fh.godemperorofdune-第28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！


　〃I　don't　understand　you；　m'Lord。〃
　〃That　is　the　beginning　of　knowledge…the　discovery　of　something　we　do　not　understand。〃
　Before　Idaho　could　respond；　Leto　gave　a　hand　signal　to　a　nearby　guard　who　waved　a　hand　in　front　of　a　crystalline　control　panel　on　the　wall　behind　the　God　Emperor's　dais。　A　three…dimensional　view　of　Nunepi's　punishment　appeared　in　the　center　of　the　chamber。Idaho　stepped　down　to　the　floor　of　the　chamber　and　peered　closely　at　the　scene。　It　was　shown　from　a　slight　elevation　looking　down　on　the　plaza；　and　was　plete　with　sounds　of　the　swelling　throng　who　had　run　to　the　scene　at　the　first　signs　of　excitement。　Nunepi　was　bound　to　two　legs　of　a　tripod；　his　feet　spread　wide；　his　arms　tied　together　above　him　almost　at　the　apex　of　the　tripod。　His　clothing　had　been　ripped　from　his　body　and　lay　around　him　in　rags。　A　bulky；　masked　Fish　Speaker　stood　nearby　holding　an　improvised　whip　fashioned　of　elacca　rope　which　had　been　frayed　at　the　end　into　wire…like　fine　strands。　Idaho　thought　he　recognized　the　masked　woman　as　the　Friend　of　his　first　interview。
　At　a　signal　from　a　Guard　officer；　the　masked　Fish　Speaker　stepped　forward　and　brought　the　elacca　whip　down　in　a　slashing　arc　onto　Nunepi's　exposed　back。
　Idaho　winced。　The　crowd　gasped。
　Welts　appeared　where　the　whip　had　struck；　but　Nunepi　remained　silent。
　Again；　the　whip　descended。　Blood　betrayed　the　lines　of　this　second　stroke。
　Once　more；　the　whip　flayed　Nunepi's　back。　More　blood　appeared。
　Leto　felt　remote　sadness。　Nayla　is　too　ardent；　he　thought。　She　will　kill　him　and　that　will　cause　problems。
　〃Duncan！〃　Leto　called。
　Idaho　turned　from　his　fascinated　examination　of　the　projected　scene　just　as　a　shout　lifted　from　the　crowd…response　to　a　particularly　bloody　stroke。
　〃Send　someone　to　stop　the　flogging　after　twenty　lashes；〃'　Leto　said。　〃Have　it　announced　that　the　magnanimity　of　the　God　Emperor　has　reduced　the　punishment。〃
　Idaho　raised　a　hand　to　one　of　the　guards；　who　nodded　and　ran　from　the　chamber。
　〃e　here；　Duncan；〃　Leto　said。
　Still　smarting　under　what　he　believed　was　Leto's　poking　fun　at　him；　Idaho　returned　to　Leto's　side。
　〃Whatever　I　do；〃　Leto　said；　〃it　is　to　teach　a　lesson。〃
　Idaho　rigidly　willed　himself　not　to　look　back　at　the　scene　of　Nunepi's　punishment。　Was　that　the　sound　of　Nunepi　groaning？　The　shouts　of　the　crowd　pierced　Idaho。　He　stared　up　into　Leto's　eyes。
　〃There　is　a　question　in　your　mind；〃　Leto　said。
　〃Many　questions；　m'Lord。〃
　〃Speak　them。〃
　〃What　is　the　lesson　in　that　fool's　punishment？　What　do　we　say　when　asked？〃
　〃We　say　that　no　one　is　permitted　to　blaspheme　against　the　God　Emperor。〃
　〃A　bloody　lesson；　m'Lord。〃
　〃Not　as　bloody　as　some　I've　taught。〃
　Idaho　shook　his　head　from　side　to　side　in　obvious　dismay。　〃Nothing　good's　going　to　e　of　this！〃
　〃Precisely！〃
　
　Safaris　through　ancestral　memories　teach　me　many　things。　The　patterns；　ahhh；　the　patterns　Liberal　bigots　are　the　ones　who　trouble　me　most。　I　distrust　the　extremes。　Scratch　a　conservative　and　you　find　someone　who　prefers　the　past　over　any　future。　Scratch　a　liberal　and　find　a　closet　aristocrat。　It's　true！　Liberal　governments　always　develop　into　aristocracies　The　bureaucracies　betray　the　true　intent　of　people　who　form　such　governments。　Right　from　the　first；　the　little　people　who　formed　the　governments　which　promised　to　equalize　the　social　burdens　found　themselves　suddenly　in　the　hands　of　bureaucratic　aristocracies。　Of　course；　all　bureaucracies　follow　this　pattern。　but　what　a　hypocrisy　to　find　this　even　under　a　munized　banner　Ahhh；　well；　if　patterns　teach　me　anything　it's　that　patterns　are　repeated。　My　oppressions。　by　and　large；　are　no　worse　than　any　of　the　others　and；　at　least。　I　teach　a　new　lesson。
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　It　was　well　into　the　darkness　of　Audience　Day　before　Leto　could　meet　with　the　Bene　Gesserit　delegation。　Moneo　had　prepared　the　Reverend　Mothers　for　the　delay；　repeating　the　God　Emperor's　reassurances。
　Reporting　back　to　his　Emperor；　Moneo　had　said：　〃They　expect　a　rich　reward。〃
　〃We　shall　see；〃　Leto　had　said。　〃We　shall　see。　Now；　tell　me　what　it　was　the　Duncan　demanded　of　you　as　you　entered。〃
　〃He　wished　to　know　if　you　had　ever　before　had　someone　flogged。〃
　〃And　you　replied？〃
　〃That　there　was　no　record　of；　nor　had　I　ever　before　witnessed；　such　a　punishment。〃
　〃His　response？〃
　〃This　is　not　Atreides。〃
　〃Does　he　think　I'm　insane？〃
　〃He　did　not　say　that。〃
　〃There　was　more　to　your　encounter。　What　else　troubles　our　new　Duncan？〃
　〃He　has　met　the　Ixian　Ambassador；　Lord。　He　find　Hwi　Noree　attractive。　He　inquired　of。　。　。〃
　〃That　must　be　prevented；　Moneo！　I　trust　you　to　raise　barriers　against　any　liaison　between　the　Duncan　and　Hwi。〃
　〃My　Lord　mands。〃
　〃Indeed　I　do！　Go　now　and　prepare　for　our　meeting　with　the　women　of　the　Bene　Gesserit。　I　will　receive　them　at　False　Sietch。〃
　〃Lord；　is　there　significance　in　this　choice　of　a　meeting　place？〃
　〃A　whim。　On　your　way　out；　tell　the　Duncan　he　may　take　out　a　troop　of　guards　and　scour　the　City　for　trouble。〃
　Waiting　for　the　Bene　Gesserit　delegation　at　False　Sietch；　Leto　reviewed　this　exchange；　finding　some　amusement　in　it。　He　could　imagine　the　reactions　through　the　Festival　City　at　the　approach　of　a　disturbed　Duncan　Idaho　in　mand　of　a　Fish　Speaker　troop。
　Like　the　quick　silence　of　frogs　when　a　predator　es。
　Now　that　he　was　in　False　Sietch；　Leto　found　himself　pleased　by　the　choice。　A　free…form　building　of　irregular　domes　at　the　edge　of　Onn；　False　Sietch　was　almost　a　kilometer　across。　It　had　been　the　first　abode　of　the　Museum　Fremen　and　now　was　their　school；　its　corridors　and　chambers　patrolled　by　alert　Fish　Speakers。
　The　reception　hall　where　Leto　waited；　an　oval　about　two　hundred　meters　in　its　long　dimension；　was　illuminated　by　giant　glowglobes　which　floated　in　blue…green　isolation　some　thirty　meters　above　the　floor。　The　light　muted　the　dull　browns　and　tans　of　the　imitation　stone　from　which　the　entire　structure　had　been　fashioned。　Leto　waited　on　a　low　ledge　at　one　end　of　the　chamber；　looking　outward　through　a　half…circle　window　longer　than　his　body。　The　opening；　four　stories　above　the　ground；　framed　a　view　which　included　a　remnant　of　the　ancient　Shield　Wall　preserved　for　its　cliff…side　caves　where　Atreides　troops　had　once　been　slaughtered　by　Harkonnen　attackers。　The　frosty　light　of　First　Moon　silvered　the　cliff's　outlines。　Fires　dotted　the　cliff…side；　the　flames　exposed　where　no　Fremen　would　have　dared　betray　his　presence。　The　fires　winked　at　Leto　as　people　passed　in　front　of　them…Museum　Fremen　exercising　their　right　to　occupy　the　sacred　precincts。
　Museum　Fremen！　Leto　thought。
　'They　were　such　narrow　thinkers　with　near　horizons。
　But　why　should　I　object？　They　are　what　l　made　them。
　Leto　heard　the　Bene　Gesserit　delegation　then。　They　chanted　as　they　approached；　a　heavy　sound　all　a…jostle　with　vowels。
　Moneo　preceded　them　with　a　guard　detail　which　took　up　position　on　Leto's　ledge。　Moneo　stood　on　the　chamber　floor　just　below　Leto's　face；　glanced　at　Leto。　turned　to　the　open　hall。
　The　women　entered　in　a　double　file；　ten　of　them　led　by　two　Reverend　Mothers　in　traditional　black　robes。
　〃That　is　Anteac　on　the　left；　Luyseyal　on　the　right；〃　Moneo　said。
　The　names　recalled　for　Leto　the　earlier　words　about　the　Reverend　Mothers　brought　in　by　Moneo；　agitated　and　distrustful。　Moneo　did　not　like　the　witches。
　〃They're　both　Truthsayers；〃　Moneo　had　said。　〃Anteac　is　much　older　than　Luyseyal；　but　the　latter　is　reputed　to　be　the　best　Truthsayer　the　Bene　Gesserit　have。　You　may　note　that　Anteac　has　a　scar　on　her　forehead　whose　origin　we　have　been　unable　to　discover。　Luyseyal　has　red　hair　and　appears　remarkably　young　for　one　of　her　reputation。〃
　As　he　watched　the　Reverend　Mothers　approach　with　their　entourage；　Leto　felt　the　quick　surge　of　his　memories。　The　women　wore　their　hoods　forward；　shrouding　their　faces。　The　attendants　and　acolytes　walked　at　a　respectful　distance　behind。。。it　was　all　of　a　piece。　Some　patterns　did　not　change。　These　women　might　have　been　entering　a　real　sietch　with　real　Fremen　here　to　honor　them。
　Their　heads　know　what　their　bodies　deny；　he　thought。
　Leto's　penetrating　vision　saw　the　subservient　caution　in　their　eyes；　but　they　strode　up　the　long　chamber　like　people　confident　of　their　religious　power。
　It　pleased　Leto　to　think　that　the　Bene　Gesserit　possessed　only　such　powers　as　he　permitted。　The　reasons　for　this　indulgence　were　clear　to　him。　Of　all　the　people　in　his　Empire；　Reverend　Mothers　were　most　like　him…limited　to　the　memories　of　only　their　female　ancestors　and　the　collateral　female　identities　of　their　inheritance　ritual…still；　each　of　them　did　exist　as　somewhat　of　an　integrated　mob。
　The　Reverend　Mothers　came　to　a　stop　at　the　required　ten　paces　from　Leto's　ledge。　The　entourage　spread　out　on　each　side。
　It　amused　Leto　to　greet　such　delegations　in　the　voice　and　persona　of　his　grandmother；　Jessica。　The　Bene　Gesserit　had　e　to　expect　this　and　he　did　not　disappoint　them。
　〃Wele；　Sisters；〃　he　said。　The　voice　was　a　smooth　contralto；　definitely　Jessica's　controlled　feminine　tones　with　just　a　hint　of　mockery…a　voice　recorded　and　often　studied　in　the　Sisterhood's　Chapter　House。
　As　he　spoke；　Leto　sensed　menace。　Reverend　Mothers　were　never　pleased　when　he　greeted　them　this　way；　but　the　reaction　here　carried　different　undertones。　Moneo；　too；　sensed　it。　He　raised　n　finger　and　the　guards　moved　closer　to　Leto。
　Anteac　spoke　first：　〃Lord；　we　watched　that　display　in　the　plaza　this　morning。　What　do　you　gain　by　such　antics？〃
　So　that's　the　tone　we　wish　to　set；　he　thought。
　Speaking　in　his　own　voice；　he　said：　〃You　are　temporarily　in　my　good　graces。　Would　you　change　that？〃
　〃Lord；〃　Anteac　said；　〃we　are　shocked　that　you　could　thus　punish　an　Ambassador。　We　do　not　understand　what　you　gain　by　this。〃
　〃I　gain　nothing。　I　am　diminishes：。〃
　Luyseyal　spoke　up：　〃This　can　only　reinforce　thoughts　of　oppression。〃
　〃I　wonder　why　so　few　ever　thought　of　the　Bene　Gesserit　as　oppressors？〃　Leto　asked。
　Anteac　spoke　to　her　panion：　〃If　it　pleases　the　God　Emperor　to　inform　us；　he　will　do　so。　Let　us　get　to　the　purposes　of　our　Embassy。〃
　Leto　smiled。　〃The　two　of　you　can　e　closer。　Leave　your　attendants　and　approach。〃
　Moneo　stepped　two　paces　to　his　right　as　the　Reverend　Mothers　moved　in　characteristic　silent　gliding　to　within　three　paces　of　the　ledge。
　〃It's　almost　as　though　they　had　no　feet：〃　Moneo　had　once　plained。
　Recalling　this；　Leto　observed　how　carefully　Moneo　watched　the　two　women。　They　were　menacing；　but　Moneo　dared　not　object　to　their　nearness。　The　God　Emperor　had　ordered　it；　thus　it　would　be。
　Leto　lifted　his　attention　to　the　attendants　waiting　where　the　Bene　Gesserit　entourage　had　first　stopped。　The　acolytes　wore　hoodless　black　gowns。　He　saw　tiny　clues　to　forbidden　rituals　about　them…an　amulet；　a　small　trinket；　a　colorful　corner　of　a　kerchief　so　arranged　that　more　color　might　be　flashed　carefully。　Leto　knew　that　the　Reverend　Mothers　allowed　this　because　they　no　longer　could　share　the　spice　as　once　they　had。
　Ritual　substitutes。
　There　were　significant　changes　across　the　past　ten　years。　A　new　parsimony　had　entered　the　Sisterhood's　thinking。
　They　are　ing　out；　Leto　told　himself。　The　old；　old　mysteries　are　still　here。
　The　ancient　patterns　had