fh.godemperorofdune-第12章

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　〃But　your　perspective　must　be　different　from　mine；　Lord。〃　〃In　the　view　of　Infinity；　any　defined　long…term　is　shortterm。〃
　〃Then　are　there　no　rules　at　all；　Lord？〃　Moneo's　voice　conveyed　a　faint　hint　of　hysteria。
　Leto　smiled　to　ease　the　man's　tensions。　〃Perhaps　one。　Short…term　decisions　tend　to　fail　in　the　long…term。〃
　Moneo　shook　his　head　in　frustration。　〃But；　Lord；　your　perspective　is。　。　。〃
　〃Time　runs　out　for　any　finite　observer。　There　are　no　closed　systems。　Even　I　only　stretch　the　finite　matrix。〃
　Moneo　jerked　his　attention　from　Leto's　face　and　peered　into　the　distances　of　the　mausoleum　corridors。　I　will　be　here　someday。　The　Golden　Path　may　continue；　but　I　will　end。　That　was　not　important；　of　course。　Only　the　Golden　Path　which　he　could　sense　in　unbroken　continuity；　only　that　mattered。　He　returned　his　attention　to　Leto；　but　not　to　the　all…blue　eyes。　Was　there　truly　a　predator　lurking　in　that　gross　body？
　〃You　do　not　understand　the　function　of　a　predator；〃　Leto　said。
　The　words　shocked　Moneo　because　they　smacked　of　mind…reading。　He　lifted　his　gaze　to　Leto's　eyes。
　〃You　know　intellectually　that　even　I　will　suffer　a　kind　of　death　someday；〃　Leto　said。　〃But　you　do　not　believe　it。〃
　〃How　can　I　believe　what　I　will　never　see？〃
　Moneo　had　never　felt　more　lonely　and　fearful。　What　was　the　God　Emperor　doing？　I　came　down　here　to　discuss　the　problems　of　the　peregrination。。。and　to　find　out　about　his　intentions　toward　Siona。　Does　he　toy　with　me？
　〃Let　us　talk　about　Siona；〃　Leto　said。
　Mind…reading　again！
　〃When　will　you　test　her；　Lord？〃　The　question　had　been　waiting　in　the　front　of　his　awareness　all　this　time；　but　now　that　he　had　spoken　it；　Moneo　feared　it。
　〃Soon。〃
　〃Forgive　me；　Lord；　but　surely　you　know　how　much　I　fear　for　the　well　being　of　my　only　child。〃
　〃Others　have　survived　the　test；　Moneo。　You　did。〃
　Moneo　gulped；　remembering　how　he　had　been　sensitized　to　the　Golden　Path。
　〃My　mother　prepared　me。　Siona　has　no　mother。〃
　〃She　has　the　Fish　Speakers。　She　has　you。〃
　〃Accidents　happen；　Lord。〃
　Tears　sprang　into　Moneo's　eyes。
　Leto　looked　away　from　him；　thinking：　He　is　torn　by　his　loyalty　to　me　and　his　love　of　Siona。　How　poignant　it　is；　this　concern　for　an　offspring。　Can　he　not　see　that　all　of　humankind　is　my　only　child？
　Returning　his　attention　to　Moneo；　Leto　said；　〃You　are　right　to　observe　that　accidents　happen　even　in　my　universe。　Does　this　teach　you　nothing？〃
　〃Lord；　just　this　once　couldn't　you。　。　。〃
　〃Moneo！　Surely　you　do　not　ask　me　to　delegate　authority　to　a　weak　administrator。〃
　Moneo　recoiled　one　step。　〃No；　Lord。　Of　course　not。〃
　〃Then　trust　Siona's　strength。〃
　Moneo　squared　his　shoulders。　〃I　will　do　what　I　must。〃
　〃Siona　must　be　awakened　to　her　duties　as　an　Atreides。〃
　〃Yes；　of　course；　Lord。〃
　〃Is　that　not　our　mitment；　Moneo？〃
　〃I　do　not　deny　it；　Lord。　When　will　you　introduce　her　to　the　new　Duncan？〃
　〃The　test　es　first。〃
　Moneo　looked　down　at　the　cold　floor　of　the　crypt。
　He　stares　at　the　floor　so　often；　Leto　thought。　What　can　he　possibly　see　there？　Is　it　the　millennial　tracks　of　my　cart？　Ahhh；　no…it　is　into　the　depths　that　he　peers；　into　the　realm　of　treasure　and　mystery　which　he　expects　to　enter　soon。
　Once　more；　Moneo　lifted　his　gaze　to　Leto's　face。　〃I　hope　she　will　like　the　Duncan's　pany；　Lord。〃
　〃Be　assured　of　it。　The　Tleilaxu　have　brought　him　to　me　in　the　undistorted　image。〃
　〃That　is　reassuring；　Lord。〃
　〃No　doubt　you　have　noted　that　his　genotype　is　remarkably　attractive　to　females。〃
　〃That　has　been　my　observation；　Lord。〃
　〃There's　something　about　those　gently　observant　eyes；　those　strong　features　and　that　black…goat　hair　which　positively　melts　the　female　psyche。〃
　〃As　you　say；　Lord。〃
　〃You　know　he's　with　the　Fish　Speakers　right　now？〃
　〃I　was　informed；　Lord。〃
　Leto　smiled。　Of　course　Moneo　was　informed。　〃They　will　bring　him　to　me　soon　for　his　first　view　of　the　God　Emperor。〃
　〃I　have　inspected　the　viewing　room　personally；　Lord。　Everything　is　in　readiness。〃
　〃Sometimes　I　think　you　wish　to　weaken　me；　Moneo。　Leave　some　of　these　details　for　me。〃
　Moneo　tried　to　conceal　a　constriction　of　fear。　He　bowed　and　backed　away。　〃Yes；　Lord；　but　there　are　some　things　which　I　must　do。〃
　Turning；　he　hurried　away。　It　was　not　until　he　was　ascending　in　the　lift　that　Moneo　realized　he　had　left　without　being　dismissed。
　He　must　know　how　tired　I　am。　He　will　forgive。
　Your　Lord　knows　very　well　what　is　in　your　heart。　Your　soul　suffices　this　day　as　a　reckoner　against　you。　I　need　no　witnesses。　You　do　not　listen　to　your　soul；　but　listen　instead　to　your　anger　and　your　rage。
　…Lord　Leto　to　a　Penitent；
　From　the　Oral　History
　The　following　assessment　of　the　state　of　the　Empire　in　the　year　I　of　the　reign　of　the　Lord　Leto　is　taken　from　The　Welbeck　Abridgment。　The　original　is　in　the　Chapter　House　Archives　of　the　Bene　Gesserit　Order。　A　parison　reveals　that　the　deletions　do　not　subtract　from　the　essential　accuracy　of　this　account。
　IN　THE　name　of　our　Sacred　Order　and　its　unbroken　Sisterhood；　this　accounting　has　been　judged　reliable　and　worthy　of　entry　into　the　Chronicles　of　the　Chapter　House。
　Sisters　Chenoeh　and　Tawsuoko　have　returned　safely　from　Arrakis　to　report　confirmation　of　the　long…suspected　execution　of　the　nine　historians　who　disappeared　into　his　Citadel　in　the　year　I　of　Lord　Leto's　reign。　The　Sisters　report　that　the　nine　were　rendered　unconscious；　then　burned　on　pyres　of　their　own　published　works。　This　conforms　exactly　with　the　stories　which　spread　across　the　Empire　at　the　time。　The　accounts　of　that　time　were　judged　to　have　originated　with　Lord　Leto　himself。
　Sisters　Chenoeh　and　Tawsuoko　bring　the　handwritten　records　of　an　eyewitness　account　which　says　that　when　Lord　Leto　was　petitioned　by　other　historians　seeking　word　of　their　fellows；　Lord　Leto　said：
　〃They　were　destroyed　because　they　lied　pretentiously。　Have　no　fear　that　my　wrath　will　fall　upon　you　because　of　your　innocent　mistakes。　I　am　not　overly　fond　of　creating　martyrs。　Martyrs　tend　to　set　dramatic　events　adrift　in　human　affairs。　Drama　is　one　of　the　targets　of　my　predation。　Tremble　only　if　you　build　false　accounts　and　stand　pridefully　upon　them。　Go　now　and　do　not　speak　of　this。〃
　Internal　evidence　of　the　handwritten　account　identifies　its　author　as　Ikonicre；　Lord　Leto's　majordomo　in　the　year　。　Attention　is　called　to　Lord　Leto's　use　of　the　word　predation。　This　is　highly　suggestive　in　view　of　theories　advanced　by　Reverend　Mother　Syaksa　that　the　God　Emperor　views　himself　as　a　predator　in　the　natural　sense。
　Sister　Chenoeh　was　invited　to　acpany　the　Fish　Speakers　in　an　entourage　which　acpanied　one　of　Lord　Leto's　infrequent　peregrinations。　At　one　point；　she　was　invited　to　trot　beside　the　Royal　Cart　and　converse　with　the　Lord　Leto　himself。　She　reports　the　exchange　as　follows：
　The　Lord　Leto　said：　〃Here　on　the　Royal　Road；　I　sometimes　feel　that　I　stand　on　battlements　protecting　myself　against　invaders。〃
　Sister　Chenoeh　said：　〃No　one　attacks　you　here；　Lord。〃
　The　Lord　Leto　said：　〃You　Bene　Gesserit　assail　me　on　all　sides。　Even　now；　you　seek　to　suborn　my　Fish　Speakers。〃
　Sister　Chenoeh　says　that　she　steeled　herself　for　death；　but　the　God　Emperor　merely　stopped　his　cart　and　looked　across　her　at　his　entourage。　She　says　the　others　stopped　and　waited　on　the　road　in　well…trained　passivity；　all　of　them　at　a　respectful　distance。The　Lord　Leto　said；　〃There　is　my　little　multitude　and　they　tell　me　everything。　Do　not　deny　my　accusation。〃
　Sister　Chenoeh　said；　〃I　do　not　deny　it。〃
　The　Lord　Leto　looked　at　her　then　and　said；　〃Have　no　fear　for　your　person。　It　is　my　wish　that　you　report　my　words　in　your　Chapter　House。〃
　Sister　Chenoeh　says　she　could　see　then　that　the　Lord　Leto　knew　all　about　her；　about　her　mission；　her　special　training　as　an　oral　recorder；　everything。　〃He　was　like　a　Reverend　Mother；〃　she　said。　〃I　could　hide　nothing　from　him。〃
　The　Lord　Leto　then　manded　her；　〃Look　toward　my　Festival　City　and　tell　me　what　you　see。〃
　Sister　Chenoeh　looked　toward　Onn　and　said；　〃I　see　the　City　in　the　distance。　It　is　beautiful　in　this　morning　light。　There　is　your　forest　on　the　right。　It　has　so　many　greens　in　it　I　could　spend　all　day　describing　them。　On　the　left　and　all　around　the　City　there　are　the　houses　and　the　gardens　of　your　servitors。　Some　of　them　look　very　rich　and　some　look　very　poor。〃
　The　Lord　Leto　said；　〃We　have　cluttered　this　landscape！　Trees　are　a　clutter。　Houses；　gardens。。。You　cannot　exult　at　new　mysteries　in　such　a　landscape。〃
　Sister　Chenoeh；　emboldened　by　Lord　Leto's　assurances；　asked；　〃Does　the　Lord　truly　want　mysteries？〃
　The　Lord　Leto　said；　〃There　is　no　outward　spiritual　freedom　in　such　a　landscape。　Do　you　not　see　it？　You　have　no　open　universe　here　with　which　to　share。　Everything　is　closures…doors；　latches；　locks！〃
　Sister　Chenoeh　asked；　〃Has　mankind　no　longer　any　need　for　privacy　and　protection？〃
　The　Lord　Leto　said；　〃When　you　return；　tell　your　Sisters　that　I　will　restore　the　outward　view。　Such　a　landscape　as　this　one　turns　you　inward　in　search　for　whatever　freedom　your　spirits　can　find　within。　Most　humans　are　not　strong　enough　to　find　freedom　within。〃
　Sister　Chenoeh　said；　〃I　will　report　your　words　accurately；　Lord。　〃
　The　Lord　Leto　said；　〃See　that　you　do。　Tell　your　Sisters　also　that　the　Bene　Gesserit　of　all　people　should　know　the　dangers　of　breeding　for　a　particular　characteristic；　of　seeking　a　defined　genetic　goal。〃
　Sister　Chenoeh　says　this　was　an　obvious　reference　to　the　Lord　Leto's　father；　Paul　Atreides。　Let　it　be　noted　that　our　breeding　program　achieved　the　Kwisatz　Haderach　one　generation　early。　In　being　Muad'Dib；　the　leader　of　the　Fremen；　Paul　Atreides　escaped　from　our　control。　There　is　no　doubt　that　he　was　a　male　with　the　powers　of　a　Reverend　Mother　and　other　powers　for　which　humankind　still　is　paying　a　heavy　price。　As　the　Lord　Leto　said：
　〃You　got　the　unexpected。　You　got　me；　the　wild　card。　And　I　have　achieved　Siona。〃
　The　Lord　Leto　refused　to　elaborate　on　this　reference　to　the　daughter　of　his　majordomo；　Moneo。　The　matter　is　being　investigated。
　In　other　matters　of　concern　to　the　Chapter　House；　our　investigators　have　supplied　information　on：
　THE　FISH　SPEAKERS
　The　Lord　Leto's　female　legions　have　elected　their　representatives　to　attend　the　Decennial　Festival　on　Arrakis。　Three　representatives　will　attend　from　each　planetary　garrison。　（See　attached　list　of　those　chosen。）　As　usual；　no　adult　males　will　attend；　not　even　consorts　of　Fish　Speaker　officers。　The　consort　list　has　changed　very　little　in　this　reporting　period。　We　have　appended　the　new　names　with　genealogical　information　where　available。　Note　that　only　two　of　the　names　can　be　starred　as　descendants　of　the　Duncan　Idaho　gholas。　We　can　add　nothing　new　to　our　speculations　about　his　use　of　the　gholas　in　his　breeding　program。
　None　of　our　efforts　to　form　an　alliance　between　Fish　Speakers　and　Bene　Gesserit　succeeded　during　this　period。　Lord　Leto　continues　to　increase　certain　garrison　sizes。　He　also　continues　to　emphasize　the　alternative　missions　of　the　Fish　Speakers；　de…emphasizing　their　military　missions。　This　has　had　the　expected　result　of　increasing　local　admiration　and　respect　and　gratitude　for　the　presence　of　the　Fish　Speaker　garrisons。　（See　attached　list　for　garrisons　which　were　increased　in　size。　Edito