fh.godemperorofdune-第18章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ront　of　his　cart。　The　moisture　made　his　worm…self　tingle　with　vague　distress；　but　there　was　the　smell　of　sweet　desert　growth　in　the　mist　and　his　human　nostrils　savored　it。　He　ordered　the　cortege　to　stop。
　〃Why　are　we　stopping；　Lord？〃　Moneo　asked。
　Leto　did　not　answer。　The　cart　creaked　as　he　heaved　his　bulk　into　an　arching　curve　which　lifted　his　head　and　allowed　him　to　look　across　the　Forbidden　Forest　to　the　Kynes　Sea　glistening　silver　far　off　to　the　right。　He　turned　left　and　there　were　the　remains　of　the　Shield　Wall；　a　sinuous　low　shadow　in　the　morning　light。　The　ridge　here　had　been　raised　almost　two　thousand　meters　to　enclose　the　Sareer　and　limit　airborne　moisture　there。　From　his　vantage；　Leto　could　see　the　distant　notch　where　he　had　caused　the　Festival　City　of　Onn　to　be　built。
　〃It　is　a　whim　which　stops　me；〃　Leto　said。
　〃Shouldn't　we　cross　the　bridge　before　resting？〃　Moneo　asked。
　〃I　am　not　resting。〃
　Leto　stared　ahead。　After　a　series　of　switchbacks　which　were　visible　from　here　only　as　a　twisting　shadow；　the　high　road　crossed　the　river　on　a　faery　bridge；　climbed　to　a　buffer　ridge　and　then　sloped　down　to　the　city　which　presented　a　vista　of　glittering　spires　at　this　distance。
　〃The　Duncan　acts　subdued；〃　Leto　said。　〃Have　you　had　your　long　conversation　with　him？〃
　〃Precisely　as　you　required；　Lord。〃
　〃Well；　it's　only　been　four　days；〃　Leto　said。　〃They　often　take　longer　to　recover。〃
　〃He　has　been　busy　with　your　Guard；　Lord。　They　were　out　until　late　again　last　night。〃
　〃The　Duncans　do　not　like　to　walk　in　the　open。　They　think　about　the　things　which　could　be　used　to　attack　us。〃
　〃I　know；　Lord。〃
　Leto　turned　and　looked　squarely　at　Moneo。　The　majordomo　wore　a　green　cloak　over　his　white　uniform。　He　stood　beside　the　open　bubble　cover；　exactly　in　the　place　where　duty　required　that　he　station　himself　on　these　excursions。
　〃You　are　very　dutiful；　Moneo；〃　Leto　said。
　〃Thank　you；　Lord。〃
　Guards　and　courtiers　kept　themselves　at　a　respectful　distance　well　behind　the　cart。　Most　of　them　were　trying　to　avoid　even　the　appearance　of　eavesdropping　on　Leto　and　Moneo。　Not　so　Idaho。　He　had　positioned　some　of　the　Fish　Speaker　guards　at　both　sides　of　the　Royal　Road；　spreading　them　out。　Now；　he　stood　staring　at　the　cart。　Idaho　wore　a　black　uniform　with　white　piping；　a　gift　of　the　Fish　Speakers；　Moneo　had　said。
　〃They　like　this　one　very　much。　He　is　good　at　what　he　does。〃
　〃What　does　he　do；　Moneo？〃
　〃Why；　guard　your　person；　Lord。〃
　The　women　of　the　Guard　all　wore　skintight　green　uniforms；　each　with　a　red　Atreides　hawk　at　the　left　breast。
　〃They　watch　him　very　closely；〃　Leto　said。
　〃Yes。　He　is　teaching　them　hand　signals。　He　says　it's　the　Atreides　way。〃
　〃That　is　certainly　correct。　I　wonder　why　the　previous　one　didn't　do　that？〃
　〃Lord；　if　you　don't　know。　。　。〃
　〃I　jest；　Moneo。　The　previous　Duncan　did　not　feel　threatened　until　it　was　too　late。　Has　this　one　accepted　our　explanations？〃
　〃So　I'm　told；　Lord。　He　is　well　started　in　your　service。〃
　〃Why　is　he　carrying　only　that　knife　in　the　belt　sheath？〃
　〃The　women　have　convinced　him　that　only　the　specially　trained　among　them　should　have　lasguns。〃
　〃Your　caution　is　groundless；　Moneo。　Tell　the　women　that　it's　much　too　early　for　us　to　begin　fearing　this　one。〃
　〃As　my　Lord　mands。〃
　It　was　obvious　to　Leto　that　his　new　Guard　mander　did　not　enjoy　the　presence　of　the　courtiers。　He　stood　well　away　from　them。　Most　of　the　courtiers；　he　had　been　told；　were　civil　functionaries。　They　were　decked　out　in　their　brightest　and　finest　for　this　day　when　they　could　parade　themselves　in　their　full　power　and　in　the　presence　of　the　God　Emperor。　Leto　could　see　how　foolish　the　courtiers　must　appear　to　Idaho。　But　Leto　could　remember　far　more　foolish　finery　and　he　thought　that　this　day's　display　might　be　an　improvement。
　〃Have　you　introduced　him　to　Siona？〃　Leto　asked。
　At　the　mention　of　Siona；　Moneo's　brows　congealed　into　a　scowl。
　〃Calm　yourself；〃　Leto　said。　〃Even　when　she　spied　on　me；　I　cherished　her。〃
　〃I　sense　danger　in　her；　Lord。　I　think　sometimes　she　sees　into　my　most　secret　thoughts。〃
　〃The　wise　child　knows　her　father。〃
　〃I　do　not　joke；　Lord。〃
　〃Yes；　I　can　see　that。　Have　you　noticed　that　the　Duncan　grows　impatient？〃
　〃They　scouted　the　road　almost　to　the　bridge；〃　Moneo　said。
　〃What　did　they　find？〃
　〃The　same　thing　I　found…anew　Museum　Fremen。〃
　〃Another　petition？〃
　〃Do　not　be　angry；　Lord。〃
　Once　more；　Leto　peered　ahead。　This　necessary　exposure　to　the　open　air；　the　long　and　stately　journey　with　all　of　its　ritual　requirements　to　reassure　the　Fish　Speakers；　all　of　it　troubled　Leto。　And　now；　another　petition！
　Idaho　strode　forward　to　stop　directly　behind　Moneo。
　There　was　a　sense　of　menace　about　Idaho's　movements。　Surely　not　this　soon；　Leto　thought。
　〃Why　are　we　stopping；　m'Lord？〃　Idaho　asked。
　〃I　often　stop　here；〃　Leto　said。
　It　was　true。　He　turned　and　looked　beyond　the　faery　bridge。　The　way　twisted　downward　out　of　the　canyon　heights　into　the　Forbidden　Forest　and　thence　through　fields　beside　the　river。　Leto　had　often　stopped　here　to　watch　the　sunrise。　There　was　something　about　this　morning；　though；　the　sun　striking　across　the　familiar　vista。。。something　which　stirred　old　memories。
　The　fields　of　the　Royal　Plantations　reached　outward　beyond　the　forest　and；　when　the　sun　lifted　over　the　far　curve　of　land；　it　beamed　glowing　gold　across　grain　rippling　in　the　fields。　The　grain　reminded　Leto　of　sand；　of　sweeping　dunes　which　once　had　marched　across　this　very　ground。
　And　will　march　once　more。
　The　grain　was　not　quite　the　bright　silica　amber　of　his　remembered　desert。　Leto　looked　back　at　the　cliff…enclosed　distances　of　his　Sareer；　his　sanctuary　of　the　past。　The　colors　were　distinctly　different。　All　the　same；　when　he　looked　once　more　toward　Festival　City；　he　felt　an　ache　where　his　many　hearts　once　more　were　reforming　in　their　slow　transformation　toward　something　profoundly　alien。
　What　is　it　about　this　morning　that　makes　me　think　about　my　lost　humanity？　Leto　wondered。
　Of　all　the　Royal　party　looking　at　that　familiar　scene　of　grain　fields　and　forest；　Leto　knew　that　only　he　still　thought　of　the　lush　landscape　as　the　bahr　bela　ma；　the　ocean　without　water。
　〃Duncan；〃　Leto　said。　〃You　see　that　out　there　toward　the　city？　That　was　the　Tanzerouft。〃
　〃The　Land　of　Terror？〃　Idaho　revealed　his　surprise　in　the　quick　look　toward　Onn　and　the　sudden　return　of　his　gaze　to　Leto。
　〃The　bahr　bela　ma；〃　Leto　said。　〃It　has　been　concealed　under　a　carpet　of　plants　for　more　than　three　thousand　years。　Of　all　who　live　on　Arrakis　today；　only　the　two　of　us　ever　saw　the　desert　original。〃
　Idaho　looked　toward　Onn。　〃Where　is　the　Shield　Wall？〃　he　asked。
　〃Muad'Dib's　Gap　is　right　there；　right　where　we　built　the　City。〃
　〃That　line　of　little　hills；　that　was　the　Shield　Wall？　What　happened　to　it？〃
　〃You　are　standing　on　it。〃
　Idaho　looked　up　at　Leto；　then　down　to　the　roadway　and　all　around。
　〃Lord；　shall　we　proceed？〃　Moneo　asked。
　Moneo；　with　that　clock　ticking　in　his　breast；　is　the　goad　to　duty；　Leto　thought。　There　were　important　visitors　to　see　and　other　vital　matters。　Time　pressed　him。　And　he　did　not　like　it　when　his　God　Emperor　talked　about　old　times　with　the　Duncans。
　Leto　was　suddenly　aware　that　he　had　paused　here　far　longer　than　ever　before。　The　courtiers　and　guards　were　cold　after　their　run　in　the　morning　air。　Some　had　chosen　their　clothing　more　for　show　than　protection。
　Then　again；　Leto　thought；　perhaps　show　is　a　form　of　protection。
　〃There　were　dunes；〃　Idaho　said。
　〃Stretching　for　thousands　of　kilometers；〃　Leto　agreed。
　Moneo's　thoughts　churned。　He　was　familiar　with　the　God　Emperor's　reflexive　mood；　but　there　was　a　sense　of　sadness　in　it　this　day。　Perhaps　the　recent　death　of　a　Duncan。　Leto　sometimes　let　important　information　drop　when　he　was　sad。　You　never　questioned　the　God　Emperor's　moods　or　his　whims；　but　sometimes　they　could　be　employed。
　Siona　will　have　to　be　warned；　Moneo　thought。　If　the　young　fool　will　listen　to　me！
　She　was　far　more　of　a　rebel　than　he　had　been。　Far　more。　Leto　had　tamed　his　Moneo；　sensitized　him　to　the　Golden　Path　and　the　rightful　duties　for　which　he　had　been　bred；　but　methods　used　on　a　Moneo　would　not　work　with　Siona。　In　his　observation　of　this；　Moneo　had　learned　things　about　his　own　training　which　he　had　never　before　suspected。
　〃I　don't　see　any　identifiable　landmarks；〃　Idaho　was　saying。
　〃Right　over　there；〃　Leto　said；　pointing。　〃Where　the　forest　ends。　That　was　the　way　to　Splintered　Rock。〃
　Moneo　shut　out　their　voices。　It　was　ultimate　fascination　with　the　God　Emperor　which　finally　brought　me　to　heel。　Leto　never　ceased　to　surprise　and　amaze。　He　could　not　be　reliably　predicted。　Moneo　glanced　at　the　God　Emperor's　profile。　What　has　he　bee？
　As　part　of　his　early　duties；　Moneo　had　studied　the　Citadel's　private　records；　the　historical　accounts　of　Leto's　transformation。　But　symbiosis　with　sandtrout　remained　a　mystery　which　even　Leto's　own　words　could　not　dispel。　If　the　accounts　were　to　be　believed；　the　sandtrout　skin　made　his　body　almost　invulnerable　to　time　and　violence。　The　great　body's　ribbed　core　could　even　absorb　lasgun　bursts！
　First　the　sandtrout；　then　the　worm…all　part　of　the　great　cycle　which　had　produced　melange。　That　cycle　lay　within　the　God　Emperor。　。　。　marking　time。
　〃Let　us　proceed；〃　Leto　said。
　Moneo　realized　that　he　had　missed　something。　He　came　out　of　his　reverie　and　looked　at　a　smiling　Duncan　Idaho。
　〃We　used　to　call　that　woolgathering；〃　Leto　said。
　〃I'm　sorry；　Lord；〃　Moneo　said。　〃I　was。。　。〃
　〃You　were　woolgathering；　but　it's　all　right。〃
　His　mood's　improved；　Moneo　thought。　I　can　thank　the　Duncan　for　that；　I　think。
　Leto　adjusted　his　position　on　the　cart；　closed　part　of　the　bubble　cover　and　left　only　his　head　free。　The　cart　crunched　over　small　rocks　on　the　roadbed　as　Leto　activated　it。
　Idaho　took　up　position　at　Moneo's　shoulder　and　trotted　along　beside　him。
　〃There　are　floater　bulbs　under　that　cart；　but　he　uses　the　wheels；〃　Idaho　said。　〃Why　is　that？〃
　〃It　pleases　the　Lord　Leto　to　use　wheels　instead　of　antigravity。〃
　〃What　makes　the　thing　go？　How　does　he　steer　it？〃
　〃Have　you　asked　him？〃
　〃I　haven't　had　the　opportunity。〃
　〃The　Royal　Cart　is　of　Ixian　manufacture。〃
　〃What　does　that　mean？〃
　〃It　is　said　that　the　Lord　Leto　activates　his　cart　and　steers　it　just　by　thinking　in　a　particular　way。〃
　〃Don't　you　know？〃
　〃Questions　such　as　this　do　not　please　him。〃
　Even　to　his　intimates；　Moneo　thought；　The　God　Emperor　remains　a　mystery。
　〃Moneo！〃　Leto　called。
　〃You　had　better　return　to　your　guards；〃　Moneo　said；　gesturing　for　Idaho　to　fall　back。
　〃I'd　rather　be　out　in　front　with　them；〃　Idaho　said。
　〃The　Lord　Leto　does　not　want　that！　Now　go　back。〃
　Moneo　hurried　to　place　himself　close　beside　Leto's　face；　noting　that　Idaho　was　falling　back　through　the　courtiers　to　the　rear　ring　of　guards。
　Leto　looked　down　at　Moneo。　〃I　thought　you　handled　that　very　well；　Moneo。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Lord。〃
　〃Do　you　know　why　the　Duncan　wants　to　be　out　in　front？〃
　〃Certainly；　Lord。　It's　where　your　Guard　should　be。〃
　〃And　this　one　senses　danger。〃
　〃I　don't　understand　you；　Lord。　I　cannot　understand　why　you　do　these　things。〃
　〃That's　true；　Moneo。〃
　
　The　female　sense　of　sharing　originated　as　familial　s