fh.godemperorofdune-第19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！


　〃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　sharing…care　of　the　young；　the　gathering　and　preparation　of　food；　sharing　joys；　love　and　sorrows。　Funeral　lamentation　originated　with　women。　Religion　began　as　a　female　monopoly；　wrested　from　them　only　after　its　social　power　became　too　dominant。　Women　were　the　first　medical　researchers　and　Practitioners。　There　has　never　been　any　clear　balance　between　the　sexes　because　power　goes　with　certain　roles　as　it　certainly　goes　with　knowledge。
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　FOR　THE　Reverend　Mother　Tertius　Eileen　Anteac；　this　had　been　a　disastrous　morning。　She　had　arrived　on　Arrakis　with　her　fellow　Truthsayer；　Marcus　Claire　Luyseyal；　both　of　them　ing　down　with　their　official　party　less　than　three　hours　ago　aboard　the　first　shuttle　from　the　Guild　heighliner　hanging　in　stationary　orbit。　First；　they　had　been　assigned　rooms　at　the　absolute　edge　of　the　Festival　City's　Embassy　Quarter。　The　rooms　were　small　and　not　quite　clean。
　〃Any　farther　out　and　we'd　be　camping　in　the　slums；〃　Luyseyal　had　said。
　Next　they　had　been　denied　munications　facilities。　All　of　the　screens　remained　blank　no　matter　how　many　switches　were　toggled　and　palm…dials　turned。
　Anteac　had　addressed　herself　sharply　to　the　heavyset　officer　manding　the　Fish　Speaker　escort；　a　glowering　woman　with　low　brows　and　the　muscles　of　a　manual　laborer。
　〃I　wish　to　plain　to　your　mander！〃
　〃No　plaints　allowed　at　Festival　Time；〃　the　amazon　had　rasped。
　Anteac　had　glared　at　the　officer；　a　look　which　in　Anteac's　old　and　seamed　face　had　been　known　to　make　even　her　fellow　Reverend　Mothers　hesitate。
　The　amazon　had　merely　smiled　and　said：　〃I　have　a　message。　I　am　to　tell　you　that　your　audience　with　the　God　Emperor　has　been　moved　to　the　last　position。〃
　Most　of　the　Bene　Gesserit　party　had　heard　this　and　even　the　lowliest　attendant…postulate　had　recognized　the　significance。　All　of　the　spice　allotments　would　be　fixed　or　（The　Gods　protect　us！）　even　gone　by　that　time。
　〃We　were　to　have　been　third；〃　Anteac　had　said；　her　voice　remarkably　mild　in　the　circumstances。
　〃It　is　the　God　Emperor's　mand！〃
　Anteac　knew　that　tone　in　a　Fish　Speaker。　To　defy　it　risked　violence。
　A　morning　of　disasters　and　now　this！
　Anteac　occupied　a　low　stool　against　one　wall　of　a　tiny；　almost　empty　room　near　the　center　of　their　inadequate　quarters。　Beside　her　there　was　a　low　pallet；　no　more　than　you　would　assign　to　an　acolyte！　The　walls　were　a　pale；　scabrous　green　and　there　was　but　one　aging　glowglobe　so　defective　it　could　not　be　tuned　out　of　the　yellow。　The　room　gave　signs　of　having　been　a　storage　chamber。　It　smelled　musty。　Dents　and　scratches　marred　the　black　plastic　of　the　floor。
　Smoothing　her　black　aba　robe　across　her　knees；　Anteac　leaned　close　to　the　postulate　messenger　who　knelt；　head　bowed；　directly　in　front　of　the　Reverend　Mother。　The　messenger　was　a　doe…eyed　blonde　creature　with　the　perspiration　of　fear　and　excitement　on　her　face　and　neck。　She　wore　a　dusty　tan　robe　with　the　dirt　of　the　streets　along　its　hem。
　〃You　are　certain；　absolutely　certain？〃　Anteac　spoke　softly　to　soothe　the　poor　girl；　who　still　trembled　with　the　gravity　of　her　message。
　〃Yes；　Reverend　Mother。〃　She　kept　her　gaze　lowered。
　〃Go　through　it　once　more；〃　Anteac　said；　and　she　thought：
　I'm　sparring　for　time。　I　heard　her　correctly。
　The　messenger　lifted　her　gaze　to　Anteac　and　looked　directly　into　the　totally　blue　eyes　as　all　the　postulates　and　acolytes　were　taught　to　do。
　〃As　I　was　manded；　I　made　contact　with　the　lxians　at　their　Embassy　and　presented　your　greetings。　I　then　inquired　if　they　had　any　messages　for　me　to　bring　back。〃
　〃Yes；　yes；　girl！　I　know。　Get　to　the　heart　of　it。〃
　The　messenger　gulped。　〃The　spokesman　identified　himself　as　Othwi　Yake；　temporary　superior　in　the　Embassy　and　assistant　to　the　former　Ambassador。〃
　〃You're　sure　he　was　not　a　Face　Dancer　substitute？〃
　〃None　of　the　signs　were　there；　Reverend　Mother。〃
　〃Very　well。　We　know　this　Yake。　You　may　continue。〃
　〃Yake　said　they　were　awaiting　the　arrival　of　the　new　。　_　。〃
　〃Hwi　Noree；　the　new　Ambassador；　yes。　She's　due　here　today。〃
　The　messenger　wet　her　lips　with　her　tongue。
　Anteac　made　a　mental　note　to　return　this　poor　creature　to　a　more　elementary　training　schedule。　Messengers　should　have　better　self…control；　although　some　allowance　had　to　be　made　for　the　seriousness　of　this　message。
　〃He　then　asked　me　to　wait；〃　the　messenger　said。　〃He　left　the　room　and　returned　shortly　with　a　Tleilaxu；　a　Face　Dancer；　I'm　sure　of　it。　There　were　the　certain　signs　of　the。　。。〃
　〃I'm　sure　you're　correct；　girl；〃　Anteac　said。　〃Now；　get　to　the。　。　。〃　Anteac　broke　off　as　Luyseyal　entered。
　〃What's　this　I　hear　about　messages　from　the　lxians　and　Tleilaxu？〃　Luyseyal　asked。
　〃The　girl's　repeating　it　now；〃　Anteac　said。
　〃Why　wasn't　I　summoned？〃　Anteac　looked　up　at　her　fellow　Truthsayer；　thinking　that　Luyseyal　might　be　one　of　the　finest　practitioners　of　the　art　but　she　remained　too　conscious　of　rank。　Luyseyal　was　young；　however；　with　the　sensuous　oval　features　of　the　Jessica…type；　and　those　genes　tended　to　carry　a　headstrong　nature。
　Anteac　spoke　softly：　〃Your　acolyte　said　you　were　meditating。〃
　Luyseyal　nodded；　sat　down　on　the　pallet　and　spoke　to　the　messenger。　〃Continue。〃
　〃The　Face　Dancer　said　he　had　a　message　for　the　Reverend　Mothers。　He　used　the　plural；〃　the　messenger　said。
　〃He　knew　there　were　two　of　us　this　time；〃　Anteac　said。
　〃Everyone　knows　it；〃　Luyseyal　said。
　Anteac　resumed　her　full　attention　to　the　messenger。　〃Would　you　enter　memory…trance　now；　girl；　and　give　us　the　Face　Dancer's　words　verbatim。〃
　The　messenger　nodded；　sat　back　onto　her　heels　and　clasped　her　hands　in　her　lap。　She　took　three　deep　breaths；　closed　her　eyes　and　let　her　shoulders　sag。　When　she　spoke；　her　voice　had　a　high…pitched；　nasal　twang。
　〃Tell　the　Reverend　Mothers　that　by　tonight　the　Empire　will　be　rid　of　its　God　Emperor。　We　will　strike　him　today　before　he　reaches　Onn。　We　cannot　fail。〃
　A　deep　breath　shook　the　messenger。　Her　eyes　opened　and　she　looked　up　at　Anteac。
　〃The　Ixian；　Yake；　told　me　to　hurry　back　with　this　message。　He　then　touched　the　back　of　my　left　hand　in　that　particular　way；　further　convincing　me　that　he　was　not。　。　。〃
　〃Yake　is　one　of　ours；〃　Anteac　said。　〃Tell　Luyseyal　the　message　of　the　fingers。〃
　The　messenger　looked　at　Luyseyal。　〃We　have　been　invaded　by　Face　Dancers　and　cannot　move。〃
　As　Luyseyal　started　and　began　to　rise　from　the　pallet；　Anteac　said：　〃I　already　have　taken　the　appropriate　steps　to　guard　our　doors。〃　Anteac　looked　at　the　messenger。　〃You　may　go　now；　girl。　You　have　been　adequate　to　your　task。〃
　〃Yes；　Reverend　Mother。〃　The　messenger　lifted　her　lithe　body　with　a　certain　amount　of　grace；　but　there　was　no　doubt　in　her　movements　that　she　knew　the　import　of　Anteac's　words。　Adequate　was　not　well　done。
　When　the　messenger　had　gone；　Luyseyal　said：　〃She　should've　made　some　excuse　to　study　the　Embassy　and　find　out　how　many　of　the　lxians　have　been　replaced。〃
　〃I　think　not；〃　Anteac　said。　〃In　that　respect；　she　performed　well。　No；　but　it　would　have　been　better　had　she　found　a　way　to　get　a　more　detailed　report　from　Yake。　I　fear　we　have　lost　him。〃
　〃The　reason　the　Tleilaxu　sent　us　that　message　is　obvious；　of　course；〃　Luyseyal　said。
　〃They　are　really　going　to　attack　him；〃　Anteac　said。
　〃Naturally。　It's　what　the　fools　would　do。　But　I　address　myself　to　why　they　sent　the　message　to　us。〃
　Anteac　nodded。　〃They　think　we　now　have　no　choice　except　to　join　them。〃
　〃And　if　we　try　to　warn　the　Lord　Leto；　the　Tleilaxu　will　learn　our　messengers　and　their　contacts。〃
　〃What　if　the　Tleilaxu　succeed？〃　Anteac　asked。
　〃Not　likely。〃
　〃We　do　not　know…their　actual　plan；　only　its　general　timing。〃　〃What　if　this　girl；　this　Siona；　has　a　part　in　it？〃　Luyseyal　asked。
　〃I　have　asked　myself　that　same　question。　Have　you　heard　the　full　report　from　the　Guild？〃
　〃Only　the　summary。　Is　that　enough？〃
　〃Yes；　with　high　probability。〃
　〃You　should　be　careful　with　terms　such　as　high　probability；〃　Luyseyal　said。　〃We　don't　want　anyone　thinking　you're　a　Mentat。〃
　Anteac's　tone　was　dry。　〃　presume　you　will　not　give　me　away。〃
　〃Do　you　think　the　Guild　is　right　about　this　Siona'？〃　Luyseyal　asked。
　〃I　do　not　have　enough　information。　If　they　are　right；　she　is　something　extraordinary。〃
　〃As　the　Lord　Leto's　father　was　extraordinary？〃
　〃A　Guild　navigator　could　conceal　himself　from　the　oracular　eye　of　the　Lord　Leto's　father。〃
　〃But　not　from　the　Lord　Leto。〃
　〃I　have　read　the　full　Guild　report　with　care。　She　does　not　so　much　conceal　herself　and　the　actions　around　her　as；　well　。　。　。〃
　〃She　fades；〃　they　said。　〃She　fades　from　their　sight。〃
　〃She　alone；〃　Anteac　said。
　〃And　from　the　sight　of　the　Lord　Leto　as　well？〃
　〃They　do　not　know。〃
　〃Do　we　dare　make　contact　with　her？〃
　〃Do　we　dare　not？〃　Anteac　asked。
　〃This　all　may　be　moot　if　the　Tleilaxu。。。Anteac；　we　should　at　least　make　the　attempt　to　warn　him。〃
　〃We　have　no　munications　devices　and　there　now　are　Fish　Speaker　guards　at　the　door。　They　permit　our　people　to　enter；　but　not　to　leave。〃
　〃Should　we　speak　to　one　of　them'？〃
　〃I　have　thought　about　that。　We　can　always　say　we　feared　they　were　Face　Dancer　substitutes。〃
　〃Guards　at　the　door；〃　Luyseyal　muttered。　〃Is　it　possible　that　he　knows？〃
　〃Anything　is　possible。〃
　〃With　the　Lord　Leto　that's　the　only　thing　you　can　say　for　sure；〃　Luyseyal　said。
　Anteac　permitted　herself　a　small　sigh　as　she　lifted　herself　from　the　stool。　〃How　I　long　for　the　old　days　when　we　had　all　of　the　spice　we　could　ever　need。〃
　〃Ever　was　just　another　illusion；〃　Luyseyal　said。　〃I　hope　we　have　learned　our　lesson　well；　no　matter　how　the　Tleilaxu　make　out　today。〃
　〃They　will　do　it　clumsily　whatever　the　oute；〃　Anteac　grumbled。　〃Gods！　There　are　no　good　assassins　to　be　found　anymore。〃
　〃There　are　always　the　ghola　Idahos；〃　Luyseyal　said。
　〃What　did　you　say？〃　Anteac　stared　at　her　panion。
　〃There　are　always。　。　。〃
　〃Yes！〃
　〃The　gholas　are　too　slow　in　the　body；〃　Luyseyal　said。
　〃But　not　in　the　head。〃
　〃What're　you　thinking？〃
　〃Is　it　possible　that　the　Tleilaxu。。。No；　not　even　they　could　be　that。　。　。〃
　〃An　Idaho　Face　Dancer？〃　Luyseyal　whispered。
　Anteac　nodded　mutely。
　〃Put　it　out　of　your　mind；〃　Luyseyal　said。　〃They　could　not　be　that　stupid。〃
　〃That's　a　dangerous　judgment　to　make　about　Tleilaxu；〃　Anteac　said。　〃We　must　prepare　ourselves　for　the　worst。　Get　one　of　those　Fish　Speaker　guards　in　here！〃
　
　Unceasing　warfare　gives　rise　to　its　own　social　conditions　which　have　been　similar　in　all　epochs。　People　enter　a　permanent　state　of　alertness　to　ward　off　attacks。　You　seethe　absolute　rule　of　the　autocrat。　All　new　things　bee　dangerous　frontier　districts…new　planets；　new　economic　areas　to　exploit；　new　ideas　or　new　devices；　visitors…everything　suspect。　Feudalism　takes　firm　hold；　sometimes　disguised　as　a　politbureau　or　similar　structure；　but　always　present。　Hereditary　succession　follows　the　lines　of　power。　The　blood　of　the　powerful　dominates。　The　vice　regents　of　heaven　or　their　equivalent　apportion　the　wealth。　And　their　know　they　must　control　inheritance　or　slowly　let　the　power　melt　away。　Now；　do