fh.godemperorofdune-第25章

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　City。
　〃Peculiar　design　for　a　city；〃　Idaho　mused。
　〃It　has　one　primary　purpose…public　viewing　of　the　God　Emperor。〃
　Idaho　looked　up　at　the　segmented　body　on　the　cart；　brought　his　gaze　to　the　cowled　face。　He　wondered　if　he　would　ever　find　it　easy　to　look　on　that　bizarre　figure。
　〃But　that's　only　once　every　ten　years；〃　Idaho　said。
　〃At　the　Great　Sharing；　yes。〃
　〃And　you　just　close　it　down　between　times？〃
　〃The　embassies　are　there；　the　offices　of　the　trading　factors；　the　Fish　Speaker　schools；　the　service　and　maintenance　cadres；　the　museums　and　libraries。〃
　〃What　space　do　they　take？〃　Idaho　rapped　the　chart　with　his　knuckles；　〃A　tenth　of　the　City　at　most？〃
　〃Less　than　that。〃
　Idaho　let　his　gaze　wander　pensively　over　the　chart。
　〃Are　there　other　purposes　in　this　design；　m'Lord？〃
　〃It　is　dominated　by　the　need　for　public　viewing　of　my　person。〃
　〃There　must　be　clerks；　government　workers；　even　mon　laborers。　Where　do　they　live？〃
　〃Mostly　in　the　suburbs。〃
　Idaho　pointed　at　the　chart。　〃These　tiers　of　apartments？〃
　〃Note　the　balconies；　Duncan。〃
　〃All　around　the　plaza。〃　He　leaned　close　to　peer　down　at　the　chart。　〃That　plaza　is　two　kilometers　across！〃
　〃Note　how　the　balconies　are　set　back　in　steps　right　up　to　the　ring　of　spires。　The　elite　are　lodged　in　the　spires。〃
　〃And　they　can　all　look　down　on　you　in　the　plaza？〃
　〃You　do　not　like　that？〃
　〃There's　not　even　an　energy　barrier　to　protect　you！〃
　〃What　an　inviting　target　I　make。〃
　〃Why　do　you　do　it？〃
　〃There　is　a　delightful　myth　about　the　design　of　Onn。　I　foster　and　promote　the　myth。　It　is　said　that　once　there　lived　a　people　whose　ruler　was　required　to　walk　among　them　once　a　year　in　total　darkness；　without　weapons　or　armor。　The　mythical　ruler　wore　a　luminescent　suit　while　he　made　his　walk　through　the　night…shrouded　throng　of　his　subjects。　And　his　subjects…they　wore　black　for　the　occasion　and　were　never　searched　for　weapons。〃
　〃What's　that　have　to　do　with　Onn。。。and　you？〃
　〃Well；　obviously；　if　the　ruler　survived　his　walk；　he　was　a　good　ruler。〃
　〃You　don't　search　for　weapons？〃
　〃Not　openly。〃
　〃You　think　people　see　you　in　this　myth。〃　It　was　not　a　question。
　〃Many　do。〃
　Idaho　stared　up　at　Leto's　face　deep　in　its　gray　cowl。　The　blue…on…blue　eyes　stared　back　at　him　without　expression。
　Melange　eyes；　Idaho　thought。　But　Leto　said　he　no　longer　consumed　any　spice。　His　body　supplied　what　spice　his　addiction　demanded。
　〃You　don't　like　my　holy　obscenity；　my　enforced　tranquility；〃　Leto　said。
　〃I　don't　like　you　playing　god！〃
　〃But　a　god　can　conduct　the　Empire　as　a　musical　conductor　guides　a　symphony　through　its　movements。　My　performance　is　limited　only　by　my　restriction　to　Arrakis。　I　must　direct　the　symphony　from　here。〃
　Idaho　shook　his　head　and　looked　once　more　at　the　city　plan。　〃What're　these　apartments　behind　the　spires？〃
　〃Lesser　acmodations　for　our　visitors。〃
　〃They　can't　see　the　plaza。〃
　〃But　they　can。　Ixian　devices　project　my　image　into　those　rooms。〃
　〃And　the　inner　ring　looks　directly　down　on　you。　How　do　you　enter　the　plaza？〃
　〃A　presentation　stage　rises　from　the　center　to　display　me　to　my　people。〃
　〃Do　they　cheer？〃　Idaho　looked　directly　into　Leto's　eyes。
　〃They　are　permitted　to　cheer。〃
　〃You　Atreides　always　did　see　yourselves　as　part　of　history。〃
　〃How　astute　of　you　to　understand　a　cheer's　meaning。〃
　Idaho　returned　his　attention　to　the　city　map。　〃And　the　Fish　Speaker　schools　are　here？〃
　〃Under　your　left　hand；　yes。　That's　the　academy　where　Siona　was　sent　to　be　educated。　She　was　ten　at　the　time。〃
　〃Siona。。。I　must　learn　more　about　her；〃　Idaho　mused。
　〃I　assure　you　that　nothing　will　get　in　the　way　of　your　desire。〃
　As　he　marched　along　in　the　Royal　peregrination；　Idaho　was　lifted　from　his　reverie　by　awareness　that　the　Fish　Speaker　chant　was　diminishing。　Ahead　of　him；　the　Royal　Cart　had　begun　its　descent　into　the　chambers　beneath　the　plaza；　rolling　down　a　long　ramp。　Idaho；　still　in　sunlight；　looked　up　and　around　at　the　glistening　spires…this　reality　for　which　the　charts　had　not　prepared　him。　People　crowded　the　balconies　of　the　great　tiered　ring　around　the　plaza；　silent　people　who　stared　down　at　the　procession。
　No　cheering　from　the　privileged；　Idaho　thought。　The　silence　of　the　people　on　the　balconies　filled　Idaho　with　foreboding。
　He　entered　the　ramp…tunnel　and　its　lip　hid　the　plaza。　The　Fish　Speaker　chant　faded　away　as　he　descended　into　the　depths。　The　sound　of　marching　feet　all　around　him　was　curiously　amplified。
　Curiosity　replaced　the　sense　of　oppressive　foreboding。　Idaho　stared　around　him。　The　flat…floored　tube　was　artificially　illuminated　and　wide；　very　wide。　Idaho　estimated　that　seventy　people　could　march　abreast　into　the　bowels　of　the　plaza。　There　were　no　mobs　of　greeters　here；　only　a　widely　spaced　line　of　Fish　Speakers　who　did　not　chant；　contenting　themselves　to　stare　at　the　passage　of　their　God。
　Memory　of　the　charts　told　Idaho　the　layout　of　this　gigantic　plex　beneath　the　plaza…a　private　city　within　the　City；　a　place　where　only　the　God　Emperor；　the　courtiers　and　the　Fish　Speakers　could　go　without　escort。　But　the　charts　had　told　nothing　of　the　thick　pillars；　the　sense　of　massive；　guarded　spaces；　the　eerie　quiet　broken　by　the　tramping　of　feet　and　the　creaking　of　Leto's　cart。
　Idaho　looked　suddenly　at　the　Fish　Speakers　lining　the　way　and　realized　that　their　mouths　were　moving　in　unison；　a　silent　word　on　their　lips。　He　recognized　the　word：
　〃Siaynoq。〃
　〃Another　Festival　so　soon？〃　the　Lord　Leto　asked。
　〃It　has　been　ten　years；〃　the　majordomo　said。
　Do　you　think　by　this　exchange　that　the　Lord　Leto　betrays　an　ignorance　of　time's　passage？
　…The　Oral　History
　DURING　THE　private　audience　period　preceding　the　Festival　proper；　many　mented　that　the　God　Emperor　spent　more　than　the　allotted　time　with　the　new　Ixian　Ambassador；　a　young　woman　named　Hwi　Noree。
　She　was　brought　down　at　midmorning　by　two　Fish　Speakers　who　were　still　full　of　first…day　excitement。　The　private　audience　chamber　beneath　the　plaza　was　brilliantly　illuminated。　The　light　revealed　a　room　about　fifty　meters　long　by　thirty…five　wide。　Antique　Fremen　rugs　decorated　the　walls；　their　bright　patterns　worked　in　jewels　and　precious　metals；　all　bined　in　weavings　of　priceless　spice…fibers。　The　dull　reds　of　which　the　Old　Fremen　had　been　so　fond　predominated。　The　chamber's　floor　was　mostly　transparent；　a　setting　for　exotic　fishes　worked　in　radiant　crystal。　Beneath　the　floor　flowed　a　stream　of　clear　blue　water；　all　of　its　moisture　sealed　away　from　the　audience　chamber；　but　excitingly　near　Leto；　who　rested　on　a　padded　elevation　at　the　end　of　the　room　opposite　the　door。
　His　first　view　of　Hwi　Noree　revealed　a　remarkable　likeness　to　her　Uncle　Malky；　but　her　grave　movements　and　the　calmness　of　her　stride　were　equally　remarkable　in　their　difference　from　Malky。　She　did　have　that　dark　skin；　though；　the　oval　face　with　its　regular　features。　Placid　brown　eyes　stared　back　at　Leto。　And　where　Malky's　hair　had　been　gray；　hers　was　a　luminous　brown。　Hwi　Noree　radiated　an　inner　peace　which　Leto　sensed　spreading　its　influence　around　her　as　she　approached。　She　stopped　ten　paces　away；　below　him。　There　was　a　classical　balance　about　her；　something　not　accidental。
　With　growing　excitement；　Leto　realized　a　betrayal　of　lxian　machinations　in　the　new　Ambassador。　They　were　well　along　in　their　own　program　to　breed　selected　types　for　specific　functions。　Hwi　Noree's　function　was　distressingly　obvious…to　charm　the　God　Emperor；　to　find　a　chink　in　his　armor。
　Despite　this；　as　the　meeting　progressed；　Leto　found　himself　truly　enjoying　her　pany。　Hwi　Noree　stood　in　a　puddle　of　daylight　which　was　guided　into　the　chamber　by　a　system　of　Ixian　prisms。　The　light　filled　Leto's　end　of　the　chamber　with　glowing　gold　which　centered　on　the　Ambassador。　dimming　behind　the　God　Emperor　where　stood　a　short　line　of　Fish　Speaker　guards…twelve　women　chosen　for　their　inability　to　hear　or　speak。
　Hwi　Noree　wore　a　simple　gown　of　purple　ambiel　decorated　only　by　a　silver　necklace　pendant　stamped　with　the　symbol　of　IX。　Soft　sandals　the　color　of　her　gown　peeked　from　beneath　her　hem。
　〃Are　you　aware；〃　Leto　asked　her；　〃that　I　killed　one　of　your　ancestors？〃
　She　smiled　softly。　〃My　Uncle　Malky　included　that　information　in　my　early　training；　Lord。〃
　As　she　spoke；　Leto　realized　that　part　of　her　education　had　been　conducted　by　the　Bene　Gesserit。　She　had　their　way　of　controlling　her　responses；　of　sensing　the　undertones　in　a　conversation。　He　could　see；　however；　that　the　Bene　Gesserit　overlay　had　been　a　delicate　thing；　never　penetrating　the　basic　sweetness　of　her　nature。
　〃You　were　told　that　I　would　introduce　this　subject；〃　he　said。
　〃Yes；　Lord。　I　know　that　my　ancestor　had　the　temerity　to　bring　a　weapon　here　in　the　attempt　to　harm　you。〃
　〃As　did　your　immediate　predecessor。　Were　you　told　that；　as　well？〃
　〃　I　did　not　learn　it　until　my　arrival；　Lord。　They　were　fools！　Why　did　you　spare　my　predecessor？〃
　〃When　I　did　not　spare　your　ancestor？〃
　〃Yes；　Lord。〃
　〃Kobat；　your　predecessor；　was　more　valuable　to　me　as　a　messenger。〃
　〃Then　they　told　me　the　truth；〃　she　said。　Again　…；h。…　smiled。　〃One　cannot　always　depend　on　hearing　truth　from　lone'；　associates　and　superiors。〃
　The　response　was　so　utterly　open　that　Leto　could　not　suppress　a　chuckle。　Even　as　he　laughed；　he　realized　that　this　young　woman　still　possessed　the　Mind　of　First　Awakening；　the　elemental　mind　which　came　in　the　first　shock　of　birth…awareness。　She　was　alive！〃Then　you　do　not　hold　it　against　me　that　I　killed　your　ancestor？〃　he　asked。
　〃He　tried　to　assassinate　you！　I　am　told　you　crushed　him；　Lord；　with　your　own　body。〃
　〃True。〃
　〃And　next　you　turned　his　weapon　against　your　own　Holy　Self　to　demonstrate　that　the　weapon　was　ineffectual。。。and　it　was　the　best　lasgun　we　lxians　could　make。〃
　〃The　witnesses　reported　correctly；〃　Leto　said。
　And　he　thought：　Which　shows　how　much　you　can　depend　on　witnesses！　As　a　matter　of　historical　accuracy；　he　knew　that　he　had　turned　the　lasgun　only　against　his　ribbed　body；　not　against　hands；　face　or　flippers。　The　pre…worm　body　possessed　a　remarkable　capacity　for　absorbing　heat。　The　chemical　factory　within　him　converted　heat　to　oxygen。
　〃I　never　doubted　the　story；〃　she　said。
　〃Why　has　Ix　repeated　this　foolish　gesture？〃　Leto　asked。
　〃They　have　not　told　me；　Lord。　Perhaps　Kobat　took　it　onto　himself　to　behave　this　way。〃
　〃I　think　not。　It　has　occurred　to　me　that　your　people　desired　only　the　death　of　their　chosen　assassin。〃
　〃The　death　of　Kobat？〃
　〃No；　the　death　of　the　one　they　chose　to　use　the　weapon。〃
　〃Who　was　that；　Lord？　I've　not　been　told。〃
　〃It's　unimportant。　Do　you　recall　what　I　said　at　the　time　of　your　ancestor's　foolishness？〃
　〃You　threatened　terrible　punishment　should　such　violence　ever　again　enter　our　thoughts。〃　She　lowered　her　gaze；　but　not　before　Leto　glimpsed　a　deep　determination　in　her　eyes。　She　would　use　the　best　of　her　abilities　to　blunt　his　wrath。
　〃I　promised　that　none　of　you　would　escape　my　anger；〃　Leto　said。
　She　jerked　her　attention　up　to　his　face。　〃Yes；　Lord。〃　And　now　her　manner　revealed　personal　fear。
　〃None　can　escape　me；　not　even　the　futile　colony　you've　recently　planted　at。　。　〃　And　Leto　reeled　off　for　her　the　standard　chart　coordinates　of　a　new　colony　the　lxians　had　plan