fh.godemperorofdune-第29章

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　They　are　ing　out；　Leto　told　himself。　The　old；　old　mysteries　are　still　here。
　The　ancient　patterns　had　lain　dormant　in　the　Bene　Gesserit　memories　for　all　of　those　millennia。
　Now；　they　emerge。　I　must　warn　my　Fish　Speakers。
　He　returned　his　attention　to　the　Reverend　Mothers。
　〃You　have　requests？〃
　〃What　is　it　like　to　be　you'？〃　Luyseyal　asked。
　Leto　blinked。　That　was　an　interesting　attack。　They　had　not　tried　it　in　more　than　a　generation。　Well。。。why　not？
　〃Sometimes　my　dreams　are　blocked　off　and　redirected　into　strange　places；〃　he　said。　〃If　my　cosmic　memories　are　a　web；　as　you　two　certainly　know；　then　think　about　the　dimensions　of　my　web　and　where　such　memories　and　dreams　might　lead。〃
　〃You　speak　of　our　certain　knowledge；〃　Anteac　said；　〃Why　can't　we　join　forces　at　last'？　We　are　more　alike　than　we　are　different。〃
　〃I　would　sooner　link　myself　to　those　degenerate　Great　Houses　bewailing　their　lost　spice　riches'。〃
　Anteac　held　herself　still；　but　Luyseyal　pointed　a　finger　at　Leto。　〃We　offer　munity！〃
　〃And　I　insist　on　conflict？〃
　Anteac　stirred；　then：　〃It　is　said　that　there　is　a　principle　of　conflict　which　originated　with　the　single　cell　and　has　never　deteriorated。〃
　〃Some　things　remain　inpatible；〃　Leto　agreed。
　〃Then　how　does　our　Sisterhood　maintain　its　munity？〃　Luyseyal　demanded。
　Leto　hardened　his　voice。　〃As　you　well　know；　the　secret　of　munity　lies　in　suppression　of　the　inpatible。〃
　〃There　can　be　enormous　value　in　cooperation；〃　Anteac　said。
　〃To　you；　not　to　me。〃
　Anteac　contrived　a　sigh。　〃Then；　Lord；　will　you　tell　us　about　the　physical　changes　in　your　person？〃
　〃Someone　besides　yourself　should　know　about　and　record　such　things；〃　Luyseyal　said。
　〃In　case　something　dreadful　should　happen　to　me？〃　Leto　asked。
　〃Lord！〃　Anteac　protested。　〃We　do　not。　。。〃
　〃You　dissect　me　with　words　when　you　would　prefer　sharper　instruments；〃　Leto　said。　〃Hypocrisy　offends　me。〃
　〃We　protest；　Lord；〃　Anteac　said。
　〃Indeed　you　do。　I　hear　you。〃
　Luyseyal　crept　a　few　millimeters　closer　to　the　ledge；　bringing　a　sharp　stare　from　Moneo；　who　glanced　up　at　Leto　then。　Moneo's　expression　demanded　action；　but　Leto　ignored　him；　curious　now　about　Luyseyal's　intentions。　The　sense　of　menace　was　centered　in　the　red…haired　one。
　What　is　she？　Leto　wondered。　Could　she　be　a　Face　Dancer；　after　all？
　No。　None　of　the　telltale　signs　were　there。　No。　Luyseyal　presented　an　elaborately　relaxed　appearance；　not　even　a　little　twist　of　her　features　to　test　the　God　Emperor's　powers　of　observation。
　〃Will　you　not　tell　us　about　your　physical　changes；　Lord？〃　Anteac　asked。
　Diversion！　Leto　thought。
　〃My　brain　grows　enormous；〃　he　said。　〃Most　of　the　human　skull　has　dissolved　away。　There　are　no　severe　limits　to　the　growth　of　my　cortex　and　its　attendant　nervous　system。〃
　Moneo　darted　a　startled　glance　at　Leto。　Why　was　the　God　Emperor　giving　away　such　vital　information？　These　two　would　trade　it。
　But　both　women　were　obviously　fascinated　by　this　revelation；　hesitating　in　whatever　plan　they　had　evolved。
　〃Does　your　brain　have　a　center？〃　Luyseyal　asked。
　〃I　am　the　center；〃　Leto　said。
　〃A　location？〃　Anteac　asked。　She　gestured　vaguely　at　him。　Luyseyal　glided　a　few　millimeters　closer　to　the　ledge。
　〃What　value　do　you　place　on　the　things　I　reveal　to　you？〃　Leto　asked。
　The　two　women　betrayed　no　change　of　expression；　which　was　betrayal　enough　by　itself。　A　smile　flirted　across　Leto's　lips。
　〃The　marketplace　has　captured　you；〃　he　said。　〃Even　the　Bene　Gesserit　has　been　infected　by　the　suk　mentality。〃
　〃We　do　not　deserve　that　accusation；…〃　Anteac　said。
　〃But　you　do。　The　suk　mentality　dominates　my　Empire。　The　uses　of　the　market　have　only　been　sharpened　and　amplified　by　the　demands　of　our　times。　We　have　all　bee　traders。〃
　〃Even　you；　Lord？〃　Luyseyal　asked。
　〃You　tempt　my　wrath；〃　he　said。　〃You're　a　specialist　in　that；　aren't　you？〃
　〃Lord？〃　Luyseyal's　voice　was　calm；　but　overly　controlled。
　〃Specialists　are　not　to　be　trusted；〃　Leto　said。　〃Specialists　are　masters　of　exclusion；　experts　in　the　narrow。〃
　〃We　hope　to　be　architects　of　a　better　future。〃　Anteac　said。
　〃Better　than　what？〃　Leto　asked。
　Luyseyal　eased　herself　a　fractional　pace　closer　to　Leto。
　〃We　hope　to　set　our　standards　by　your　judgment；　Lord；〃　Anteac　said。
　〃But　you　would　be　architects。　Would　you　build　higher　walls？　Never　forget；　Sisters；　that　I　know　you。　You　are　efficient　purveyors　of　blinders。〃
　〃Life　continues；　Lord；〃　Anteac　said；
　〃Indeed？　And　so　does　the　universe。〃
　Luyseyal　eased　herself　a　bit　closer；　ignoring　the　fixity　of　Moneo's　attention。
　Leto　smelled　it　then　and　almost　laughed　aloud。
　Spice…essence！
　They　had　brought　some　spice…essence。　They　knew　the　old　stories　about　sandworms　and　spice…essence；　of　course。　Luyseyal　carried　it。　She　thought　of　it　as　a　specific　poison　for　sandworms。　That　was　obvious。　Bene　Gesserit　records　and　the　Oral　History　agreed　on　this。　The　essence　shattered　the　worm；　precipitating　its　dissolution　and　resulting　（eventually）　in　sandtrout　which　would　produce　more　sandworms　etcetera；　etcetera；　etcetera　。　。　。
　〃There　is　another　change　in　me　that　you　should　know　about；〃　Leto　said。　〃I　am　not　yet　sandworm；　not　fully。　Think　of　me　as　something　closer　to　a　colony　creature　with　sensory　alterations。〃
　Luyseyal's　left　hand　moved　almost　imperceptibly　toward　a　fold　in　her　gown。　Moneo　saw　it　and　looked　to　Leto　for　instructions；　but　Leto　only　returned　the　hooded　glare　of　Luyseyal's　eyes。
　〃There　have　been　fads　in　smells；〃　Leto　said。
　Luyseyal's　hand　hesitated。
　〃Perfumes　and　essences；〃　he　said。　〃　I　remember　them　all；　even　the　cults　of　the　non…smells　are　mine。　People　have　used　underarm　sprays　and　crotch　sprays　to　mask　their　natural　odors。　Did　you　know　that？　Of　course　you　knew　it！〃
　Anteac's　gaze　moved　toward　Luyseyal。
　Neither　woman　dared　speak。
　〃People　knew　instinctively　that　their　pheromones　betrayed　them；〃　Leto　said。
　The　women　stood　immobile。　They　heard　him。　Of　all　his　people；　Reverend　Mothers　were　best　equipped　to　understand　his　hidden　message。
　〃You'd　like　to　mine　me　for　my　riches　of　memory；〃　Leto　said；　his　voice　accusing。
　〃We　are　jealous；　Lord；〃　Luyseyal　confessed。
　〃You　have　misread　the　history　of　spice…essence；〃　Leto　said。　〃Sandtrout　sense　it　only　as　water。〃
　〃It　was　a　test；　Lord；〃　Anteac　said。　〃That　is　all。〃
　〃You　would　test　me？〃
　〃Blame　our　curiosity；　Lord；〃　Anteac　said。
　〃I；　too；　am　curious。　Put　your　spice…essence　on　the　ledge　beside　Moneo。　I　will　keep　it。〃
　Slowly；　demonstrating　by　the　steadiness　of　her　movements　that　she　intended　no　attack；　Luyseyal　reached　beneath　her　gown　and　removed　a　small　vial　which　glistened　with　an　inner　blue　radiance。　She　placed　the　vial　gently　on　the　ledge。　Not　by　any　sign　did　she　indicate　that　she　might　try　something　desperate。
　〃Truthsayer；　indeed；〃　Leto　said。
　She　favored　him　with　a　faint　grimace　which　might　have　been　a　smile；　then　withdrew　to　Anteac's　side。
　〃Where　did　you　get　the　spice…essence？〃　Leto　asked。
　〃We　bought　it　from　smugglers；〃　Anteac　said。
　〃There've　been　no　smugglers　for　almost　twenty…five　hundred　years。〃
　〃Waste　not；　want　not；〃　Anteac　said。
　〃　I　see。　And　now　you　must　reevaluate　what　you　think　of　as　your　own　patience；　is　that　not　so？〃
　〃We　have　been　watching　the　evolution　of　your　body；　Lord；〃　Anteac　said。　〃We　thought。。。〃　She　permitted　herself　a　small　shrug；　the　level　of　gesture　warranted　for　use　with　a　Sister　and　not　given　lightly。
　Leto　pursed　his　lips　in　response。　〃I　cannot　shrug；〃　he　said。
　〃Will　you　punish　us？〃　Luyseyal　asked。
　〃For　amusing　me？〃
　Luyseyal　glanced　at　the　vial　on　the　ledge。
　〃I　swore　to　reward　you；〃　Leto　said。　〃　shall。〃
　〃We　would　prefer　to　protect　you　in　our　munity；　Lord；〃　Anteac　said。
　〃Do　not　seek　too　great　a　reward；〃　he　said。
　Anteac　nodded。　〃You　deal　with　the　lxians；　Lord。　We　have　reason　to　believe　they　may　venture　against　you。〃
　〃I　fear　them　no　more　than　I　fear　you。〃
　〃Surely　you've　heard　what　the　lxians　are　doing；〃　Luyseyal　said。
　〃Moneo　brings　me　an　occasional　copy　of　a　message　between　persons　or　groups　in　my　Empire。　I　hear　many　stories。〃
　〃We　speak　of　a　new　Abomination；　Lord〃'　Anteac　said。
　〃You　think　the　lxians　can　produce　an　artificial　intelligence？〃　he　asked。　〃Conscious　the　way　you　are　conscious？〃
　〃We　fear　it；　Lord；〃　Anteac　said。
　〃You　would　have　me　believe　that　the　Butlerian　Jihad　survives　among　the　Sisterhood？〃
　〃We　do　not　trust　the　unknown　which　can　arise　from　imaginative　technology；〃　Anteac　said。
　Luyseyal　leaned　toward　him。　〃The　lxians　boast　that　their　machine　will　transcend　Time　in　the　way　that　you　do　it；　Lord。〃
　〃And　the　Guild　says　there's　Time…chaos　around　the　lxians；'*　Leto　mocked。　〃Are　we　to　fear　all　creation；　then？〃
　Anteac　drew　herself　up　stiffly。
　〃　I　speak　truth　with　you　two；〃　Leto　said。　〃　I　recognize　your　abilities。　Will　you　not　recognize　mine？〃
　Luyseyal　gave　him　a　curt　nod。　〃Tleilax　and　Ix　make　alliance　with　the　Guild　and　seek　our　full　cooperation。〃
　〃And　you　fear　Ix　the　most？〃
　〃We　fear　anything　we　do　not　control；〃　Anteac　said。
　〃And　you　do　not　control　me。〃
　〃Without　you；　people　would　need　us！〃　Anteac　said。
　〃Truth　at　last！〃　Leto　said。　〃You　conic　to　me　as　your　Oracle　and　you　ask　me　to　put　your　fears　to　rest。〃
　Anteac's　voice　was　frigidly　controlled。　〃Will　Ix　make　a　mechanical　brain？〃
　〃A　brain‘？　Of　course　not！〃
　Luyseyal　appeared　to　relax；　but　Anteac　remained　unmoving。　She　was　not　satisfied　with　the　Oracle。
　Why　is　it　that　foolishness　repeats　itself　with　such　monotonous　precision？　Leto　wondered。　His　memories　offered　up　countless　scenes　to　match　this　one…caverns；　priests　and　priestesses　caught　up　in　holy　ecstasy；　portentous　voices　delivering　dangerous　prophecies　through　the　smoke　of　holy　narcotics。
　He　glanced　down　at　the　iridescent　vial　on　the　ledge　beside　Moneo。　What　was　the　current　value　of　that　thing‘？　Enormous。　It　was　the　essence。　Concentrated　wealth　concentrated。
　〃You　have　already　paid　the　Oracle；〃　he　said。　〃It　amuses　me　to　give　you　full　value。〃
　How　alert　the　women　became！
　〃Hear　me！〃　he　said。　〃What　you　fear　is　not　what　you　fear。〃
　Leto　liked　the　sound　of　that。　Sufficiently　portentous　for　any　Oracle。　Anteac　and　Luyseyal　stared　up　at　him；　dutiful　supplicants。　Behind　them；　an　acolyte　cleared　her　throat。
　That　one　will　be　identified　and　reprimanded　later；　Leto　thought。
　Anteac　had　now　had　sufficient　time　to　ruminate　on　Leto's　words。　She　said：　〃An　obscure　truth　is　not　the　truth。〃
　〃But　I　have　directed　your　attention　correctly；〃　Leto　said。
　〃Are　you　telling　us　not　to　fear　the　machine？〃　Luyseyal　asked。
　〃You　have　the　power　of　reason。；〃　he　said。　〃Why　e　begging　to　me？〃
　〃But　we　do　not　have　your　powers；〃　Anteac　said。
　〃You　plain　then　that　you　do　not　sense　the　gossamer　waves　of　Time。　You　do　not　sense　my　continuum。　And　you　fear　a　mere　machine！〃
　〃Then　you　will　not　answer　us；〃　Anteac　said。
　〃Do　not　make　the　mistake　of　thinking　me　ignorant　about　your　Sisterhood's　ways；〃　he　said。　〃You　are　alive。　Your　senses　are　exquisitely　tuned。　I　do　not　stop　this；　nor　should　you。〃
　〃But　the　lxians　play　with　automation！〃　Anteac　protested。
　〃Discrete　pieces；　finite　bits　linked　one　to　another；〃　he　agreed。　〃Once　set　in　motion；　what　is　to　stop　it？〃
　Luyseyal　discarded　all　pretense　of　Bene　Gesserit　self…control；　a　fine　ment　on　her　reco