimated　the　Sisterhood。
　〃Oh；　I've　seen　it　before；　Sire。　But　familiarity　does　not　lessen　my　admiration　for　the　magnificent　capital　of　the　Imperium。〃
　Dressed　in　a　new　black　robe　that　rustled　stiffly　as　she　moved；　Margot　was　flanked　by　Shaddam　on　one　side　and　Hasimir　Fenring　on　the　other。　She　did　not　hide　her　long　golden　hair；　her　fresh　face；　or　her　pristine　beauty。　Most　of　the　time；　people　expected　the　Bene　Gesserit　to　be　old　hags　shrouded　in　layers　of　dark　garments。　But　many；　like　Margot　Rashino…Zea；　could　be　stunningly　attractive。　With　a　precise　release　of　her　body's　pheromones　and　carefully　selected　flirtations；　she　could　use　her　sexuality　as　a　weapon。
　But　not　here；　not　yet。　The　Sisterhood　had　other　plans　for　the　Emperor…to…be。
　Margot　was　nearly　Shaddam's　height；　and　much　taller　than　Fenring。　Behind　them；　out　of　hearing　range；　an　entourage　of　three　Reverend　Mothers　followed；　women　who　had　been　investigated　and　cleared　by　Fenring　himself。　The　Crown　Prince　did　not　know　what　these　others　had　to　do　with　this　meeting；　but　Margot　would　convey　the　reason　presently。
　〃You　should　see　these　gardens　at　night；〃　Shaddam　said。　〃The　water　looks　like　a　meteor　shower。〃
　〃Oh；　yes；〃　Margot　said　with　a　faint　smile。　Her　gray…green　eyes　glittered。　〃This　is　my　favorite　place　to　be　in　the　evenings。　I　have　e　twice　since　my　arrival　here。。。in　anticipation　of　this　private　meeting　with　you；　Sire。〃
　Though　he　tried　to　make　casual　conversation　with　this　representative　of　the　powerful　Bene　Gesserit；　Shaddam　felt　ill　at　ease。　Everyone　wanted　something；　everyone　had　a　private　agenda　　and　every　group　thought　it　was　owed　favors　or　held　sufficient　blackmail　material　to　sway　his　opinion。　Fenring　had　already　taken　care　of　several　of　those　parasites；　but　more　would　e。
　His　current　uneasiness　had　less　to　do　with　Sister　Margot　than　with　his　concerns　over　mounting　mistrust　and　turmoil　among　the　Great　Houses。　Even　without　an　autopsy　by　the　Suks；　several　important　members　of　the　Landsraad　had　raised　unfortable　questions　over　the　Emperor's　mysterious；　lingering　death。　Alliances　were　shifting　and　re…forming；　important　taxes　and　tithes　from　several　wealthy　worlds　had　been　delayed；　without　adequate　explanation。
　And　the　Tleilaxu　claimed　to　be　years　away　from　producing　their　promised　synthetic　spice。
　Shaddam　and　his　inner　council　would　discuss　the　brewing　crisis　again　this　morning；　a　continuation　of　meetings　that　had　gone　on　for　a　week。　The　length　of　Elrood's　reign　had　forced　a　stability　（if　not　stagnation）　across　the　Imperium。　No　one　remembered　how　to　implement　an　orderly　transition　of　power。
　All　across　the　worlds；　military　forces　were　being　increased　in　strength　and　placed　on　alert。　Shaddam's　Sardaukar　were　no　exception。　Spies　were　busier　than　ever；　in　all　quarters。　At　times　he　wondered　if　his　reassignment　of　Elrood's　trusted　Chamberlain　Aken　Hesban　might　have　been　a　mistake。　Hesban　now　sat　in　a　tiny；　rock…walled　office　deep　in　the　gullet　of　an　asteroid　mine；　ready　to　be　recalled　if　things　ever　got　too　bad。
　But　it'll　be　a　cold　day　on　Arrakis　before　that　happens。
　Shaddam's　unease　made　him　jumpy；　perhaps　a　little　superstitious。　His　old　vulture　of　a　father　was　dead　　sent　to　the　deepest　hell　described　in　the　Orange　Catholic　Bible　　yet　still　he　felt　the　invisible　blood　on　his　hands。
　Before　departing　the　Palace　to　meet　with　Sister　Margot；　Shaddam　had；　without　much　thought；　grabbed　a　cloak　to　warm　his　shoulders　against　an　imagined　chill　in　the　morning　air。　The　gold　mantle　had　hung　in　the　wardrobe　with　many　other　garments　he　had　never　worn。　Only　now　did　he　remember　that　t