fh.godemperorofdune-第42章

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rged　to　the　surface。
　Leto　emerged　at　the　edge　of　the　plaza　to　find　a　scene　of　chaos　lighted　by　thousands　of　free…floating　glowglobes　released　by　his　Fish　Speakers。　The　central　stage　of　the　plaza　had　been　shattered；　leaving　only　the　plasteel　base　intact　beneath　the　paved　surface。　Broken　pieces　of　masonry　lay　all　around；　mixed　with　dead　and　wounded。
　In　the　direction　of　the　Ixian　Embassy；　directly　across　the　plaza　from　him；　there　was　a　wild　surging　of　bat。
　〃Where　is　my　Duncan？〃　Leto　bellowed。
　A　guard　bashar　came　racing　across　the　plaza　to　his　side　where　she　reported　through　panting　breaths：　〃We　have　taken　him　to　the　Citadel；　Lord！〃
　〃What　is　happening　over　there？〃　Leto　demanded；　pointing　at　the　battle　outside　the　Ixian　Embassy。
　〃The　rebels　and　the　Tleilaxu　are　attacking　the　Ixian　Embassy；　Lord。　They　have　explosives。〃
　Even　as　she　spoke；　another　blast　erupted　in　front　of　the　Embassy's　shattered　facade。　He　saw　bodies　twisting　in　the　air；　arching　outward　and　falling　at　the　perimeter　of　a　bright　flash　which　left　an　orange　afterimage；　studded　with　black　dots。
　With　no　thought　of　consequences；　Leto　shifted　his　cart　onto　suspensors　and　sent　it　bulleting　across　the　plaza…a　hurtling　behemoth　which　sucked　glowglobes　into　its　wake。　At　the　battle's　edge；　he　arched　over　his　own　defenders　and　plunged　into　the　attackers'　flank；　aware　only　then　of　lasguns　which　sent　livid　blue　arcs　leaping　toward　him。　He　felt　his　cart　thudding　into　flesh；　scattering　bodies　all　around。
　The　cart　spilled　him　directly　in　front　of　the　Embassy；　rolling　him　off　onto　a　hard　surface　as　it　struck　the　rubble　there。　He　felt　lasgun　beams　tickle　his　ribbed　body；　then　the　inner　surge　of　heat　followed　by　a　venting　belch　of　oxygen　at　his　tail。　Instinct　tucked　his　face　deep　into　its　cowl　and　folded　his　arms　into　the　protective　depths　of　his　front　segment。　The　worm…body　took　over；　arching　and　flailing；　rolling　like　an　insane　wheel；　lashing　out　on　all　sides。
　Blood　lubricated　the　street。　Blood　was　buffered　water　to　his　body；　but　death　released　the　water。　His　flailing　body　slipped　and　slithered　in　it；　the　water　igniting　blue　smoke　from　every　flexion　place　where　it　slipped　through　the　sandtrout　skin。　This　filled　him　with　water…agony　which　ignited　more　violence　in　the　great　flailing　body。
　At　Leto's　first　lashing　out；　the　Fish　Speaker　perimeter　fell　back。　An　alert　bashar　saw　the　opportunity　now　presented。　She　shouted　above　the　battle　noise：
　〃Pick　off　the　stragglers！〃
　The　ranks　of　guardian　women　rushed　forward。
　It　was　bloody　play　among　the　Fish　Speakers　for　a　few　minutes；　blades　thrusting　in　the　merciless　light　of　the　glowglobes；　the　dancing　of　lasgun　arcs；　even　hands　chopping　and　toes　digging　into　vulnerable　flesh。　The　Fish　Speakers　left　no　survivors。
　Leto　rolled　beyond　the　Bloody　mush　in　front　of　the　Embassy；　barely　able　to　think　through　the　waves　of　water…agony。　The　air　was　heavy　with　oxygen　all　around　him　and　this　helped　his　human　senses。　He　summoned　his　cart　and　it　drifted　toward　him；　tipping　perilously　on　damaged　suspensors。　Slowly；　he　wriggled　onto　the　tipping　cart　and　gave　it　the　mental　mand　to　return　to　his　quarters　beneath　the　plaza。
　Long　ago；　he　had　prepared　himself　against　water…damage　room　where　blasts　of　superheated　dry　air　would　cleanse　and　restore　him。　Sand　would　serve　but　there　was　no　place　in　t　e　confines　of　Onn　for　the　necessary　expanse　of　sand　in　which　he　might　heat　and　rasp　his　surface　to　its　normal　purity。
　In　the　lift；　he　thought　of　Hwi　and　sent　a　message　to　have　her　brought　down　to　him　immediately。
　If　she　survived。
　He　had　no　time　now　to　make　a　prescient　search；　he　could　only　hope　while　his　body；　both　pre…worm　and　human；　longed　for　the　cleansing　heat。
　Once　into　the　cleansing　room；　he　thought　to　reaffirm　his　modified　mand　…　〃Save　some　of　the　Face　Dancers！〃　But　by　then　the　maddened　Fish　Speakers　were　spreading　out　through　the　City　and　he　had　not　the　strength　to　make　a　prescient　sweep　which　would　send　his　messengers　to　the　proper　meeting　points。
　A　Guard　captain　brought　him　word　as　he　was　emerging　from　the　cleansing　room　that　Hwi　Noree；　although　slightly　wounded；　was　safe　and　would　be　brought　to　him　as　soon　as　the　local　mander　thought　it　prudent。
　Leto　promoted　the　Guard　captain　to　sub…bashar　on　the　spot。
　She　was　a　heavyset　Nayla…type　but　without　Nayla's　square　face…features　more　rounded　and　closer　to　the　older　norms。　She　trembled　in　the　warmth　of　her　Lord's　approval　and；　when　he　told　her　to　return　and　〃make　doubly　certain〃　no　more　harm　came　to　Hwi；　she　whirled　and　dashed　from　his　presence。
　　didn't　even　ask　her　name；　Leto　thought；　as　he　rolled　himself　onto　the　new　cart　in　the　depression　of　his　small　audience　room。　It　took　a　few　moments　of　reflection　to　recall　the　new　sub…bashar's　name…Kieuemo。　The　promotion　would　have　to　be　reaffirmed。　He　lodged　a　mental　reminder　to　do　this　personally。　The　Fish　Speakers；　all　of　them；　would　have　to　learn　immediately　how　much　he　valued　Hwi　Noree。　Not　that　there　could　be　much　doubt　after　tonight。
　He　made　his　prescient　scan　then　and　dispatched　messengers　to　his　rampaging　Fish　Speakers。　By　then　the　damage　had　been　done…corpses　all　over　Onn；　some　Face　Dancers　and　some　only…suspected　Face　Dancers。
　And　many　have　seen　me　kill；　he　thought。
　While　he　waited　for　Hwi's　arrival；　he　reviewed　what　had　just　happened。　This　had　not　been　a　typical　Tleilaxu　attack；　but　the　previous　attack　on　the　road　to　Onn　fitted　into　a　new　pattern；　all　of　it　pointing　at　a　single　mind　with　lethal　purpose。
　I　could　have　died　out　there；　he　thought。
　That　began　to　explain　why　he　had　not　anticipated　this　attack；　but　there　was　a　deeper　reason。　Leto　could　see　that　reason　rising　into　his　awareness；　a　summation　of　all　the　clues。　What　human　knew　the　God　Emperor　best？　What　human　possessed　a　secret　place　from　which　to　conspire？
　Malky！
　Leto　summoned　a　guard　and　told　her　to　ask　if　the　Reverend　Mother　Anteac　had　yet　left　Arrakis。　The　guard　returned　in　a　moment　to　report。
　〃Anteac　is　still　in　her　quarters。　The　mander　of　the　Fish　Speaker　Guard　there　says　they　have　not　e　under　attack。〃
　〃Send　word　to　Anteac；〃　Leto　said。　〃Ask　if　she　now　understands　why　I　put　her　delegation　in　quarters　at　a　distance　from　me？　Then　tell　her　that　while　she　is　on　Ix　she　must　locate　Malky。　She　is　to　report　that　location　to　our　local　garrison　on　Ix。〃
　〃Malky；　the　former　Ixian　Ambassador？〃
　〃The　same。　He　is　not　to　remain　alive　and　free。　You　will　inform　our　garrison　mander　on　Ix　that　she　is　to　make　close　liaison　with　Anteac；　providing　every　necessary　assistance。
　Malky　is　to　be　brought　here　to　me　or　executed；　whichever　our　mander　finds　necessary。〃
　The　guard…messenger　nodded；　shadows　lurching　across　her　features　where　she　stood　in　the　ring　of　light　around　Leto's　face。　She　did　not　ask　for　a　repetition　of　the　orders。　Each　of　his　close　guards　had　been　trained　as　a　human…recorder。　They　could　repeat　Leto's　words　exactly；　even　the　intonations；　and　would　never　forget　what　they　had　heard　him　say。
　When　the　messenger　had　gone；　Leto　sent　a　private　signal　of　inquiry　and；　within　seconds；　had　a　response　from　Nayla。　The　Ixian　device　within　his　cart　reproduced　a　non…identifiable　version　of　her　voice；　a　flatly　metallic　recital　for　his　ears　alone。
　Yes；　Siona　was　at　the　Citadel。　No；　Siona　had　not　contacted　her　rebel　panions。　〃No；　she　does　not　yet　know　that　I　am　here　observing　her。〃　The　attack　on　the　Embassy？　That　had　been　by　a　splinter　group　called　〃The　Tleilaxu…Contact　Element。〃
　Leto　allowed　himself　a　mental　sigh。　Rebels　always　gave　their　groups　such　pretentious　labels。
　〃Any　survivors？〃　he　asked。
　〃No　known　survivors。〃
　Leto　found　it　amusing　that；　while　the　metallic　voice　provided　no　emotional　tones；　his　memory　supplied　them。
　〃You　will　make　contact　with　Siona；〃　he　said。　〃Reveal　that　you　are　a　Fish　Speaker。　Tell　her　you　did　not　reveal　this　earlier　because　you　knew　she　would　not　trust　you　and　because　you　feared　exposure　since　you　are　quite　alone　among　Fish　Speakers　in　your　allegiance　to　Siona。　Reaffirm　your　oath　to　her。　Tell　her　that　you　swear　by　all　that　you　hold　holy　to　obey　Siona　in　anything。　If　she　mands　it；　you　will　do　it。　All　of　this　is　truth；　as　you　well　know。〃
　〃Yes；　Lord。〃
　Memory　supplied　the　fanatic　emphasis　in　Nayla's　response。　She　would　obey。
　〃If　possible；　provide　opportunities　for　Siona　and　。Duncan　Idaho　to　be　alone　together；〃　he　said。
　〃Yes；　Lord。〃
　Let　propinquity　take　its　usual　course；　he　thought。
　He　broke　contact　with　Nayla；　thought　for　a　moment；　then　sent　for　the　mander　of　his　plaza　forces。　The　bashar　arrived　presently；　her　dark　uniform　stained　and　dusty；　evidence　of　gore　still　on　her　boots。　She　was　a　tall；　bone…thin　woman　with　age　lines　which　gave　her　aquiline　features　an　air　of　powerful　dignity。　Leto　recalled　her　troop…name；　Iylyo；　which　meant　〃Dependable〃　in　Old　Fremen。　He　called　her；　however；　by　her　matronymic；　Nyshae；　〃Daughter　of　Shae；〃　which　set　a　tone　of　subtle　intimacy　for　this　meeting。
　〃Rest　yourself　on　a　cushion；　Nyshae；〃　he　said。　〃You　have　been　working　hard。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Lord。〃
　She　sank　onto　the　red　cushion　which　Hwi　had　used。　Leto　noted　the　fatigue　lines　around　Nyshae's　mouth；　but　her　eyes　remained　alert。　She　stared　up　at　him；　eager　to　hear　his　words。
　〃Matters　are　once　more　tranquil　in　my　City。〃　He　made　it　not　quite　a　question；　leaving　the　interpretation　to　Nyshae。
　〃Tranquil　but　not　good；　Lord。〃
　He　glanced　at　the　gore　on　her　boots。
　〃The　street　in　front　of　the　Ixian　Embassy？〃
　〃It　is　being　cleansed；　Lord。　Repairs　already　are　under　way。〃
　〃The　plaza？〃
　〃By　morning；　it　will　appear　as　it　has　always　appeared。〃
　Her　gaze　remained　steady　on　his　face。　Both　of　them　knew　he　had　not　yet　reached　the　nubbin　of　this　interview。　But　Leto　now　identified　a　thing　lurking　within　Nyshae's　expression。
　Pride　in　her　Lord！
　For　the　first　time；　she　had　seen　the　God　Emperor　kill。　The　seeds　of　a　terrible　dependency　had　been　planted。　If　disaster　threatens；　my　Lord　will　e。　That　was　how　it　appeared　in　her　eyes。　She　would　no　longer　act　with　plete　independence；　taking　her　power　from　the　God　Emperor　and　being　personally　responsible　for　the　use　of　that　power。　There　was　something　possessive　in　her　expression。　A　terrible　death　machine　waited　in　the　wings；　available　at　her　summons。
　Leto　did　not　like　what　he　saw；　but　the　damage　had　been　done。　Any　remedies　would　require　slow　and　subtle　pressures。
　〃Where　did　the　attackers　get　lasguns？〃　he　asked。
　〃From　our　own　stores；　Lord。　The　Arsenal　Guard　has　been　replaced。〃
　Replaced。　It　was　a　euphemism　with　a　certain　nicety。　Errant　Fish　Speakers　were　isolated　and　reserved　until　Leto　found　a　problem　which　required　Death　mandos。　They　would　die　gladly；　of　course；　believing　that　thus　they　expiated　their　sin。　And　even　the　rumor　that　such　berserkers　had　been　dispatched　could　quiet　a　trouble　spot。
　〃The　arsenal　was　breached　by　explosives？〃　he　asked。
　〃Stealth　and　explosives；　Lord。　The　Arsenal　Guard　was　careless。〃
　〃The　source　of　the　explosives？〃
　Some　of　Nyshae's　fatigue　was　visible　in　her　shrug。
　Leto　could　only　agree。　He　knew　he　could　search　out　and　identify　those　sources；　but　it　would　serve　little　purpose。　Resourceful　people　could　always　find　the　ingredients　for　homemade　explosives…mon　things　such　as　sugar　and　bleaches；　quite　ordinary　oils　and　inno