fh.godemperorofdune-第34章

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　When　the　door　closed　on　them；　Siona　said：　〃If　you　touch　me；　I　will　try　to　kill　you。〃
　It　was　uttered　with　such　dry　sincerity　that　Idaho　almost　laughed。　〃I　would　prefer　privacy；〃　he　said。　〃Consider　yourself　alone。〃
　He　had　slept　with　a　light　wariness；　remembering　dangerous　nights　in　the　Atreides　service；　the　readiness　for　bat。　The　room　was　seldom　truly　dark…moonlight　ing　through　the　curtained　window；　even　starlight　reflecting　from　the　chalk…white　walls。　He　had　found　himself　nervously　sensitive　to　Siona；　to　the　smell　of　her；　the　stirrings；　her　breathing。　Several　times　he　had　e　fully　awake　to　listen；　aware　on　two　of　those　occasions　that　she；　too；　was　listening。
　Morning　and　the　flight　to　Onn　had　e　as　a　relief。　They　had　broken　their　fast　with　a　drink　of　cold　fruit　juice；　Idaho　glad　to　enter　the　predawn　darkness　for　a　brisk　walk　to　the　'thopter。　He　did　not　speak　directly　to　Siona　and　he　found　himself　resenting　the　curious　glances　of　the　Fish　Speakers。
　Siona　spoke　to　him　only　once；　leaning　out　of　the　'thopter　as　he　left　it　in　the　plaza。
　〃It　would　not　offend　me　to　be　your　friend；〃　she　said。
　Such　a　curious　way　of　putting　it。　He　had　felt　vaguely　embarrassed。　〃Yes。。。well；　certainly。〃
　The　new　escort　had　led　him　away　then；　ing　at　last　to　a　terminal　in　the　maze。　Leto　awaited　him　there　on　the　Royal　Cart。　The　meeting　place　was　a　wide　spot　in　a　corridor　which　stretched　off　into　the　converging　distance　on　Idaho's　right。　The　walls　were　dark　brown　streaked　with　golden　lines　which　glittered　in　the　yellow　light　of　glowglobes。　The　escort　took　up　positions　behind　the　cart；　moving　smartly　and　leaving　Idaho　to　stand　confronting　Leto's　cowled　face。
　〃Duncan；　you　will　precede　me　when　we　go　to　Siaynoq；〃　Leto　said。
　Idaho　stared　into　the　dark　blue　wells　of　the　God　Emperor's　eyes；　angered　by　the　mystery　and　secrecy；　the　obvious　air　of　private　excitement　in　this　place。　He　felt　that　everything　he　had　been　told　about　Siaynoq　only　deepened　the　mystery。
　〃Am　I　truly　the　mander　of　your　Guard；　m'　Lord？〃　Idaho　asked；　resentment　heavy　in　his　voice。
　〃Indeed！　And　I　bestow　a　signal　honor　upon　you　now。　Few　adult　males　ever　share　Siaynoq。〃
　〃What　happened　in　the　city　last　night？〃
　〃Bloody　violence　in　some　places。　It　is　quite　calm　this　morning；　however。〃
　〃Casualties'？〃
　〃Not　worth　mentioning。〃
　Idaho　nodded。　Leto's　prescient　powers　had　warned　of　sonic　peril　to　his　Duncan。　Thus；　the　flight　into　the　rural　safety　of　Goygoa。
　〃You　have　been　to　Goygoa；〃　Leto　said。　〃Were　you　tempted　to　stay'　'〃
　；No；；
　〃Do　not　be　angry　with　me；〃　Leto　said。　〃I　did　not　send　you　to　Goygoa。'。
　Idaho　sighed。　〃What　was　the　danger　which　required　that　you　send　me　away'？〃
　〃It　was　not　to　you；〃　Leto　said。　〃But　you　excite　my　guards　to　excessive　displays　of　their　abilities。　Last　night's　activities　did　not　require　this。〃
　〃Oh？〃　This　thought　shocked　Idaho。　He　had　never　thought　of　himself　as　one　to　inspire　particular　heroism　unless　he　personally　demanded　it。　One　whipped　up　the　troops。　Leaders　such　as　the　original　Leto；　this　one's　grandfather；　had　inspired　by　their　presence。
　〃You　are　extremely　precious　to　me；　Duncan；〃　Leto　said。
　〃Yes。。。well；　I'm　still　not　your　stud！〃
　〃Your　wishes　will　be　honored；　of　course。　We　will　discuss　it　another　time。〃
　Idaho　glanced　at　the　Fish　Speaker　escort；　all　of　them　wide…eyed　and　attentive。
　〃Is　there　always　violence　when　you　e　to　Orin〃〃　Idaho　asked。
　〃It　goes　in　cycles。　The　malcontents　are　quite　subdued　now。　It　will　be　more　peaceful　for　a　time。〃
　Idaho　looked　back　at　Leto's　inscrutable　face。　〃What　happened　to　my　predecessor？〃
　〃Haven't　my　Fish　Speakers　told　you？〃
　〃They　say　he　died　in　defense　of　his　God。〃
　〃And　you　have　heard　a　contrary　rumor。〃
　〃What　happened？〃
　〃He　died　because　he　was　too　close　to　me。　I　did　not　remove　him　to　a　safe　place　in　time。〃
　〃A　place　like　Goygoa。〃
　〃I　would　have　preferred　him　to　live　out　his　days　there　in　peace；　but　you　well　know；　Duncan；　that　you　are　not　a　seeker　after　peace。〃
　Idaho　swallowed；　encountering　an　odd　lump　in　his　throat。　〃I　would　still　like　the　particulars　of　his　death。　He　has　a　family。。。〃
　〃You　will　get　the　particulars　and　do　not　fear　for　his　family。　They　are　my　wards。　I　will　keep　them　safely　at　a　distance。　You　know　how　violence　seeks　me　out。　That　is　one　of　my　functions。　It　is　unfortunate　that　those　I　admire　and　love　must　suffer　because　of　this。〃
　Idaho　pursed　his　lips；　not　satisfied　with　what　he　heard。
　〃Set　your　mind　at　ease；　Duncan；〃　Leto　said。　〃Your　predecessor　died　because　he　was　too　close　to　me。〃
　The　Fish　Speaker　escort　stirred　restively。　Idaho　glanced　at　them；　then　looked　to　the　right　up　the　tunnel。
　〃Yes；　it　is　time；〃　Leto　said。　〃We　must　not　keep　the　women　waiting。　March　close　ahead　of　me；　Duncan；　and　I　will　answer　your　questions　about　Siaynoq。〃
　Obedient　because　he　could　think　of　no　suitable　alternative；　Idaho　turned　on　his　heel　and　led　off　the　procession。　He　heard　the　cart　creak　into　motion　behind　him；　the　faint　footsteps　of　the　escort　following。
　The　cart　fell　silent　with　an　abruptness　which　jerked　Idaho's　attention　around。　The　reason　was　immediately　apparent。
　〃You're　on　the　suspensors；〃　he　said；　returning　his　attention　to　the　front。
　〃I　have　retracted　the　wheels　because　the　women　will　press　close　around　me；〃　Leto　said。　〃We　can't　crush　their　feet。〃
　〃What　is　Siaynoq？　What　is　it　really？〃　Idaho　asked。
　〃I　have　told　you。　It　is　the　Great　Sharing。〃
　〃Do　I　smell　spice？〃
　〃Your　nostrils　are　sensitive。　There　is　a　small　amount　of　melange　in　the　wafers。〃
　Idaho　shook　his　head。
　Trying　to　understand　this　event；　Idaho　had　asked　Leto　directly　at　the　first　opportunity　after　their　arrival　in　Onn；　〃What　is　the　Feast　of　Siaynoq'？〃
　〃We　share　a　wafer；　no　more。　Even　I　partake。〃
　〃Is　it　like　the　Orange　Catholic　ritual？〃
　〃Oh；　no！　It　is　not　my　flesh。　It　is　the　sharing。　They　are　reminded　that　they　are　only　female；　as　you　are　only　male；　but　I　am　all。　They…share　with　the　all；〃
　Idaho　had　not　liked　the　tone　of　this。　〃Only　male‘？〃
　〃Do　you　know　who　they　lampoon　at　the　Feast；　Duncan'？〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃Men　who　have　offended　them。　Listen　to　them　when　they　talk　softly　among　themselves。〃
　Idaho　had　taken　this　as　a　warning：　Don't　offend　the　Fish　Speakers。　You　incur　their　wrath　at　your　mortal　peril！
　Now；　as　he　marched　ahead　of　Leto　in　the　tunnel；　Idaho　felt　that　he　had　heard　the　words　correctly　but　learned　nothing　from　them。　He　spoke　over　his　shoulder。
　〃　I　don't　understand　the　Sharing。〃
　〃We　are　together　in　the　ritual。　You　will　see　it。　You　will　feel　it。　My　Fish　Speakers　are　the　repository　of　a　special　knowledge；　an　unbroken　line　which　only　they　share。　；Vow；　you　will　partake　of　it　and　they　will　love　you　for　it。　Listen　to　them　carefully。　They　are　open　to　ideas　of　affinity。　Their　terms　of　endearment　for　each　other　have　no　reservations。〃
　More　words。　Idaho　thought。　More　mystery。
　He　could　discern　a　gradual　widening　in　the　tunnel：　the　ceiling　sloped　higher。　There　were　more　glowglobes；　tuned　now　into　the　deep　orange。　He　could　see　the　high　arch　of　an　opening　about　three　hundred　meters　away；　rich　red　light　there　in　which　he　could　make　out　glistening　faces　which　swayed　gently　left　and　right。　Their　bodies　below　the　faces　presented　a　dark　wall　of　clothing。　The　perspiration　of　excitement　was　thick　here。
　As　he　neared　the　waiting　women；　Idaho　saw　a　passage　through　them　and　a　ramp　slanting　up　to　a　low　ledge　on　his　right。　A　great　arched　ceiling　curved　away　above　the　women；　a　gigantic　space　illuminated　by　glowglobes　tuned　high　into　the　red。
　〃Go　up　the　ramp　on　your　right；〃　Leto　said。　〃Stop　just　beyond　the　center　of　the　ledge　and　turn　to　face　the　women。〃
　Idaho　lifted　his　right　hand　in　acknowledgment。　He　was　emerging　into　the　open　space　now　and　the　dimensions　of　this　enclosed　place　awed　him。　He　set　his　trained　eyes　the　task　of　estimating　the　dimensions　as　he　mounted　to　the　ledge　and　guessed　the　hall　to　be　at　least　eleven　hundred　meters　on　a　side…a　square　with　rounded　corners。　It　was　packed　with　women；　and　Idaho　reminded　himself　that　these　were　only　the　chosen　representatives　of　the　far　scattered　Fish　Speaker　regiments…three　women　from　each　planet。　They　stood　now；　their　bodies　pressed　so　closely　together　that　Idaho　doubted　one　of　them　could　fall。　They　had　left　only　a　space　about　fifty　meters　wide　along　the　ledge　where　Idaho　now　stopped　and　surveyed　the　scene。　The　faces　looked　up　at　him…faces；　faces。
　Leto　stopped　his　cart　just　behind　Idaho　and　lifted　one　of　his　silver…skinned　arms。
　Immediately；　a　roaring　cry　of　〃Siaynoq！　Siaynoq！〃　filled　the　great　hall。
　Idaho　was　deafened　by　it。　Surely　that　sound　must　be　heard　throughout　the　City；　he　thought。　Unless　we　are　too　far　underground。
　〃My　brides；〃　Leto　said。　〃　I　wele　you　to　Siaynoq。〃
　Idaho　glanced　up　at　Leto；　saw　the　dark　eyes　glistening；　the　radiant　expression。　Leto　had　said：　〃This　cursed　holiness！〃　But　he　basked　in　it。
　Has　Moneo　ever　seen　this　gathering？　Idaho　wondered。　It　was　an　odd　thought；　but　Idaho　knew　its　origin。　There　had　to　be　some　other　mortal　human　with　whom　this　could　be　discussed。　The　escort　had　said　Moneo　was　dispatched　on　〃affairs　of　state〃　whose　details　they　did　not　know。　Hearing　this；　Idaho　had　felt　himself　sense　another　element　in　Leto's　government。　The　lines　of　power　extended　directly　from　Leto　out　into　the　populace；　but　the　lines　did　not　often　cross。　That　required　many　things；　including　trusted　servants　who　would　accept　responsibility　for　carrying　out　orders　without　question。
　〃Few　see　the　God　Emperor　do　hurtful　things；〃　Siona　had　said。　〃is　that　like　the　Atreides　you　knew？〃
　Idaho　looked　out　over　the　massed　Fish　Speakers　as　these　thoughts　flitted　through　his　mind。　The　adulation　in　their　eyes！　The　awe！　How　had　Leto　done　this'？　Why'？
　〃My　beloveds；〃　Leto　said。　His　voice　boomed　out　over　the　upturned　faces。　carried　to　the　farthest　corners　by　subtle　Ixian　amplifiers　concealed　in　the　Royal　Cart。
　The　steaming　images　of　the　women's　faces　filled　Idaho　with　memory　of　Leto's　warning。　Incur　their　wrath　at　Your　mortal　peril！
　It　was　easy　to　believe　that　warning　in　this　place。　One　word　from　Leto　and　these　women　would　tear　an　offender　to　pieces。
　They　would　not　question。　They　would　act。　Idaho　began　to　feel　a　new　appreciation　of　these　women　as　an　army。　Personal　peril　would　not　stop　them。　They　served　God！
　The　Royal　Cart　creaked　slightly　as　Leto　arched　his　front　segments　upward；　lifting　his　head。
　〃You　are　the　keepers　of　the　faith！〃　Leto　said。
　They　replied　as　one　voice：　〃Lord；　we　obey！〃
　〃In　me　you　live　without　end！〃　Leto　said。
　〃We　are　the　Infinite！〃　they　shouted。
　〃I　love　you　as　I　love　no　others！〃　Leto　said。
　〃Love！〃　they　screamed。
　Idaho　shuddered。
　〃　I　give　you　my　beloved　Duncan！〃　Leto　said。
　〃Love！〃　they　screamed。
　Idaho　felt　his　whole　body　trembling。　He　felt　that　he　might　collapse　from　the　weight　of　this　adulation。　He　wanted　to　run　away　and　he　wanted　to　stay　and　accept　this。　There　was　power　in　this　room。　Power！
　In　a　lower　voice；　Leto　said：　〃Change　the　Guard。〃
　The　women　bowed　their　heads；　a　single　movement；　unhesitating。　From　off　to　Idaho's　right　a　line　of　women　in　white　gowns　appeared。　They　marched　into　the　open　space　below　the　ledge　and　Idaho　noted　that　some　of　them　carried　babies　and　small　children；　none　more　than　a　year　or　two　old。
　From