fh.godemperorofdune-第2章

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iend　being　slain　by　Leto's　monster　guardians　but　imagination　worked　its　sorcery　on　him。　Kwuteg　thought　a　curse　against　the　tyrant　but　wasted　no　breath　to　voice　it。　There　remained　a　chance　that　he　could　reach　the　sanctuary　of　the　Idaho　River。　Kwuteg　knew　what　his　friends　thought　about　him…even　Siona。　He　had　always　been　known　as　a　conservative。　Even　as　a　child　he　had　saved　his　energy　until　it　counted　most；　parceling　out　his　reserves　like　a　miser。
　In　spite　of　the　injured　knee；　Kwuteg　increased　his　pace。　He　knew　the　river　was　near。　His　injury　had　gone　beyond　agony　into　a　steady　flame　which　filled　his　entire　leg　and　side　with　its　burning。　He　knew　the　limits　of　his　endurance。　He　knew　also　that　Siona　should　be　almost　at　the　water。　The　fastest　runner　of　them　all；　she　carried　the　sealed　packet　and；　in　it；　the　things　they　had　stolen　from　the　fortress　in　the　Sareer。　Kwuteg　focused　his　thoughts　on　that　packet　as　he　ran。
　Save　it；　Siona！　Use　it　to　destroy　him！
　The　eager　whining　of　the　D…wolves　penetrated　Kwuteg's　consciousness。　They　were　too　close。　He　knew　then　that　he　would　not　escape。
　But　Siona　must　escape！
　He　risked　a　backward　glance　and　saw　one　of　the　wolves　move　to　flank　him。　The　pattern　of　their　attack　plan　imprinted　itself　on　his　awareness。　As　the　flanking　wolf　leaped　Kwuteg　also　leaped。　Placing　a　tree　between　himself　and　the　pack；　he　ducked　beneath　the　flanking　wolf；　grasped　one　of　its　hind　legs　in　both　hands　and；　without　stopping；　whirled　the　captive　wolf　as　a　flail　which　scattered　the　others。　Finding　the　creature　not　as　heavy　as　he　had　expected；　almost　weling　the　change　of　action；　he　flailed　his　living　bludgeon　at　the　attackers　in　a　dervish　whirl　which　brought　two　of　them　down　in　a　crash　of　skulls。　But　he　could　not　guard　every　side。　A　lean　male　caught　him　in　the　back；　hurling　him　against　a　tree　and　he　lost　his　bludgeon。
　〃Go！〃　he　screamed。
　The　pack　bored　in　and　Kwuteg　caught　the　throat　of　the　lean　male　in　his　teeth。　He　bit　down　with　every　gram　of　his　final　desperation。　Wolf　blood　spurted　over　his　face；　blinding　him。　Rolling　without　any　knowledge　of　where　he　went；　Kwuteg　grappled　another　wolf。　Part　of　the　pack　dissolved　into　a　yelping；　whirling　mob；　some　turning　against　their　own　injured。　Most　of　the　pack　remained　intent　on　the　quarry；　though。　Teeth　ripped　Kwuteg's　throat　from　both　sides。
　Siona；　too；　had　heard　Ulot　scream；　then　the　unmistakable　silence　followed　by　the　yelping　of　the　pack　as　the　wolves　resumed　the　chase。　Such　anger　filled　her　that　she　felt　she　might　explode　with　it。　Ulot　had　been　included　in　this　venture　because　of　his　analytical　ability；　his　way　of　seeing　a　whole　from　only　a　few　parts。　It　had　been　Ulot　who；　taking　the　inevitable　magnifier　from　his　kit；　had　examined　the　two　strange　volumes　they　had　found　in　with　the　Citadel's　plans。
　〃I　think　it's　a　cipher；〃　Ulot　had　said。
　And　Radi；　poor　Radi　who　had　been　the　first　of　their　team　to　die　。。。。　Radi　had　said；　〃We　can't　afford　the　extra　weight。　Throw　them　away。〃
　Ulot　had　objected：　〃Unimportant　things　aren't　concealed　this　way。〃
　Kwuteg　had　joined　Radi。　〃We　came　for　the　Citadel　plans　and　we　have　them。　Those　things　are　too　heavy。〃
　But　Siona　had　agreed　with　Ulot。　〃I　will　carry　them。〃
　That　had　ended　the　argument。
　Poor　Ulot。
　They　had　all　known　him　as　the　worst　runner　in　the　team。　Ulot　was　slow　in　most　things；　but　the　clarity　of　his　mind　could　not　be　denied。
　He　is　trustworthy。
　Ulot　had　been　trustworthy。
　Siona　mastered　her　anger　and　used　its　energy　to　increase　her　pace。　Trees　whipped　past　her　in　the　moonlight。　She　had　entered　that　timeless　void　of　the　running　when　there　was　nothing　else　but　her　own　movements；　her　own　body　doing　what　it　had　been　conditioned　to　do。
　Men　thought　her　beautiful　when　she　ran。　Siona　knew　this。　Her　long　dark　hair　was　tied　tightly　to　keep　it　from　whipping　in　the　wind　of　her　passage。　She　had　accused　Kwuteg　of　foolishness　when　he　had　refused　to　copy　her　style。
　Where　is　Kwuteg？
　Her　hair　was　not　like　Kwuteg's。　It　was　that　deep　brown　which　is　sometimes　confused　with　black；　but　is　not　truly　black；　not　like　Kwuteg's　at　all。
　In　the　way　genes　occasionally　do；　her　features　copied　those　of　a　long　dead　ancestor：　gently　oval　and　with　a　generous　mouth；　eyes　of　alert　awareness　above　a　small　nose。　Her　body　had　grown　lanky　from　years　of　running；　but　it　sent　strong　sexual　signals　to　the　males　around　her。
　Where　is　Kwuteg？
　The　wolf　pack　had　fallen　silent　and　this　filled　her　with　alarm。　They　had　done　that　before　bringing　down　Radi。　It　had　been　the　same　when　they　got　Setuse。
　She　told　herself　the　silence　could　mean　other　things。　Kwuteg；　too；　was　silent。。。and　strong。　The　injury　had　not　appeared　to　bother　him　too　much。
　Siona　began　to　feel　pain　in　her　chest；　the　gasping…to…e　which　she　knew　well　from　the　long　kilometers　of　training。　Perspiration　still　poured　down　her　body　under　the　thin；　black　running　garment。　The　kit；　with　its　precious　contents　sealed　against　the　river　passage　ahead；　rode　high　on　her　back。　She　thought　about　the　Citadel　charts　folded　there。
　Where　does　Leto　hide　his　hoard　of　spice？
　It　had　to　be　somewhere　within　the　Citadel。　It　had　to　be。　Somewhere　in　the　charts　there　would　be　a　clue。　The　mйlange　spice　for　which　the　Bene　Gesserit；　the　Guild　and　all　the　others　hungered。。。that　was　a　prize　worth　this　risk。
　And　those　two　cryptic　volumes。　Kwuteg　had　been　right　in　one　thing。　Ridulian　crystal　paper　was　heavy。　But　she　shared　Ulot's　excitement。　Something　important　was　concealed　in　those　lines　of　cipher。
　Once　more　the　eager　chase…yelps　of　the　wolves　sounded　in　the　forest　behind　her。
　Run；　Kwuteg！　Run！
　Now；　just　ahead　of　her　through　the　trees；　she　could　see　the　wide　cleared　strip　which　bordered　the　Idaho　River。　She　glimpsed　moon　brightness　on　water　beyond　the　clearing。
　Run；　Kwuteg！
　She　longed　for　a　sound　from　Kwuteg；　any　sound。　Only　the　two　of　them　remained　now　from　the　eleven　who　had　started　the　run。　Nine　had　paid　for　this　venture　with　their　lives：　Radi；　Aline；　Ulot；　Setuse；　lnineg；　Onemao；　Hutye；　Memar　and　Oala。
　Siona　thought　their　names　and　with　each　sent　a　silent　prayer　to　the　old　gods；　not　to　the　tyrant　Leto。　Especially；　she　prayed　to　Shai…Hulud。
　〃I　pray　to　Shai…Hulud；　who　lives　in　the　sand。〃
　Abruptly；　she　was　out　of　the　forest　and　onto　the　moon…bright　stretch　of　mowed　ground　along　the　river。　Straight　ahead　beyond　a　narrow　shingle　of　beach；　the　water　beckoned　to　her。　The　beach　was　silver　against　the　oily　flow。
　A　loud　yell　from　back　in　the　trees　almost　made　her　falter。　She　recognized　Kwuteg's　voice　above　the　wild　wolf　sounds。　Kwuteg　called　out　to　her　without　name；　an　unmistakable　cry　with　one　word　containing　countless　conversations…a　message　of　death　and　life。
　〃Go！〃
　The　pack　sounds　took　on　a　terrible　motion　of　frenzied　yelps；　but　nothing　more　from　Kwuteg。　She　knew　then　how　Kwuteg　was　spending　the　last　energies　of　his　life。
　Delaying　them　to　help　me　escape。
　Obeying　Kwuteg's　cry；　she　dashed　to　the　river's　edge　and　plunged　headfirst　into　the　water。　The　river　was　a　freezing　shock　after　the　heat　of　the　run。　It　stunned　her　for　a　moment　and　she　floundered　outward；　struggling　to　swim　and　regain　her　breath。　The　precious　kit　floated　and　bumped　against　the　back　of　her　head。
　The　Idaho　River　was　not　wide　here；　no　more　than　fifty　meters；　a　gently　sweeping　curve　with　sandy　indentations　fringed　by　roots　and　shelving　banks　of　lush　reeds　and　grass　where　the　water　refused　to　stay　in　the　straight　lines　Leto's　engineers　had　designed。　Siona　was　strengthened　by　the　knowledge　that　the　D…wolves　had　been　conditioned　to　stop　at　the　water。　Their　territorial　boundaries　had　been　drawn；　the　river　on　this　side　and　the　desert　wall　on　the　other　side。　Still；　she　swam　the　last　few　meters　underwater　and　surfaced　in　the　shadows　of　a　cutbank　before　turning　and　looking　back。
　The　wolf　pack　stood　ranged　along　the　bank；　all　except　one　which　had　e　down　to　the　river's　edge。　It　leaned　forward　with　its　forefeet　almost　into　the　flow。　She　heard　it　whine。
　Siona　knew　the　wolf　saw　her。　No　doubt　of　that。　D…wolves　were　noted　for　their　keen　eyesight。　There　were　Gaze　Hounds　in　the　ancestry　of　Leto's　forest　guardians　and　he　bred　the　wolves　for　their　eyesight。　She　wondered　if　this　once　the　wolves　might　break　through　their　conditioning。　They　were　mostly　sight…hunters。　If　that　one　wolf　at　the　river's　edge　should　enter　the　water；　all　might　follow。　Siona　held　her　breath。　She　felt　the　dragging　of　exhaustion。　They　had　e　almost　thirty　kilometers；　the　last　half　of　it　with　the　D…wolves　close　behind。
　The　wolf　at　the　river's　edge　whined　once　more　then　leaped　back　up　to　its　panions。　At　some　silent　signal；　they　turned　and　loped　back　into　the　forest。
　Siona　knew　where　they　would　go。　D…wolves　were　allowed　to　eat　anything　they　brought　down　in　the　Forbidden　Forest。　Everyone　knew　this。　It　was　why　the　wolves　roamed　the　forest　the　guardians　of　the　Sareer。
　〃You'll　pay　for　this；　Leto；〃　she　whispered。　It　was　a　low　sound；　her　voice；　very　close　to　the　quiet　rustling　of　the　water　against　the　reeds　just　behind　her。　〃You'll　pay　for　Ulot；　for　Kwuteg　and　for　all　the　others。　You'll　pay。〃
　She　pushed　outward　gently　and　drifted　with　the　current　until　her　feet　met　the　first　shelving　of　a　narrow　beach。　Slowly；　her　body　dragged　down　by　fatigue；　she　climbed　from　the　water　and　paused　to　check　that　the　sealed　contents　of　her　kit　had　remained　dry。　The　seal　was　unbroken。　She　stared　at　it　a　moment　in　the　moonlight；　then　lifted　her　gaze　to　the　forest　wall　across　the　river。
　The　price　we　paid。　Ten　dear　friends。
　Tears　glimmered　in　her　eyes；　but　she　had　the　stuff　of　the　ancient　Fremen　and　her　tears　were　few。　The　venture　across　the　river；　directly　through　the　forest　while　the　wolves　patrolled　the　northern　boundaries；　then　across　the　Last　Desert　of　the　Sareer　and　over　the　Citadel's　ramparts…all　of　this　already　was　assuming　dream　proportions　in　her　mind。。。even　the　flight　from　the　wolves　which　she　had　anticipated　because　it　was　a　certainty　that　the　guardian　pack　would　cross　the　track　of　the　invaders　and　be　waiting。。。all　a　dream。　It　was　the　past。
　I　escaped。
　She　restored　the　kit　with　its　sealed　packet　and　fastened　it　once　more　against　her　back。
　I　have　broken　through　your　defenses；　Leto。
　Siona　thought　then　about　the　cryptic　volumes。　She　felt　certain　that　something　hidden　in　those　lines　of　cipher　would　open　the　way　for　her　revenge。
　I　will　destroy　you；　Leto！
　Not　We　will　destroy　you！　That　was　not　Siona's　way。　She　would　do　it　herself。
　She　turned　and　strode　toward　the　orchards　beyond　the　river's　mowed　border。　As　she　walked　she　repeated　her　oath；　adding　to　it　aloud　the　old　Fremen　formula　which　terminated　in　her　full　name：
　〃Siona　Ibn　Fuad　al…Seyefa　Atreides　it　is　who　curses　you；　Leto。　You　will　pay　in　full！〃
　
　The　following　is　from　the　Hadi　Benotto　translation　of　the　volumes　discovered　at　Dar…es…Balat：
　I　WAS　born　Leto　Atreides　II　more　than　three　thousand　standard　years　ago；　measuring　from　the　moment　when　I　cause　these　words　to　be　printed。　My　father　was　Paul　Muad'Dib。　My　mother　was　his　Fremen　consort；　Chani。　My　maternal　grandmother　was　Faroula；　a　noted　herbalist　among　the　Fremen。　My　paternal　grandmother　was　Jessica；　a　product　of　the　Bene　Gesserit　breeding　scheme　in　their　search　for　a　male　who　could　share　the　powers　of　the　Sisterhood