fh.godemperorofdune-第30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！


　Luyseyal　discarded　all　pretense　of　Bene　Gesserit　self…control；　a　fine　ment　on　her　recognition　of　Leto's　powers。　Her　voice　almost　screeched：　〃Do　you　know　what　the　lxians　boast？　That　their　machine　will　predict　your　actions！〃
　〃Why　should　I　fear　that？　The　closer　they　e　to　me；　the　more　they　must　be　my　allies。　They　cannot　conquer　me；　but　I　can　conquer　them。〃
　Anteac　made　to　speak　but　stopped　when　Luyseyal　touched　her　arm。
　〃Are　you　already　allied　with　Ix？〃　Luyseyal　asked。　〃We　hear　that　you　conferred　overlong　with　their　new　Ambassador；　this　Hwi　Noree。〃
　〃I　have　no　allies；〃　he　said。　〃Only　servants；　students　and　enemies。〃
　〃And　you　do　not　fear　the　lxians'　machine？〃　Anteac　insisted。
　〃Is　automation　synonymous　with　conscious　intelligence？〃　he　asked。
　Anteac's　eyes　went　wide　and　filmy　as　she　withdrew　into　her　memories。　Leto　found　himself　caught　by　fascination　with　what　she　must　be　encountering　there　within　her　own　internal　mob。
　We　share　some　of　those　memories；　he　thought。
　Leto　felt　then　the　seductive　attraction　of　munity　with　Reverend　Mothers。　It　would　be　so　familiar；　so　supportive。　。　。　and　so　deadly。　Anteac　was　trying　to　lure　him　once　more。
　She　spoke：　〃The　machine　cannot　anticipate　every　problem　of　importance　to　humans。　It　is　the　difference　between　serial　bits　and　an　unbroken　continuum。　We　have　the　one；　machines　are　confined　to　the　other。〃
　〃You　still　have　the　power　of　reason；〃　he　said。
　〃Share！〃　Luyseyal　said。　It　was　a　mand　to　Anteac　and　it　revealed　with　sharp　abruptness　who　really　dominated　this　pair…the　younger　over　the　older。
　Exquisite；　Leto　thought。
　〃Intelligence　adapts；〃　Anteac　said。
　Parsimonious　with　her　words；　too；　Leto　thought；　hiding　his　amusement。
　〃Intelligence　creates；〃　Leto　said。　〃That　means　you　must　deal　with　responses　never　before　imagined。　You　must　confront　the　new。〃
　〃Such　as　the　possibility　of　the　Ixian　Machine；〃　Anteac　said。　It　was　not　a　question。
　〃Isn't　it　interesting；〃　Leto　asked；　〃that　being　a　superb　Reverend　Mother　is　not　enough？〃
　His　acute　senses　detected　the　sudden　fearful　tightening　in　both　of　the　women。　Truthsayers；　indeed！
　〃You　are　right　to　fear　me；〃　he　said。　Raising　his　voice；　he　demanded：　〃How　do　you　know　you're　even　alive？〃
　As　Moneo　had　done　so　many　times；　they　heard　in　his　voice　the　deadly　consequences　of　failure　to　answer　him　correctly。　It　fascinated　Leto　that　both　women　glanced　at　Moneo　before　either　responded。
　〃I　am　the　mirror　of　myself；〃　Luyseyal　said；　a　pat　Bene　Gesserit　answer　which　Leto　found　offensive。
　〃I　don't　need　pre…set　tools　to　deal　with　my　human　problems。〃　Anteac　said。　〃Your　question　is　sophomoric‘。〃
　〃Hah；　hah！〃　Leto　laughed。　〃How　would　you　like　to　quit　the　Bene　Gesserit　and　join　me'？〃
　He　could　see　her　consider　and　then　reject　the　invitation；　but　she　did　not　hide　her　amusement。
　Leto　looked　at　the　puzzled　Luyseyal。　〃If　it　falls　outside　your　yardsticks；　then　you　are　engaged　with　intelligence；　not　with　automation；〃　he　said。　And　he　thought：　That　Luyseyal　will　ill　newer　again　dominate　old　Anteac。
　Luyseyal　was　angry　now　and　not　bothering　to　conceal　it。　She　said：　〃The　lxians　are　rumored　to　have　provided　you　with　machines　that　simulate　human　thinking。　If　you　have　such　a　low　opinion　of　them；　why。　。　。〃
　〃She　should　not　be　let　out　of　the　Chapter　House　without　a　guardian；〃　Leto　said；　addressing　Anteac。　〃Is　she　afraid　to　address　her　own　memories？〃
　Luyseyal　paled；　but　remained　silent。
　Leto　studied　her　coldly。　〃Our　ancestors'　long　unconscious　relationship　with　machines　has　taught　us　something；　don't　you　think？〃
　Luyseyal　merely　glared　at　him；　not　ready　yet　to　risk　death　through　open　defiance　of　the　God　Emperor。
　〃Would　you　say　we　at　least　know　the　attraction　of　machines'？〃　Leto　asked。
　Luyseyal　nodded。
　〃A　well…maintained　machine　can　be　more　reliable　than　a　human　servant；〃　Leto　said。　〃We　can　trust　machines　not　to　indulge　in　emotional　distractions。〃
　Luyseyal　found　her　voice。　〃Does　this　mean　you　intend　to　remove　the　Butlerian　prohibition　against　abominable　machines？〃
　〃I　swear　to　you；〃　Leto　said；　speaking　in　his　icy　voice　of　disdain；　〃that　if　you　display　further　such　stupidity；　I　will　have　you　publicly　executed。　I　am　not　your　Oracle！〃
　Luyseyal　opened　her　mouth　and　closed　it　without　speaking。
　Anteac　touched　her　panion's　arm；　sending　a　quick　tremor　through　Luyseyal's　body。　Anteac　spoke　softly　in　a　exquisite　demonstration　of　Voice：　〃Our　God　Emperor　will　never　openly　defy　the　proscriptions　of　the　Butlerian　Jihad。〃
　Leto　smiled　at　her；　a　gentle　mendation。　It　was　such　a　pleasure　to　see　a　professional　performing　at　her　best。
　〃That　should　be　obvious　to　any　conscious　intelligence；〃　he　said。　〃There　are　limits　of　my　own　choosing；　places　where　I　will　not　interfere。〃
　He　could　see　both　women　absorbing　the　multi…pronged　thrust　of　his　words；　weighing　the　possible　meanings　and　intents。　Was　the　God　Emperor　distracting　them；　focusing　their　attention　on　the　lxians　while　he　maneuvered　elsewhere？　Was　he　telling　the　Bene　Gesserit　that　the　time　had　e　to　choose　sides　against　the　lxians？　Was　it　possible　his　words　had　no　more　than　their　surface　motivations？　Whatever　his　reasons；　they　could　not　be　ignored。　He　was　undoubtedly　the　most　devious　creature　the　universe　had　ever　spawned。Leto　scowled　at　Luyseyal；　knowing　he　could　only　add　to　their　confusion。　〃I　point　out　to　you；　Marcus　Claire　Luyseyal；　a　lesson　from　past　over…machined　societies　which　you　appear　not　to　have　learned。　The　devices　themselves　condition　the　users　to　employ　each　other　the　way　they　employ　machines。〃
　He　turned　his　attention　to　Moneo。　〃Moneo？〃
　〃I　see　him；　Lord。〃
　Moneo　craned　his　neck　to　peer　over　the　Bene　Gesserit　entourage。　Duncan　Idaho　had　entered　the　far　portal；　and　strode　across　the　open　floor　of　the　chamber　toward　Leto。　Moneo　did　not　relax　his　wariness；　his　distrust　of　the　Bene　Gesserit；　but　he　recognized　the　nature　of　Leto's　lecture。　He　is　testing；　always　testing。
　Anteac　cleared　her　throat。　〃Lord；　what　of　our　reward？〃
　〃You　are　brave；〃　Leto　said。　〃No　doubt　that's　why　you　were　chosen　for　this　Embassy。　Very　well；　for　the　next　decade　I　will　continue　your　spice　allotment　at　its　present　level。　As　for　the　rest；　I　will　ignore　what　you　really　intended　with　the　spice　essence。　Am　I　not　generous？〃
　〃Most　generous；　Lord；〃　Anteac　said；　and　there　was　not　the　slightest　hint　of　bitterness　in　her　voice。
　Duncan　Idaho　brushed　past　the　women　then　and　stopped　beside　Moneo　to　peer　up　at　Leto。　〃M'Lord；　there's。　。　。〃　He　broke　off　and　glanced　at　the　two　Reverend　Mothers。
　〃Speak　openly；〃　Leto　manded。
　〃Yes；　m'Lord。〃　There　was　reluctance　in　him；　but　he　obeyed。
　〃We　were　attacked　at　the　southeast　edge　of　the　City；　a　distraction　I　believe　because　there　now　are　reports　of　more　violence　in　the　City　and　in　the　Forbidden　Forest…many　scattered　raiding　parties。〃
　〃They　are　hunting　my　wolves；〃　Leto　said。　〃In　the　forest　and　in　the　City；　they　are　hunting　my　wolves。〃
　Idaho's　brows　contracted　into　a　puzzled　frown。　〃Wolves　in　the　City；　m'Lord？〃
　〃Predators；〃　Leto　said。　〃Wolves…to　me　there　is　no　essential　difference。〃
　Moneo　gasped。
　Leto　smiled　at　him；　thinking　how　beautiful　it　was　to　observe　a　moment　of　realization…a　veil　pulled　away　from　the　eyes；　the　mind　opened。
　〃I　have　brought　a　large　force　of　guards　to　protect　this　place；〃　Idaho　said。　〃They　are　posted　through　the。　。　。〃
　〃I　knew　you　would；〃　Leto　said。　〃Now　pay　close　attention　while　I　tell　you　where　to　send　the　rest　of　your　forces。〃
　As　the　Reverend　Mothers　watched　in　awe；　Leto　laid　out　for　Idaho　the　exact　points　for　ambushes；　detailing　the　size　of　each　force　and　even　some　of　the　specific　personnel；　the　timing；　the　necessary　weapons；　the　precise　deployments　at　each　place。　Idaho's　capacious　memory　catalogued　each　instruction。　He　was　too　caught　up　in　the　recital　to　question　it　until　Leto　fell　silent；　but　a　look　of　puzzled　fear　came　over　Idaho　then。
　For　Leto；　it　was　as　though　he　peered　directly　into　Idaho's　most　essential　awareness　to　read　the　thoughts　there。　l　was　a　trusted　soldier　of　the　original　Lord　Leto；　Idaho　was　thinking。　That　Leto；　the　grandfather　of　this　one；　。saved　me　and　took　me　into　his　household　like　a　sun。　But　even　though　that　Leto　still　has　some　kind　of　existence　in　this　one。。。this　is　not　him。
　〃M'Lord；　why　do　you　need　me？〃　Idaho　asked。
　〃For　your　strength　and　loyalty。〃
　Idaho　shook　his　head。　〃But。。。〃
　〃You　obey；〃　Leto　said；　and　he　noted　the　way　these　words　were　being　absorbed　by　the　Reverend　Mothers。　Truth；　only　truth；　for　they　are　Truthsayers。
　〃Because　I　owe　a　debt　to　the　Atreides；〃　Idaho　said。
　〃That　is　where　we　place　our　trust；〃　Leto　said。　〃And　Duncan？〃
　〃M'Lord？〃　Idaho's　voice　said　he　had　found　ground　where　he　could　stand。
　〃Leave　at　least　one　survivor　at　each　place；〃　Leto　said。　〃Otherwise；　our　efforts　are　wasted。〃
　Idaho　nodded　once；　curtly；　and　left；　striding　back　across　the　hall　the　way　he　had　e。　And　Leto　thought　it　would　take　an　extremely　sensitive　eye　indeed　to　see　that　it　was　a　different　Idaho　leaving；　far　different　from　the　one　who　had　entered。
　Anteac　said：　〃This　es　of　flogging　that　Ambassador。〃
　〃Exactly；〃　Leto　agreed。　〃Recount　this　carefully　to　your　Superior；　the　admirable　Reverend　Mother　Syaksa。　Tell　her　for　me　that　I　prefer　the　pany　of　predators　above　that　of　the　prey。〃　He　glanced　at　Moneo；　who　drew　himself　to　attention。　〃Moneo；　the　wolves　are　gone　from　my　forest。　They　must　be　replaced　by　human　wolves。　See　to　it。〃
　
　The　trance…state　of　prophecy　is　like　no　other　visionary　experience。　It　is　not　a　retreat　from　the　raw　exposure　of　the　senses　（as　are　many　trance…states）　but　an　immersion　in　a　multitude　of　new　movements。　Things　moue。　It　is　an　ultimate　pragmatism　in　the　midst　of　Infinity；　a　demanding　consciousness　where　you　e　at　last　into　the　unbroken　awareness　that　the　universe　moves　of　itself；　that　it　changes；　that　its　rules　change。　that　nothing　remains　permanent　or　absolute　throughout　all　such　movement；　that　mechanical　explanations　for　anything　can　work　only　within　precise　confinements　and；　once　the　walls　are　broken　down；　the　old　explanations　shatter　and　dissolve；　blown　away　by　new　movements。　The　things　you　see　in　this　trance　are　sobering；　often　shattering　They　demand　your　utmost　effort　to　remain　whole　and。　even　so；　you　emerge　from　that　state　profoundly　changed。
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　THAT　NIGHT　of　Audience　Day；　while　others　slept　and　fought　and　dreamed　and　died；　Leto　took　his　repose　in　the　isolation　of　his　audience　chamber；　only　a　few　trusted　Fish　Speaker　guards　at　the　portals。
　He　did　not　sleep。　His　mind　whirled　with　necessities　and　disappointments。
　Hwi！　Hwi！
　He　knew　why　Hwi　Noree　had　been　sent　to　him　now。　How　well　he　knew！
　My　most　secret　secret　is　exposed。
　They　had　discovered　his　secret。　Hwi　was　the　evidence　of　it。
　He　thought　desperate　thoughts。　Could　this　terrible　metamorphosis　be　reversed？　Could　he　return　to　a　human　state？
　Not　possible。
　Even　if　it　were　possible；　the　process　would　take　him　just　as　long　as　it　had　taken　to　reach　this　point。　Where　would　Hwi　be　in　more　than　three　thousand　years？　Dry　dust　and　bones　in　the　crypt。
　I　could　breed　something　like　her　and　prepare　that　one　for　me。。。but　that　would　not　be　my　gentle　Hwi。
　And　what　of　the　Golden　Path　while　he　indulged　in　such　selfish　goals？
　To　hell　with　the　Golden　Path！　Have　the