fh.godemperorofdune-第37章

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　She　could　not　suppress　a　chuckle。　〃How　amusing；　Lord。　I　was　required　to　read　about　his　life。〃
　〃I　wrote　that　account；　too。　What　secrets　were　you　asked　to　wrest　from　me？〃
　She　did　not　even　blink　at　his　strategic　change　of　subject。
　〃They　are　curious　about　the　inner　workings　of　the　religion　of　the　Lord　Leto。〃
　〃Are　they　now？〃
　〃They　wish　to　know　how　you　took　religious　control　away　from　the　Bene　Gesserit。〃
　〃No　doubt　hoping　to　repeat　my　performance　for　themselves？〃
　〃I'm　sure　that's　in　their　minds；　Lord。〃
　〃Hwi；　you　are　a　terrible　representative　of　the　lxians。〃
　〃I　am　your　servant；　Lord。〃
　〃Have　you　no　curiosities　of　your　own？〃
　〃I　fear　that　my　curiosities　might　disturb　you；〃　she　said。
　He　stared　at　her　a　moment；　then：　〃I　see。　Yes；　you　are　right。　We　should　avoid　more　intimate　conversation　for　now。　Would　you　like　me　to　talk　about　the　Sisterhood？〃
　〃Yes；　that　would　be　good。　Do　you　know　that　I　met　one　of　the　Bene　Gesserit　delegation　today？〃
　〃That　would　be　Anteac。〃
　〃I　found　her　frightening；〃　she　said。
　〃You　have　nothing　to　fear　from　Anteac。　She　went　to　your　Embassy　at　my　mand。　Were　you　aware　that　you　had　been　invaded　by　Face　Dancers？〃
　Hwi　gasped；　then　held　herself　still　while　a　cold　sensation　filled　her　breast。　〃Othwi　Yake？〃　she　asked。
　〃You　suspected？〃
　〃It's　just　that　I　did　not　like　him；　and　I　had　been　told　that。　。　。〃　She　shrugged；　then；　as　realization　swept　over　her：　〃What　has　happened　to　him？〃
　〃The　original？　He　is　dead。　That's　the　usual　Face　Dancer　practice　in　such　circumstances。　My　Fish　Speakers　have　explicit　orders　to　leave　no　Face　Dancer　alive　in　your　Embassy。〃
　Hwi　remained　silent；　but　tears　trickled　down　her　cheeks。
　This　explained　the　empty　streets；　Anteac's　enigmatic　〃Yes。〃　It　explained　many　things。
　〃I　will　provide　Fish　Speaker　assistance　for　you　until　you　can　make　other　arrangements；〃　Leto　said。　〃My　Fish　Speakers　will　guard　you　well。〃
　Hwi　shook　the　tears　from　her　face。　The　Inquisitors　of　Ix　would　react　with　rage　against　Tleilax。　Would　Ix　believe　her　report？　Everyone　in　her　Embassy　taken　over　by　Face　Dancers！　It　was　difficult　to　believe。
　〃Everyone？〃　she　asked。
　〃The　Face　Dancers　had　no　reason　to　leave　any　of　your　original　people　alive。　You　would　have　been　next。〃
　She　shuddered。
　〃They　delayed；〃　he　said；　〃because　they　knew　they　would　have　to　copy　you　with　a　precision　to　defy　my　senses。　They　are　not　sure　about　my　abilities。〃
　〃Then　Anteac。　。　。〃
　〃The　Sisterhood　and　I　share　an　ability　to　detect　Face　Dancers。　And　Anteac。。。well；　she　is　very　good　at　what　she　does。〃
　〃No　one　trusts　the　Tleilaxu；〃　she　said。　〃Why　haven't　they　been　wiped　out　long　ago？〃
　〃Specialists　have　their　uses　as　well　as　their　limitations。　You　surprise　me；　Hwi。　I　had　not　suspected　you　could　be　that　bloody…minded。〃
　〃The　Tleilaxu。。。they　are　too　cruel　to　be　human。　They　aren't　human！〃
　〃I　assure　you　that　humans　can　be　just　as　cruel。　I　myself　have　been　cruel　on　occasion。〃
　〃I　know；　Lord。〃
　〃With　provocation；〃　he　said。　〃But　the　only　people　I　have　considered　eliminating　are　the　Bene　Gesserit。〃
　Her　shock　was　too　great　for　words。
　〃They　are　so　close　to　what　they　should　be　and　yet　so　far；〃　he　said。
　She　found　her　voice。　〃But　the　Oral　History　says。　。　。〃
　〃The　religion　of　the　Reverend　Mothers；　yes。　Once　they　designed　specific　religions　for　specific　societies。　They　called　it　engineering。　How　does　that　strike　you？〃
　〃Callous。〃
　〃Indeed。　The　results　fit　the　mistake。　Even　after　all　the　grand　attempts　at　ecumenism　there　were　countless　gods；　minor　deities　and　would…be　prophets　throughout　the　Empire。〃
　〃You　changed　that；　Lord。〃
　〃Somewhat。　But　gods　die　hard；　Hwi。　My　monotheism　dominates；　but　the　original　pantheon　remains；　it　has　gone　underground　in　various　disguises。〃
　〃Lord；　I　sense　in　your　words。。。a　。　。　。〃　She　shook　her　head。
　〃Am　I　as　coldly　calculating　as　the　Sisterhood？〃
　She　nodded。
　〃It　was　the　Fremen　who　deified　my　father；　the　great　Muad'Dib。　Although　he　doesn't　really　care　to　be　called　great。〃
　〃But　were　the　Fremen。。　。〃
　〃Were　they　right？　My　dearest　Hwi；　they　were　sensitive　to　the　uses　of　power　and　they　were　greedy　to　maintain　their　ascendancy。〃
　〃I　find　this。。。disturbing；　Lord。〃
　〃I　can　see　that。　You　don't　like　the　idea　that　being　a　god　could　be　that　simple；　as　though　anyone　could　do　it。〃
　〃It　sounds　much　too　casual；　Lord。〃　Her　voice　had　a　remote　and　testing　quality。
　〃I　assure　you　that　anyone　could　not　do　it。〃
　〃But　you　imply　that　you　inherited　your　godhood　from。　。　。〃
　〃Never　suggest　that　to　a　Fish　Speaker；〃　he　said。　〃They　react　violently　against　heresy。〃
　She　tried　to　swallow　in　a　dry　throat。
　〃I　say　this　only　to　protect　you；〃　he　said。
　Her　voice　was　faint：　〃Thank　you；　Lord。〃
　〃My　godhood　began　when　I　told　my　Fremen　I　no　longer　could　give　the　death…water　to　the　tribes。　You　know　about　the　death…water？〃
　〃In　the　Dune　days；　the　water　recovered　from　the　bodies　of　the　dead；〃　she　said。
　〃Ahhh；　you　have　read　Noah　Arkwright。〃
　She　managed　a　faint　smile。
　〃I　told　my　Fremen　the　water　would　be　consecrated　to　a　Supreme　Deity；　left　nameless。　Fremen　were　still　allowed　to　control　this　water　through　my　largesse。〃
　〃Water　must　have　been　very　precious　in　those　days。〃
　〃Very！　And　I；　as　delegate　of　this　nameless　deity；　held　loose　control　of　that　precious　water　for　almost　three　hundred　years。〃
　She　chewed　at　her　lower　lip。
　〃It　still　sounds　calculating？〃　he　asked。
　She　nodded。
　〃It　was。　When　it　came　time　to　consecrate　my　sister's　water；　I　performed　a　miracle。　The　voices　of　all　the　Atreides　spoke　from　Ghani's　urn。　Thus；　my　Fremen　discovered　that　I　was　their　Supreme　Deity。〃
　Hwi　spoke　fearfully；　her　voice　full　of　puzzled　uncertainties　at　this　revelation。　〃Lord；　are　you　telling　me　that　you　are　not　really　a　god？〃
　〃I　am　telling　you　that　I　do　not　play　hide…and…seek　with　death。〃
　She　stared　at　him　for　several　minutes　before　responding　in　a　way　which　assured　him　that　she　understood　his　deeper　meaning。　It　was　a　reaction　which　only　intensified　her　endearment　to　him。
　〃Your　death　will　not　be　like　other　deaths；〃　she　said。
　〃Precious　Hwi；〃　he　murmured。
　〃I　wonder　that　you　do　not　fear　the　judgment　of　a　true　Supreme　Deity；〃　she　said。
　〃Do　you　judge　me；　Hwi？〃
　〃No；　but　I　fear　for　you。〃
　〃Think　on　the　price　I　pay；〃　he　said。　〃Every　descendant　part　of　me　will　can…y　some　of　my　awareness　locked　away　within　it；　lost　and　helpless。〃
　She　put　both　hands　over　her　mouth　and　stared　at　him。
　〃This　is　the　horror　which　my　father　could　not　face　and　which　he　tried　to　prevent：　the　infinite　division　and　subdivision　of　a　blind　identity。〃
　She　lowered　her　hands　and　whispered：　〃You　will　be　conscious？〃
　〃In　a　way。。。but　mute。　A　little　pearl　of　my　awareness　will　go　with　every　sandworm　and　every　sandtrout…knowing　yet　unable　to　move　a　single　cell；　aware　in　an　endless　dream。〃
　She　shuddered。
　Leto　watched　her　try　to　understand　such　an　existence。　Could　she　imagine　the　final　clamor　when　the　subdivided　bits　of　his　identity　grappled　for　a　fading　control　of　the　Ixian　machine　which　recorded　his　journals？　Could　she　sense　the　wrenching　silence　which　would　follow　that　awful　fragmentation？
　〃Lord；　they　would　use　this　knowledge　against　you　were　I　to　reveal　it。〃
　〃Will　you　tell？〃
　〃Of　course　not！〃　She　shook　her　head　slowly　from　side　to　side。　Why　had　he　accepted　this　terrible　transformation？　Was　there　no　escape？
　Presently；　she　said：　〃The　machine　which　writes　your　thoughts；　could　it　not　be　attuned　to。　。　。〃
　〃To　a　million　of　me？　To　a　billion？　To　more？　My　dear　Hwi；　none　of　those　knowing…pearls　will　be　truly　me。〃
　Her　eyes　filmed　with　tears。　She　blinked　and　inhaled　a　deep　breath。　Leto　recognized　the　Bene　Gesserit　training　in　this；　the　way　she　accepted　a　flow　of　calmness。
　〃Lord；　you　have　made　me　terribly　afraid。〃
　〃And　you　do　not　understand　why　I　have　done　this。〃
　〃Is　it　possible　for　me　to　understand？〃
　〃Oh；　yes。　Many　could　understand　it。　What　people　do　with　understanding　is　another　matter。〃
　〃Will　you　teach　me　what　to　do？〃
　〃You　already　know。〃
　She　absorbed　this　silently；　then：　〃It　has　something　to　do　with　your　religion。　I　can　feel　it。〃
　Leto　smiled。　〃I　can　forgive　your　Ixian　masters　almost　anything　for　the　precious　gift　of　you。　Ask　and　you　shall　receive。〃
　She　leaned　toward　him；　rocking　forward　on　her　pillow。　〃Tell　me　about　the　inner　workings　of　your　religion。〃
　〃You　will　know　all　of　me　soon　enough；　Hwi。　I　promise　it。　Just　remember　that　sun　worship　among　our　primitive　ancestors　was　not　far　off　the　mark。〃
　〃Sun。。。worship？〃　She　rocked　backward。
　〃That　sun　which　controls　all　of　the　movement　but　which　cannot　be　touched…that　sun　is　death。〃
　〃Your。。。death？〃
　〃Any　religion　circles　like　a　planet　around　a　sun　which　it　must　use　for　its　energy；　upon　which　it　depends　for　its　very　existence。〃
　Her　voice　came　barely　above　a　whisper：　〃What　do　you　see　in　your　sun；　Lord？〃
　〃A　universe　of　many　windows　through　which　I　may　peer。　Whatever　the　window　frames；　that　is　what　I　see。〃
　〃The　future？〃
　〃The　universe　is　timeless　at　its　roots　and　contains　therefore　all　times　and　all　futures。〃
　〃It's　true　then；〃　she　said。　〃You　saw　a　thing　which　this…'
　she　gestured　at　his　long；　ribbed　body…　〃prevents。〃
　〃Do　you　find　it　in　you　to　believe　that　this　may　be；　in　some　small　way；　holy？〃　he　asked。
　She　could　only　nod　her　head。
　〃If　you　share　it　all　with　me；〃　he　said；　〃I　warn　you　that　it　will　be　a　terrible　burden。〃
　〃Will　it　make　your　burden　lighter；　Lord？〃
　〃Not　lighter；　but　easier　to　accept。〃
　〃Then　I　will　share。　Tell　me；　Lord。〃
　〃Not　yet；　Hwi。　You　must　be　patient　a　while　longer。〃
　She　swallowed　her　disappointment；　sighing。
　〃It's　only　that　my　Duncan　Idaho　grows　impatient；〃　Leto　said。　〃T　must　deal　with　him。〃
　She　glanced　backward；　but　the　small　room　remained　empty。
　〃Do　you　wish　me　to　leave　now？〃
　〃I　wish　you　would　never　leave　me。〃
　She　stared　at　him；　noting　the　intensity　of　his　regard；　a　hungry　emptiness　in　his　expression　which　filled　her　with　sadness。
　〃Lord；　why　do　you　tell　me　your　secrets？〃
　〃I　would　not　ask　you　to　be　the　bride　of　a　god。〃
　Her　eyes　went　wide　with　shock。
　〃Do　not　answer；〃　he　said。
　Barely　moving　her　head；　she　sent　her　gaze　along　the　shadowy　length　of　his　body。
　〃Do　not　search　for　parts　of　me　which　no　longer　exist；〃　he　said。　〃Some　forms　of　physical　intimacy　are　no　longer　possible　for　me。〃
　She　returned　her　attention　to　his　cowled　face；　noting　the　pink　skin　of　his　cheeks；　the　intensely　human　effect　of　his　features　in　that　alien　frame。
　〃If　you　require　children；〃　he　said；　〃I　would　ask　only　that　you　let　me　choose　the　father。　But　I　have　not　yet　asked　you　anything。〃
　Her　voice　was　faint。　〃Lord；　I　do　not　know　what　to。。
　。〃
　〃I　will　return　to　the　Citadel　soon；〃　he　said。　〃You　will　e　to　me　there　and　we　will　talk。　I　will　tell　you　then　about　the　thing　which　I　prevent。〃
　〃I　am　frightened；　Lord；　more　frightened　than　I　ever　imagined　I　could　be。〃
　〃Do　not　fear　me。　I　can　be　nothing　but　gentle　with　my　gentle　Hwi。　As　for　other　dangers；　my　Fish　Speakers　will　shield　you　with　their　own　bodies。　They　dare　not　let　harm　e　to　you！〃
　Hwi　lifted　herself　to　her　feet　and　stood　trembling。
　Leto　saw　how　deeply　his　words　had　affected　her　and　he　felt　the　pain　of　it。　Hwi's　eyes　glistened　with　tears。　She　clasped　her　hands　tightly　to　sti