fh.godemperorofdune-第35章

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oted　that　some　of　them　carried　babies　and　small　children；　none　more　than　a　year　or　two　old。
　From　the　outline　explanation　provided　him　earlier；　Idaho　recognized　these　women　as　the　ones　leaving　the　immediate　service　of　the　Fish　Speakers。　Some　would　bee　priestesses　and　some　would　spend　full　time　as　mothers。　。　。　but　none　would　truly　leave　Leto's　service。
　As　he　looked　down　on　the　children；　Idaho　thought　how　the　buried　memory　of　this　experience　must　be　impressed　on　any　of　the　male　children。　They　would　carry　the　mystery　of　it　throughout　their　lives；　a　memory　lost　to　consciousness　but　always　present；　shading　responses　from　this　moment　onward。
　The　last　of　the　newers　came　to　a　stop　below　Leto　and　looked　up　at　him。　The　other　women　in　the　hall　now　lifted　their　faces　and　focused　on　Leto。
　Idaho　glanced　left　and　right。　The　white…clad　women　filled　the　space　below　the　ledge　for　at　least　five　hundred　meters　in　both　directions。　Some　of　them　lifted　their　children　toward　Leto。　The　awe　and　submission　was　something　absolute。　If　Leto　or…
　；red　it；　Idaho　sensed；　these　women　would　smash　their　babies　death　against　the　ledge。　They　would　do　anything！
　Leto　lowered　his　front　segments　onto　the　cart；　a　gentle　rippling　motion。　He　peered　down　benignly　and　his　voice　came　as　a　soft　caress。　〃I　give　you　the　reward　which　your　faith　and　service　have　earned。　Ask　and　it　shall　be　given。〃
　The　entire　hall　reverberated　to　the　response：　〃It　shall　be　given！〃
　〃What　is　mine　is　thine；〃　Leto　said。
　〃What　is　mine　is　thine；〃　the　women　shouted。
　〃Share　with　me　now；〃　Leto　said；　〃the　silent　prayer　for　my　intercession　in　all　things…that　humankind　may　never　end。〃
　As　one；　every　head　in　the　hall　bowed。　The　white…clad　women　cradled　their　children　close；　looking　down　at　them。　Idaho　felt　the　silent　unity；　a　force　which　sought　to　enter　him　and　take　him　over。　He　opened　his　mouth　wide　and　breathed　deeply；　fighting　against　something　which　he　sensed　as　a　physical　invasion。　His　mind　searched　frantically　for　something　to　which　he　could　cling；　something　to　shield　him。
　These　women　were　an　army　whose　force　and　union　Idaho　had　not　suspected。　He　knew　he　did　not　understand　this　force。　He　could　only　observe　it；　recognize　that　it　existed。
　This　was　what　Leto　had　created。
　Leto's　words　from　a　meeting　at　the　Citadel　came　back　to　Idaho：　〃Loyalty　in　a　male　army　fastens　onto　the　army　itself　rather　than　onto　the　civilization　which　fosters　the　army。　Loyalty　in　a　female　army　fastens　onto　the　leader。〃
　Idaho　stared　out　across　the　visible　evidence　of　Leto's　creation；　seeing　the　penetrating　accuracy　of　those　words；　fearing　that　accuracy。
　He　offers　me　a　share　in　this；　Idaho　thought。
　His　own　response　to　Leto's　words　struck　Idaho　now　as　puerile。
　〃I　don't　see　the　reason；〃　Idaho　had　said。
　〃Most　people　are　not　creatures　of　reason。〃
　〃No　army；　male　or　female；　guarantees　peace！　Your　Empire　isn't　peaceful！　You　only。　。　。
　〃My　Fish　Speakers　have　provided　you　with　our　histories？〃
　〃Yes；　but　I've　also　walked　about　in　your　city　and　I've　watched　your　people。　Your　people　are　aggressive！〃
　〃You　see；　Duncan？　Peace　encourages　aggression。〃
　〃And　you　say　that　your　Golden　Path。　。　。〃
　〃Is　not　precisely　peace。　It　is　tranquility；　a　fertile　ground　for　the　growth　of　rigid　classes　and　many　other　forms　of　aggression。〃
　〃You　talk　riddles！〃
　〃　I　talk　accumulated　observations　which　tell　me　that　the　peaceful　posture　is　the　posture　of　the　defeated。　It　is　the　posture　of　the　victim。　Victims　invite　aggression。〃
　〃Your　damned　enforced　tranquility！　What　good　does　it　do？〃
　〃If　there　is　no　enemy；　one　must　be　invented。　The　military　force　which　is　denied　an　external　target　always　turns　against　its　own　people。〃
　〃What's　your　game？〃
　〃I　modify　the　human　desire　for　war。〃
　〃People　don't　want　war！〃
　〃They　want　chaos。　War　is　the　most　readily　available　form　of　chaos。〃
　〃　don't　believe　any　of　this！　You're　playing　some　dangerous　game　of　your　own。〃
　〃Very　dangerous。　I　address　ancient　wellsprings　of　human　behavior　to　redirect　them。　The　danger　is　that　I　could　suppress　the　forces　of　human　survival。　But　I　assure　you　that　my　Golden　Path　endures。〃
　〃You　haven't　suppressed　antagonism！〃
　〃I　dissipate　energies　in　one　place　and　point　them　toward　another　place。　What　you　cannot　control；　you　harness。〃
　〃What's　to　keep　your　female　army　from　taking　over？〃
　〃I　am　their　leader。〃
　As　he　looked　out　over　the　massed　women　in　the　great　hall；　Idaho　could　not　deny　the　focus　of　leadership。　He　saw　also　that　part　of　this　adulation　was　directed　at　his　own　person。　The　temptation　in　this　held　him　fixated…anything　he　wanted　from　them。。。anything！　The　latent　power　in　this　great　hall　was　explosive。　This　realization　forced　him　into　a　deeper　questioning　of　Leto's　earlier　words。
　Leto　had　said　something　about　exploding　violence。　Even　as　he　watched　the　women　at　their　silent　prayer；　Idaho　recalled　what　Leto　had　said：　〃Men　are　susceptible　to　class　fixations。　They　create　layered　societies。　The　layered　society　is　an　ultimate　invitation　to　violence。　It　does　not　fall　apart。　It　explodes。〃
　〃Women　never　do　this？〃
　〃Not　unless　they　are　almost　pletely　male　dominated　or　locked　into　a　male…role　model。〃
　〃The　sexes　can't　be　that　different！〃
　〃But　they　are。　Women　make　mon　cause　based　on　their　sex；　a　cause　which　transcends　class　and　caste。　That　is　why　I　let　my　women　hold　the　reins。〃　
　Idaho　was　forced　to　admit　that　these　praying　women　held　the　reins。
　What　part　of　that　power　would　he　pass　into　my　hands？
　The　temptation　was　monstrous！　Idaho　found　himself　trembling　with　it。　With　chilling　abruptness；　he　realized　that　this　must　be　Leto's　intention…to　tempt　me！
　On　the　floor　of　the　great　hall；　the　women　finished　their　prayer　and　lifted　their　gaze　to　Leto。　Idaho　felt　that　he　had　never　before　seen　such　rapture　in　human　faces…not　in　the　ecstasy　of　sex；　not　in　glorious　victory…at…arms…nowhere　had　he　seen　anything　to　approach　this　intense　adulation。
　〃Duncan　Idaho　stands　beside　me　today；〃　Leto　said。　〃Duncan　is　here　to　declare　his　loyalty　that　all　may　hear　it。　Duncan？〃
　Idaho　felt　a　physical　chill　shoot　through　his　intestines。　Leto　gave　him　a　simple　choice：　Declare　your　loyalty　to　the　God　Emperor　or　die！
　If　I　sneer；　vacillate　or　object　in　any　way；　the　women　will　kill　me　with　their　own　hands。
　A　deep　anger　suffused　Idaho。　He　swallowed；　cleared　his　throat；　then：　〃Let　no　one　question　my　loyalty。　I　am　loyal　to　the　Atreides。〃
　He　heard　his　own　voice　booming　out　over　the　room；　amplified　by　Leto's　Ixian　device。
　The　effect　startled　Idaho。
　〃We　share！〃　the　women　screamed。　〃We　share！　We　share！〃
　〃We　share；〃　Leto　said。
　Young　Fish　Speaker　trainees；　identifiable　by　their　short　green　robes；　swarmed　into　the　hall　from　all　sides；　little　knots　of　movement　which　eddied　throughout　the　pattern　of　the　adoring　faces。　Each　trainee　carried　a　tray　piled　high　with　tiny　brown　wafers。　As　the　trays　moved　through　the　throng；　hands　reached　out　in　waves　of　graceful　grasping；　an　undulant　dancing　of　the　arms。　Each　hand　took　a　wafer　and　held　it　aloft。　When　a　tray　bearer　came　to　the　ledge　and　lifted　her　burden　toward　Idaho；　Leto　said：
　〃Take　two　and　pass　one　into　my　hand。〃
　Idaho　knelt　and　took　two　wafers。　The　things　felt　crisp　and　fragile。　He　stood　and　passed　one　gently　to　Leto。
　In　a　stentorian　voice；　Leto　asked：　〃Has　the　new　Guard　been　chosen？〃
　〃Yes；　Lord！〃　the　women　shouted。
　〃Do　you　keep　my　faith？〃
　〃Yes；　Lord！〃
　〃Do　you　walk　the　Golden　Path'〃〃
　〃Yes。　Lord〃
　The　vibration　of　the　women's　‘　（；bouts　sent　shock　waves　through　Idaho；　stunning　him。
　〃Do　we　share？〃　Leto　asked。
　〃Yes；　Lord！〃
　As　the　women　responded；　Leto　popped　his　wafer　into　his　mouth。　Each　mother　below　the　ledge　took　a　bite　from　her　wafer　and　offered　the　rest　to　her　child。　The　massed　Fish　Speakers　behind　the　white…clad　women　lowered　their　arms　and　ate　their　wafers。
　〃Duncan；　eat　your　wafer；〃　Leo　said。
　Idaho　slipped　the　thing　into　his　mouth。　His　ghola　body　had　not　been　conditioned　to　the　spice　but　memory　spoke　to　his　senses。　The　wafer　tasted　faintly　bitter　with　a　soft　undertone　of　melange。　The　taste　swept　old　memories　through　Idaho's　awareness…meals　in　sietch；　banquets　at　the　Atreides　Residency。。。the　way　spice　flavors　permeated　everything　in　the　old　days。
　As　he　swallowed　the　wafer；　Idaho　grew　conscious　of　the　stillness　in　the　hall；　a　breath…held　quiet　into　which　came　a　loud　click　from　Leto's　cart。　Idaho　turned　and　sought　the　source　of　the　sound。　Leto　had　opened　a　partment　in　the　bed　of　his　cart　and　was　removing　a　crystal　box　from　it。　The　box　glowed　with　a　blue…gray　inner　light。　Leto　placed　the　box　on　the　bed　of　his　cart；　opened　the　glowing　lid　and　removed　a　crysknife。　Idaho　recognized　the　blade　immediately…the　hawk　engraved　on　the　handle's　butt；　the　green　jewels　at　the　hilt。
　The　crysknife　of　Paul　Muad'Dib！
　Idaho　found　himself　deeply　moved　at　the　sight　of　this　blade。　He　stared　at　it　as　though　the　image　in　his　eyes　might　reproduce　the　original　owner。
　Leto　lifted　the　blade　and　held　it　high；　revealing　the　elegant　curve　and　milky　iridescence。
　〃The　talisman　of　our　lives；〃　Leto　said。
　The　women　remained　silent；　raptly　attentive。
　〃The　knife　of　Muad'Dib；〃　Leto　said。　〃The　tooth　of　Shai…Hulud。　Will　Shai…Hulud　e　again？〃
　The　response　was　a　subdued　murmur　made　deeply　powerful　by　contrast　with　the　previous　shouting。
　〃Yes；　Lord。〃
　Idaho　returned　his　attention　to　the　enraptured　faces　of　the　Fish　Speakers。
　〃Who　is　Shai…Hulud？〃　Leto　asked。
　Again；　that　deep　murmur：　〃You；　Lord。〃
　Idaho　nodded　to　himself。　Here　was　undeniable　evidence　that　Leto　had　tapped　into　a　monstrous　reservoir　of　power　never　before　unleashed　in　quite　this　way。　Leto　had　said　it　but　the　words　were　a　meaningless　noise　pared　to　the　thing　seen　and　felt　in　this　great　hall。　Leto's　words　came　back　to　Idaho；　though；　as　if　they　had　waited　for　this　moment　to　cloak　themselves　in　their　true　meaning。　Idaho　recalled　that　they　had　been　in　the　crypt；　that　dank　and　shadowy　place　which　Leto　seemed　to　find　so　attractive　but　which　Idaho　found　so　repellent…the　dust　of　centuries　there　and　the　odors　of　ancient　decay。
　〃I　have　been　forming　this　human　society；　shaping　it　for　more　than　three　thousand　years；　opening　a　door　out　of　adolescence　for　the　entire　species；〃　Leto　had　said。
　〃Nothing　you　say　explains　a　female　army！〃　Idaho　had　protested。
　〃Rape　is　foreign　to　women；　Duncan。　You　ask　for　a　sexrooted　behavioral　difference？　There's　one。〃
　〃Stop　changing　the　subject！〃
　〃I　do　not　change　it。　Rape　was　always　the　pay…off　in　male　military　conquest。　Males　did　not　have　to　abandon　any　of　their　adolescent　fantasies　while　engaging　in　rape。〃
　Idaho　recalled　the　glowering　anger　which　had　e　over　him　at　this　thrust。
　〃My　houris　tame　the　males；〃　Leto　said。　〃It　is　domestication；　a　thing　that　females　know　from　eons　of　necessity。〃
　Idaho　stared　wordlessly　at　Leto's　cowled　face。
　〃To　tame；〃　Leto　said。　〃To　fit　into　some　orderly　survival　pattern。　Women　learned　it　at　the　hands　of　men；　now　men　learn　it　at　the　hands　of　women。〃
　〃But　you　said。　。　。〃
　〃My　houris　often　submit　to　a　form　of　rape　at　first　only　to　convert　this　into　a　deep　and　binding　mutual　dependence。〃
　〃Dammit！　You're。　。　。〃
　〃Binding；　Duncan！　Binding。〃
　〃I　don't　feel　bound　to。　。　。〃
　〃Education　takes　time。　You　are　the　ancient　norm　against　w