fh.godemperorofdune-第26章

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　〃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　planted　secretly　far　beyond　what　they　thought　were　the　reaches　of　his　Empire。
　She　betrayed　no　surprise。　〃Lord；　I　think　it　was　because　I　warned　them　you　would　know　of　this　that　I　was　chosen　as　Ambassador。〃
　Leto　studied　her　more　carefully。　What　have　we　here：'　he　wondered。　Her　observation　had　been　subtle　and　penetrating。　The　lxians。　he　knew；　had　thought　distance　and　enormously　magnified　transportation　costs　would　insulate　the　new　colony。　Hwi　Noree　thought　not　and　had　said　so。　But　she　believed　her　masters　had　chosen　her　as　Ambassador　because　of　this…a　ment　on　the　Ixian　caution。　They　thought　they　had　a　friend　at　court　here；　but　one　who　also　would　he　seen　as　Leto's　friend。　He　nodded　as　the　pattern　took　shape。　Quite　early　in　his　ascendancy　he　had　revealed　to　the　lxians　the　exact　location　of　the　supposedly　secret　Ixian　Core；　the　heartland　of'　the　technological　federation　which　they　governed。　It　had　been　a　secret　the　lxians　thought　safe　because　they　paid　gigantic　bribes　for　it　to　the　Spacing　Guild。　Leto　had　winkled　them　out　by　prescient　observation　and　deduction…and　by　consulting　his　memories；　where　there　were　more　than　a　few　lxians。
　At　the　time；　Leto　had　warned　the　lxians　that　he　would　punish　them　if　they　acted　against　him。　They　had　responded　with　consternation　and　accused　the　Guild　of　betraying　them。　This　had　amused　Leto　and　he　had　responded　with　such　a　burst　of　laughter　that　the　lxians　were　abashed。　He　had　then　informed　them　in　a　cold　and　accusatory　tone　that　he　had　no　need　of'　spies　or　traitors　or　other　ordinary　trappings　of　government。
　Did　they　not　believe　he　was　a　god？
　For　a　time　thereafter；　the　lxians　were　responsive　to　his　requests。　Leto　had　not　abused　the　relationship。　His　demands　were　modest…a　machine　for　this；　a　device　for　that。　He　would　state　his　needs　and　presently　the　lxians　would　deliver　the　required　technological　toy。　Only　once　had　they　tried　to　deliver　a　violent　instrument　into　one　of　his　machines。　He　had　slain　the　entire　Ixian　delegation　before　they　could　even　unwrap　the　thing。
　Hwi　Noree　waited　patiently　while　Leto　mused。　Not　the　slightest　sign　of　impatience　surfaced。
　Beautiful；　he　thought。
　In　view　of　his　long　association　with　the　lxians；　this　new　stance　sent　the　juices　coursing　through　Leto's　body。　Ordinarily；　the　passions；　crises　and　necessities　which　had　produced　and　impelled　him　burned　low。　He　often　felt　that　he　had　outlived　his　times。　But　the　presence　of　a　Hwi　Noree　said　he　was　needed。　This　pleased　him。　Leto　felt　that　it　might　even　be　possible　that　the　Ixians　had　achieved　a　partial　success　with　their　machine　to　amplify　the　linear　prescience　of　a　Guild　navigator。　A　small　blip　in　the　flow　of　great　events　might　have　escaped　him。　Could　they　really　make　such　a　machine？　What　a　marvel　that　would　be'　Purposefully；　he　refused　to　use　his　powers　for　even　the　smallest　search　through　this　possibility。
　wish　to　be　surprised。'
　Leto　smiled　benignly　at　Hwi。　〃How　have　they　prepared　you　to　woo　me？〃　he　asked。
　She　did　not　blink。　〃I　was　provided　with　a　set　of　memorized　responses　for　particular　exigencies；〃　she　said。　〃I　learned　them　as　I　was　required；　but　I　do　not　intend　to　use　them。〃
　Which　is　exactly　what　they　want；　Leto　thought。
　〃Tell　your　masters；〃　he　said；　〃that　you　are　precisely　the　right　kind　of　bait　to　dangle　in　front　of　me。〃
　She　bowed　her　head。　〃If　it　pleases　my　Lord。〃
　〃Yes；　you　do。〃
　He　indulged　himself　then　in　a　small　temporal　probe　to　examine　Hwi's　immediate　future；　tracing　the　threads　of　her　past　through　this。　Hwi　appeared　in　a　fluid　future；　a　current　whose　movements　were　susceptible　to　many　deflections。　She　would　know　Siona　in　only　a　casual　way　unless。。。Questions　flowed　through　Leto's　mind。　A　Guild　steersman　was　advising　the　lxians　and　he　obviously　had　detected　Siona's　disturbance　in　the　temporal　fabric。　Did　the　steersman　really　believe　he　could　provide　security　against　the　God　Emperor's　detection？
　The　temporal　probe　took　several　minutes；　but　Hwi　did　not　fidget。　Leto　looked　at　her　carefully。　She　seemed　timeless　outside　of　time　in　a　deeply　peaceful　way。　He　had　never　before　encountered　a　mon　mortal　able　to　wait　thus　in　front　of　him　without　some　nervousness。
　〃Where　were　you　born；　Hwi？〃　he　asked。
　〃On　Ix　itself；　Lord。〃
　〃I　mean　specifically…the　building；　its　location；　your　parents；　the　people　around　you；　friends　and　family；　your　schooling…all　of　it。〃
　〃I　never　knew　my　parents；　Lord。　I　was　told　they　died　while　I　was　still　an　infant。〃
　〃Did　you　believe　this？〃
　〃At　first。。。of　course。　Later；　I　built　fantasies。　I　even　imagined　that　Malky　was　my　father。　。　。　but。　。　。〃　She　shook　her　head。
　〃You　did　not　like　your　Uncle　Malky？〃
　〃No；　I　didn't。　Oh；　I　admired　him。〃
　〃My　reaction　precisely；〃　Leto　said。　〃But　what　of　your　friends　and　your　schooling'？〃
　〃My　teachers　were　specialists；　even　some　Bene　Gesserit　were　brought　in　to　train　me　in　emotional　control　and　observation。　Malky　said　I　was　being　prepared　for　great　things。〃
　〃And　your　friends？〃
　〃I　don't　think　I　ever　had　any　real　friends…only　people　who　were　brought　in　contact　with　me　for　specific　purposes　in　my　education。〃
　〃And　these　great　things　for　which　you　were　trained；　did　anyone　ever　speak　of　those'？〃
　〃Malky　said　I　was　being　prepared　to　charm　you；　Lord。〃
　〃How　old　are　you；　Hwi？〃
　〃I　don't　know　my　exact　age。　I　guess　I'm　about　twenty…six。　I've　never　celebrated　a　birthday。　I　only　learned　about　birthdays　by　accident；　one　of　my　teachers　giving　an　excuse　for　her　absence。　I　never　saw　that　teacher　again。〃
　Leto　found　himself　fascinated　by　this　response。　His　observations　provided　him　with　certainty　that　there　had　been　no　Tleilaxu　interventions　into　her　Ixian　flesh。　She　had　not　e　from　a　Tleilaxu　axlotl　tank。　Why　the　secrecy；　then'？
　〃Does　your　Uncle　Malky　know　your　age'？〃
　〃Perhaps。　But　I　haven't　seen　him　for　many　years。〃
　〃Didn't　anyone　ever　tell　you　how　old　you　were'？〃
　'No。
　〃Why　do　you　suppose　that　is'？〃
　〃Maybe　they　thought　I'd　ask　if　I　were　interested。〃
　〃Were　you　interested'？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Then　why　didn't　you　ask？〃
　〃I　thought　at　first　there　might　be　a　record　somewhere。　I　looked。　There　was　nothing。　I　reasoned　then　that　they　would　not　answer　my　question。〃
　〃For　what　it　tells　me　about　you；　Hwi；　that　answer　pleases　me　very　much。　I；　too；　am　ignorant　of　your　background；　but　I　can　make　an　enlightened　guess　at　your　birthplace。〃
　Her　eyes　focused　on　his　face　with　a　charged　intensity　which　had　no　pretense　in　it。
　〃You　were　born　within　this　machine　your　masters　are　trying　to　perfect　for　the　Guild；〃　Leto　said。　〃You　were　conceived　there；
　as　well。　It　may　even　be　that　Malky　was　your　father。　That　is　not　important。　Do　you　know　about　this　machine；　Hwi'？〃
　〃I'm　not　supposed　to　know　about　it；　Lord。　but。。。〃
　〃Another　indiscretion　by　one　of　your　teachers？〃
　〃By　my　uncle　himself。〃
　A　burst　of　laughter　erupted　from　Leto。　〃What　a　rogue！〃　he　said。　〃What　a　charming　rogue！〃
　〃Lord？〃
　〃This　is　his　revenge　on　your　masters。　He　did　not　like　being　removed　from　my　court。　He　told　me　at　the　time　that　his　replacement　was　less　than　a　fool。〃
　Hwi　shrugged。　〃A　plex　man；　my　uncle。〃
　〃Listen　to　me　carefully；　Hwi。　Some　of　your　associations　here　on　Arrakis　could　be　dangerous　to　you。　I　will　protect　you　as　I　can。　Do　you　understand'？〃
　〃I　think　so；　Lord。〃　She　stared　up　at　him　solemnly。
　〃Now；　a　message　for　your　masters。　It　is　clear　to　me　that　they　have　been　listening　to　a　Guild　steersman　and　they　have　joined　themselves　to　the　Tleilaxu　in　a　perilous　fashion。　Tell　them　for　me　that　their　purposes　are　quite　transparent。〃
　〃Lord；　I　have　no　knowledge　of。　。　。〃
　〃　am　aware　of　how　they　use　you；　Hwi。　For　this　reason　you　may　tell　your　masters　also　that　you　arc　to　be　the　permanent　Ambassador　to　my　court。　I　will　not　wele　another　Ixian。　And　should　your　masters　ignore　my　warnings。　trying　further　interference　with　my　wishes；　I　shall　crush　them。〃
　Tears　welled　from　her　eyes　and　ran　down　her　cheeks；　but　Leto　was　grateful　that　she　did　not　indulge　in　any　other　display　such　as　falling　to　her　knees。
　〃I　already　have　warned　them。〃　she　said。　〃Truly　I　did。　I　told　them　they　must　obey　you。〃
　Leto　could　see　that　this　was　true。
　What　a　marvelous　creature；　this　Hwi　Noree；　he　thought。　She　appeared　the　epitome　of　goodness；　obviously　bred　and　conditioned　for　this　quality　by　her　Ixian　masters　with　their　careful　calculation　of　the　effect　this　would　have　on　the　God　Emperor。
　Out　of　his　thronging　ancestral　memories。　Leto　could　see　her　as　an　idealized　nun；　kindly　and　self…sacrificing；　all　sincerity。　It　was　her　most　basic　nature；　the　place　where　she　lived。　She　found　it　easiest　to　be　truthful　and　open；　capable　of　shading　this　only　to　prevent　pain　for　others。　He　saw　this　latter　trait　as　the　deepest　change　the　Bene　Gesserit　had　been　able　to　effect　in　her。　Hwi's　real　manner　remained　outgoing；　sensitive　and　naturally　sweet。　Leto　could　find　little　sense　of　manipulative　calculation　in　her。　She　appeared　immediately　responsive　and　wholesome；　excellent　at　listening　（another　Bene　Gesserit　attribute）。　There　was　nothing　openly　seductive　about　her；　yet　this　very　fact　made　her　profoundly　seductive　to　Leto。
　As　he　had　remarked　to　one　of　the　earlier　Duncans　on　a　similar　occasion：　〃You　must　understand　this　about　me；　a　thing　which　some　obviously　suspect…sometimes　it's　unavoidable　that　I　have　delusionary　sensations；　the　feeling　that　somewhere　inside　this　changeling　form　of　mine　there　exists　an　adult　human　body　with　all　of　the　necessary　functions。〃
　〃All　of　them；　Lord？〃　the　Duncan　had　asked。
　〃All！　I　feel　the　vanished　parts　of　myself。　I　can　feel　my　legs；　quite　unremarkable　and　so　real　to　my　senses。　I　can　feel　the　pumping　of　my　human　glands；　some　of　which　no　longer　exist。　I　can　even　feel　genitalia　which　I　know；　intellectually；　vanished　centuries　ago。〃
　〃But　surely　if　you　know。　。　。〃
　〃Knowledge　does　not　suppress　such　feelings。　The　vanished　parts　of　myself　are　still　there　in　my　personal　memories　and　in　the　multiple　identity　of　all　my　ancestors。〃
　As　Leto　looked　at　Hwi　standing　in　front　of　him；　it　helped　not　one　whit　to　know　he　had　no　skull　and　that　what　once　had　been　his　brain　was　now　a　massive　web　of　ganglia　spread　through　his　pre…worm　flesh。　Nothing　helped。　He　could　still　feel　his　brain　aching　where　it　once　had　reposed：　he　could　still　feel　his　skull　throbbing。
　By　just　standing　there　in　front　of　him。　Hwi　cried　out　to　his　lost　humanity。　It　was　too　much　for　him　and　he　moaned　in　despair：
　〃Why　do　your　masters　torture　me？　〃
　〃Lord？〃
　〃By　sending　you！〃
　〃　I　would　not　hurt　you；　Lord。〃
　〃Just　by　existing　you　hurt　me！〃
　〃　I　did　not　know。〃　Tears　fell　unrestrained　from　her　eyes。　〃They　never　told　me　what　they　were　really　doing。〃
　He　calmed　himself　and　spoke　softly：　〃Leave　me　now；　Hwi。　Go　about　your　business；　but　return　quickly　if　I　summon　you！〃
　She　left　quietly；　but　Leto　could　see　that　Hwi；　too；　was　tortured。　There　was　no　mistaking　the　deep　sadness　in　her　for　the　humanity　Leto　had　sacrificed。　She　knew　what　Leto　knew：
　they　would　have　been　friends；　lovers；　panions　in　an　ultimate：　sharing　between　the　sexes。　Her　masters　had　planned　for　her　to　know。
　The　lxians　are　cruel！　he　thought。