fh.godemperorofdune-第15章

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　〃The　charts　will　not　reveal　it。　Will　she　tunnel？〃
　〃She　seeks　Ixian　tools　for　that。〃
　〃Ix　will　not　provide　them。〃
　〃Is　there　such　a　hoard　of　spice；　Lord？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃There　is　a　story　about　how　Your　hoard　is　defended；　Lord。　That　Arrakis　itself　would　be　destroyed　if　anyone　tried　to　steal　Your　melange。　Is　it　true？〃
　〃Yes。　And　that　would　shatter　the　Empire。　Nothing　would　survive…not　Guild　or　Sisterhood；　not　Ix　or　Tleilaxu；　not　even　the　Fish　Speakers。〃
　She　shuddered；　then：　〃I　will　not　let　Siona　try　to　get　Your　spice。〃
　〃Nayla！　I　manded　you　to　obey　Siona　in　everything。　Is　this　how　you　serve　me？〃
　〃Lord？〃　She　stood　in　fear　of　his　anger；　closer　to　a　loss　of　faith　than　he　had　ever　seen　her。　It　was　the　crisis　he　had　created；　knowing　how　it　must　end。　Slowly；　Nayla　relaxed。　He　could　see　the　shape　of　her　thought　as　though　she　had　laid　it　out　for　him　in　illuminated　words。
　The　ultimate　test！
　〃You　will　return　to　Siona　and　guard　her　life　with　your　own；〃　Leto　said。　〃That　is　the　task　I　set　for　you　and　that　you　accepted。　It　is　why　you　were　chosen。　It　is　why　you　carry　a　blade　from　Stilgar's　household。〃
　Her　right　hand　went　to　the　crysknife　concealed　beneath　her　robe。
　How　sure　it　is；　Leto　thought；　that　a　weapon　can　lock　a　person　into　a　predictable　pattern　of　behavior。
　He　stared　with　fascination　at　Nayla's　rigid　body。　Her　eyes　were　empty　of　everything　except　adoration。
　The　ultimate　rhetorical　despotism。。。and　I　despise　it！
　〃Go　then！〃　he　barked。
　Nayla　turned　and　fled　the　Holy　Presence。
　Is　it　worth　this？　Leto　wondered。
　But　Nayla　had　told　him　what　he　needed　to　know。　Nayla　had　renewed　her　faith　and　revealed　with　accuracy　the　thing　which　Leto　could　not　find　in　Siona's　fading　image。　Nayla's　instincts　were　to　be　trusted。
　Siona　has　reached　that　explosive　moment　which　I　require。
　
　The　Duncans　always　think　it　odd　that　I　choose　women　for　bat　forces；　but　my　Fish　Speakers　are　a　temporary　army　in　every　sense。　While　they　can　be　violent　and　vicious；　women　are　profoundly　different　from　men　in　their　dedication　to　battle。　The　cradle　of　genesis　ultimately　predisposes　them　to　behavior　more　protective　of　life。　They　have　proved　to　be　the　best　keepers　of　the　Golden　Path。　I　reinforce　this　in　my　design　for　their　training。　They　are　set　aside　for　a　time　from　ordinary　routines。　I　give　them　special　sharings　which　they　can　look　back　upon'　with　pleasure　for　the　rest　of　their　lives。　They　e　of　age　in　the　pany　of　their　sisters　in　preparation　for　events　more　profound。　What　you　share　in　such　panionship　always　prepares　you　for　greater　things。　The　haze　of　nostalgia　covers　their　days　among　their　sisters；　making　those　days　into　something　different　than　they　were。　That's　the　way　today　changes　history。　All　contemporaries　do　not　inhabit　the　same　time。　The　past　is　always　changing；　but　few　realize　it。
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　AFTER　SENDING　word　to　the　Fish　Speakers；　Leto　descended　to　the　crypt　in　the　late　evening。　He　had　found　it　best　to　begin　the　first　interview　with　a　new　Duncan　Idaho　in　a　darkened　room　where　the　ghola　could　hear　Leto　describe　himself　before　actually　seeing　the　pre…worm　body。　There　was　a　small　side　room　carved　in　black　stone　off　the　central　rotunda　of　the　crypt　which　suited　this　requirement。　The　chamber　was　large　enough　to　acmodate　Leto　on　his　cart；　but　the　ceiling　was　low。　Illumination　came　from　hidden　glowglobes　which　he　controlled。　There　was　only　the　one　door；　but　it　was　in　two　segments…one　swinging　wide　to　admit　the　Royal　Cart；　the　other　a　small　portal　in　human　dimensions。
　Leto　rolled　his　Royal　Cart　into　the　chamber；　sealed　the　large　portal　and　opened　the　smaller　one。　He　posed　himself　then　for　the　ordeal。
　Boredom　was　an　increasing　problem。　The　pattern　of　the　Tleilaxu　gholas　had　bee　boringly　repetitious。　Once；　Leto　had　sent　word　warning　the　Tleilaxu　to　send　no　more　Duncans；　but　they　had　known　they　could　disobey　him　in　this　thing。
　Sometimes　I　think　they　do　it　just　to　keep　disobedience　alive！
　The　Tleilaxu　relied　on　an　important　thing　which　they　knew　protected　them　in　other　matters。
　The　presence　of　a　Duncan　pleases　the　Paul　Atreides　in　me。
　As　Leto　had　explained　it　to　Moneo　in　the　majordomo's　first　days　at　the　Citadel：
　〃The　Duncans　must　e　to　me　with　much　more　than　Tleilaxu　preparation。　You　must　see　to　it　that　my　houris　gentle　the　Duncans　and　that　the　women　answer　some　of　his　questions。〃
　〃Which　questions　may　they　answer；　Lord？〃
　〃They　know。〃
　Moneo　had；　of　course；　learned　all　about　this　procedure　over　the　years。
　Leto　heard　Moneo's　voice　outside　the　darkened　room；　then　the　sound　of　the　Fish　Speaker　escort　and　the　hesitantly　distinctive　footsteps　of　the　new　ghola。
　〃Through　that　door；〃　Moneo　said。　〃It　will　be　dark　inside　and　we　will　close　the　door　behind　you。　Stop　just　inside　and　wait　for　the　Lord　Leto　to　speak。〃
　〃Why　will　it　be　dark？〃　The　Duncan's　voice　was　full　of　aggressive　misgivings。
　〃He　will　explain。〃
　Idaho　was　thrust　into　the　room　and　the　door　was　sealed　behind　him。
　Leto　knew　what　the　ghola　saw…only　shadows　among　shadows　and　blackness　where　not　even　the　source　of　a　voice　could　be　fixed。　As　usual；　Leto　brought　the　Paul　Muad'Dib　voice　into　play。
　〃It　pleases　me　to　see　you　again；　Duncan。〃
　〃I　can't　see　you！〃
　Idaho　was　a　warrior；　and　the　warrior　attacks。　This　reassured　Leto　that　the　ghola　was　a　fully　restored　original。　The　morality　play　by　which　the　Tleilaxu　reawakened　a　ghola's　pre…death　memories　always　left　some　uncertainties　in　the　gholas'　minds。　Some　of　the　Duncans　believed　they　had　threatened　a　real　Paul　Muad'Dib。　This　one　carried　such　illusions。
　〃I　hear　Paul's　voice　but　I　can't　see　him；〃　Idaho　said。　He　didn't　try　to　conceal　the　frustrations；　let　them　all　e　out　in　his　voice。
　Why　was　an　Atreides　playing　this　stupid　game？　Paul　was　truly　dead　in　some　long…ago　and　this　was　Leto；　the　carrier　of　Paul's　resurrected　memories。。。and　the　memories　of　many　others！…if　the　Tleilaxu　stories　were　to　be　believed。
　〃You　have　been　told　that　you　are　only　the　latest　in　a　long　line　of　duplicates；〃　Leto　said。
　〃I　have　none　of　those　memories。〃
　Leto　recognized　hysteria　in　the　Duncan；　barely　covered　by　the　warrior　bravado。　The　cursed　Tleilaxu　post…tank　restoration　tactics　had　produced　the　usual　mental　chaos。　This　Duncan　had　arrived　in　a　state　of　near　shock；　strongly　suspecting　he　was　insane。　Leto　knew　that　the　most　subtle　powers　of　reassurance　would　be　required　now　to　soothe　the　poor　fellow。　This　would　be　emotionally　draining　for　both　of　them。
　〃There　have　been　many　changes；　Duncan；〃　Leto　said。　〃One　thing；　though；　does　not　change。　I　am　still　Atreides。〃
　〃They　said　your　body　is。　。　。〃
　〃Yes；　that　has　changed。〃
　〃The　damned　Tleilaxu！　They　tried　to　make　me　kill　someone　I。。。well；　he　looked　like　you。　I　suddenly　remembered　who　I　was　and　there　was　this。。uld　that　have　been　a　Muad'Dib　ghola？〃
　〃A　Face　Dancer　mimic；　I　assure　you。〃
　〃He　looked　and　talked　so　much　like。。。Are　you　sure？〃
　〃An　actor；　no　more。　Did　he　survive？〃
　〃Of　course！　That's　how　they　wakened　my　memories。　They　explained　the　whole　damned　thing。　Is　it　true？〃
　〃It's　true；　Duncan。　I　detest　it；　but　I　permit　it　for　the　pleasure　of　your　pany。〃
　The　potential　victims　always　survive；　Leto　thought。　At　least　for　the　Duncans　I　see。　There　have　been　slips；　the　fake　Paul　slain　and　the　Duncans　wasted。　But　there　are　always　more　cells　carefully　preserved　from　the　original。
　〃What　about　your　body？〃　Idaho　demanded。
　Muad'Dib　could　be　retired　now；　Leto　resumed　his　usual　voice。　〃I　accepted　the　sandtrout　as　my　skin。　They　have　been　changing　me　ever　since。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃I　will　explain　that　in　due　course。〃
　〃The　Tleilaxu　said　you　look　like　a　sandworm。〃
　〃What　did　my　Fish　Speakers　say？〃
　〃They　said　you're　God。　Why　do　you　call　them　Fish　Speakers？〃
　〃An　old　conceit。　The　first　priestesses　spoke　to　fish　in　their　dreams。　They　learned　valuable　things　that　way。〃
　〃How　do　you　know？〃
　〃I　am　those　women。。。and　everything　that　came　before　and　after　them。〃
　Leto　heard　the　dry　swallowing　in　Idaho's　throat；　then：　〃I　see　why　the　darkness。　You're　giving　me　time　to　adjust。〃
　〃You　always　were　quick；　Duncan。〃
　Except　when　you　were　slow。
　〃How　long　have　you　been　changing？〃
　〃More　than　thirty…five　hundred　years。〃
　〃Then　what　the　Tleilaxu　told　me　is　true。〃
　〃They　seldom　dare　to　lie　anymore。〃
　〃That's　a　long　time。〃
　〃Very　long。〃
　〃The　Tleilaxu　have。。pied　me　many　times？〃
　〃Many。'
　It's　time　you　asked　how　many；　Duncan；
　〃How　many　of　me？〃
　〃I　will　let　you　see　the　records　for　yourself。〃
　And　so　it　starts；　Leto　thought。
　This　exchange　always　appeared　to　satisfy　the　Duncans；　but　there　was　no　escaping　the　nature　of　the　question：
　〃How　many　of　me？〃
　The　Duncans　made　no　distinctions　of　the　flesh　even　though　no　mutual　memories　passed　between　gholas　of　the　same　stock。
　〃I　remember　my　death；〃　Idaho　said。　〃Harkonnen　blades；　lots　of　them　trying　to　get　at　you　and　Jessica。〃
　Leto　restored　the　Muad'Dib　voice　for　momentary　play：　〃I　was　there；　Duncan。〃
　〃I'm　a　replacement；　is　that　right？〃　Idaho　asked。
　〃That's　right；〃　Leto　said。
　〃How　did　the　other。。。me。。。I　mean；　how　did　he　die？〃
　〃All　flesh　wears　out；　Duncan。　It's　in　the　records。〃
　Leto　waited　patiently；　wondering　how　long　it　would　be　until　the　tamed　history　failed　to　satisfy　this　Duncan。
　〃What　do　you　really　look　like？〃　Idaho　asked。　〃What's　this　sandworm　body　the　Tleilaxu　described？〃
　〃It　will　make　sandworms　of　sorts　someday。　It's　already　far　down　the　road　of　metamorphosis。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean　of　sorts？〃
　〃It　will　have　more　ganglia。　It　will　be　aware。〃
　〃Can't　we　have　some　light'？　I'd　like　to　see　you。〃
　Leto　manded　the　floodlights。　Brilliant　illumination　filled　the　room。　The　black　walls　and　the　lighting　had　been　arranged　to　focus　the　illumination　on　Leto；　every　visible　detail　revealed。
　Idaho　swept　his　gaze　along　the　faceted　silvery…gray　body；　noted　the　beginnings　of　a　sandworm's　ribbed　sections；　the　sinuous　flexings。。。the　small　protuberances　which　had　once　been　feet　and　legs；　one　of　them　somewhat　shorter　than　the　other。　He　brought　his　attention　back　to　the　well…defined　arms　and　hands　and　finally　lifted　his　attention　to　the　cowled　face　with　its　pink　skin　almost　lost　in　the　immensity；　a　ridiculous　extrusion　on　such　a　body。
　〃Well；　Duncan；〃　Leto　said。　〃You　were　warned。〃
　Idaho　gestured　mutely　toward　the　pre…worm　body。
　Leto　asked　it　for　him：　〃Why'？〃
　Idaho　nodded。
　〃I'm　still　Atreides；　Duncan；　and　I　assure　you　with　all　the　honor　of　that　name；　there　were　pelling　reasons。〃
　〃What　could　possibly。。。〃
　〃You　will　learn　in　time。〃
　Idaho　merely　shook　his　head　from　side　to　side。
　〃It's　not。　a　pleasant　revelation；〃　Leto　said。　〃It　requires　that　you　learn　other　things　first。　Trust　the　word　of　an　Atreides。〃
　Over　the　centuries；　Leto　had　found　that　this　invocation　of　Idaho's　profound　loyalties　to　all　things　Atreides　dampened　the　immediate　wellspring　of　personal　questions。　Once　more；　the　formula　worked。
　〃So　I'm　to　serve　the　Atreides　again；〃　Idaho　said。　〃That　sounds　familiar。　Is　it？〃
　〃In　many　ways；　old　friend。〃
　〃Old　to　you；　maybe；　but　not　to　me。　How　will　I　serve'？〃
　〃Didn't　my　Fish　Speakers　tell　you？〃
　〃They　said　I　would　mand　your　elite　Guard；　a　force　chosen　from　among　them。　I　don't　understand　that。　An　army　of　women？〃
　〃I　need　a　trusted　panion　wh