fh.godemperorofdune-第44章

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　be　made　to　work。〃
　〃But　if　you　fail　them。　。　。〃
　〃They　will　turn　against　me；　yes。〃
　〃Will　Siona　replace　you　if。　。　。〃
　〃Ahhh；　what　an　enormous　if！　You　observe　that　Siona　threatens　my　person。　However；　she　does　not　threaten　the　Golden　Path。　There　is　also　the　fact　that　my　Fish　Speakers　have　a　certain　attachment　to　the　Duncan。〃
　〃Siona　seems。。。so　young。〃
　〃And　I　am　her　favorite　poseur；　the　sham　who　holds　power　under　false　pretenses；　never　consulting　the　needs　of　his　people。〃
　〃Could　I　not　talk　to　her　and。　。　。〃
　〃No！　You　must　never　try　to　persuade　Siona　of　anything。　Promise　me；　Hwi。〃
　〃If　you　ask　it；　of　course；　but　I。　。　。〃
　〃All　gods　have　this　problem；　Hwi。　In　the　perception　of　deeper　needs；　I　must　often　ignore　immediate　ones。　Not　addressing　immediate　needs　is　an　offense　to　the　young。〃
　〃Could　you　not　reason　with　her　and。　。　。〃
　〃Never　attempt　to　reason　with　people　who　know　they　are　right！〃
　〃But　when　you　know　they　are　wrong。　。　。〃
　〃Do　you　believe　in　me？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃And　if　someone　tried　to　convince　you　that　I　am　the　greatest　evil　of　all　time。。。〃
　〃I　would　bee　very　angry。　I　would。　。　。〃　She　broke　off。
　〃Reason　is　valuable；〃　he　said；　〃only　when　it　performs　against　the　wordless　physical　background　of　the　universe。〃
　Her　brows　drew　together　in　thought。　It　fascinated　Leto　to　sense　the　arousal　of　her　awareness。　〃Ahhh。〃　She　breathed　the　word。
　〃No　reasoning　creature　will　ever　again　be　able　to　deny　the　Leto　experience；〃　he　said。　〃I　see　your　understanding　begin。　Beginnings！　They　are　what　life　is　all　about！〃
　She　nodded。
　No　arguments；　he　thought。　When　she　sees　the　tracks；　she　follows　them　to　find　where　they　will　lead。
　〃As　long　as　there　is　life；　every　ending　is　a　beginning；〃　he　said。　〃And　I　would　save　humankind；　even　from　itself。〃
　Again；　she　nodded。　The　tracks　still　led　onward。
　〃This　is　why　no　death　in　the　perpetuation　of　humankind　can　be　a　plete　failure；〃　he　said。　〃This　is　why　a　birth　touches　us　so　deeply。　This　is　why　the　most　tragic　death　is　the　death　of　a　youth。〃
　〃Does　Ix　still　threaten　your　Golden　Path？　I've　always　known　they　conspired　in　something　evil。〃
　They　conspire。　Hwi　does　not　hear　the　inner　message　of　her　own　words。　She　has　no　need　to　hear　it。
　He　stared　at　her；　full　of　the　marvel　that　was　Hwi。　She　possessed　a　form　of　honesty　which　some　would　call　naive；　but　which　Leto　recognized　as　merely　non…self…conscious。　The　honesty　was　not　her　core；　it　was　Hwi　herself。
　〃Then　I　will　arrange　a　performance　in　the　plaza　tomorrow；〃　Leto　said。　〃It　will　be　a　performance　of　the　surviving　Face　Dancers。　Afterward；　our　betrothal　will　be　announced。〃
　
　Let　there　be　no　doubt　that　I　am　the　assemblage　of　our　ancestors；　the　arena　in　which　they　exercise　my　moments。　They　are　my　cells　and　I　am　their　body。　This　is　the　favrashi　of　which　I　speak；　the　soul；　the　collective　unconscious；　the　source　of　archetypes；　the　repository　of　all　trauma　and　joy。　I　am　the　choice　of　their　awakening。　My　samhadi　is　their　samhadi。　Their　experiences　are　mine！　Their　knowledge　distilled　is　mfr　inheritance。　Those　billions　are　my　one。
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　THE　FACE　DANCER　performance　occupied　almost　two　hours　of　the　morning；　and　afterward　came　the　announcement　which　sent　shock　waves　through　the　Festival　City。
　〃It　has　been　centuries　since　he　took　a　bride！〃
　〃More　than　a　thousand　years；　my　dear。〃
　The　trooping　of　the　Fish　Speakers　had　been　brief。　They　cheered　him　loudly；　but　they　were　disturbed。
　〃You　are　my　only　brides；〃　he　had　said。　Was　that　not　the　meaning　of　Siaynoq？
　Leto　thought　the　Face　Dancers　performed　well　despite　their　obvious　terror。　Garments　had　been　found　in　the　depths　of　a　Fremen　museum　hooded　black　robes　with　white　cord　belts；　spread…winged　green　hawks　appliquйd　across　the　shoulders　at　the　back…uniforms　of　Muad'Dib's　itinerant　priests。　The　Face　Dancers　had　put　on　dark；　seamed　faces　with　these　robes　and　performed　a　dance　which　told　how　Muad'Dib's　legions　had　spread　their　religion　through　the　Empire。
　Hwi；　wearing　a　brilliant　silver　dress　with　a　green　jade　necklace；　sat　beside　Leto　on　the　Royal　Cart　throughout　the　ritual。　
　Once；　she　leaned　close　to　his　face　and　asked：　〃Is　that　not　a　parody？〃
　〃To　me；　perhaps。〃
　〃Do　the　Face　Dancers　know？〃
　〃They　suspect。〃
　〃Then　they　are　not　as　frightened　as　they　appear。〃
　〃Oh；　yes；　they　are　frightened。　It's　just　that　they　are　braver　than　most　people　expect　them　to　be。〃
　〃Bravery　can　be　so　foolish；〃　she　whispered。
　〃And　vice…versa。〃
　She　had　favored　him　with　a　measuring　stare　before　returning　her　attention　to　the　performance。　Almost　two　hundred　Face　Dancers　had　survived　unscathed。　All　of　them　had　been　pressed　into　the　dance。　The　intricate　weavings　and　posturings　could　fascinate　the　eye。　It　was　possible　to　watch　them　and；　for　a　time；　forget　the　bloody　preliminaries　to　this　day。
　Leto　remembered　this　as　he　lay　alone　in　his　small　reception　room　shortly　before　noon　when　Moneo　arrived。　Moneo　had　seen　the　Reverend　Mother　Anteac　onto　a　Guild　lighter；　had　conferred　with　the　Fish　Speaker　mand　about　the　previous　night's　violence；　had　made　a　quick　flight　to　the　Citadel　and　back　to　make　sure　Siona　was　under　a　secure　watch　and　that　she　had　not　been　implicated　in　the　Embassy　attack。　He　had　returned　to　Onn　just　after　the　betrothal　announcement；　having　had　no　previous　warning。
　Moneo　was　furious。　Leto　had　never　seen　him　this　angry。　He　stormed　into　the　room　and　stopped　only　two　meters　from　Leto's　face。
　〃Now　the　Tleilaxu　lies　will　be　believed！〃　he　said。
　Leto　responded　in　a　reasoned　tone。　〃How　persistent　it　is；　this　demand　that　our　gods　be　perfect。　The　Greeks　were　much　more　reasonable　about　such　things。〃
　〃Where　is　she？〃　Moneo　demanded。　〃Where　is　this。　。　。〃
　〃Hwi　is　resting。　It　was　a　difficult　night　and　a　long　morning。　I　want　her　well　rested　when　we　return　to　the　Citadel　this　evening。〃
　〃How　did　she　work　this？〃　Moneo　demanded。
　〃Really；　Moneo！　Have　you　lost　all　sense　of　caution？〃
　〃I　am　concerned　about　you！　Have　you　any　idea　what　they're　saying　in　the　City？〃
　〃I'm　fully　aware　of　the　stories。〃
　〃What　are　you　doing？〃
　〃You　know；　Moneo；　I　think　that　only　the　old　pantheists　had　the　right　idea　about　deities：　mortal　foibles　in　immortal　guise。〃　Moneo　raised　both　arms　to　the　heavens。　〃I　saw　the　looks　on　their　faces！〃　He　lowered　his　arms。　〃It'll　be　all　over　the　Empire　within　two　weeks。〃
　〃Surely　it'll　take　longer　than　that。〃
　〃If　your　enemies　needed　one　thing　to　bring　them　all　together。。。〃
　〃The　defiling　of　the　god　is　an　ancient　human　tradition；　Moneo。　Why　should　I　be　an　exception？〃
　Moneo　tried　to　speak；　found　he　could　not　utter　a　word。　He　stamped　down　along　the　edge　of　the　pit　which　held　Leto's　cart；　stamped　back　and　resumed　his　former　position　glaring　into　Leto's　face。
　〃If　I　am　to　help　you；　I　need　an　explanation；〃　Moneo　said。　〃Why　are　you　doing　this？〃
　〃Emotions。〃
　Moneo's　mouth　formed　the　word　without　speaking　it。
　〃They　have　e　over　me　just　when　I　thought　them　gone　forever；〃　Leto　said。　〃How　sweet　these　last　few　sips　of　humanity　are。〃
　〃With　Hwi？　But　you　surely　cannot。　。　。〃
　〃Memories　of　emotions　are　never　enough；　Moneo。〃
　〃Are　you　telling　me　that　you　are　indulging　yourself　in　a　。　。　。〃
　〃Indulgence）　Certainly　not！　But　the　tripod　upon　which　Eternity　swings　is　posed　of　flesh　and　thought　and　emotion。　I　felt　that　I　had　been　reduced　to　flesh　and　thought。〃
　〃She　has　worked　some　kind　of　witchery；〃　Moneo　accused。
　〃Of　course　she　has。　And　how　grateful　I　am　for　it。　If　we　deny　the　need　for　thought；　Moneo；　as　some　do；　we　lose　the　powers　of　reflection；　we　cannot　define　what　our　senses　report。　If　we　deny　the　flesh；　we　unwheel　the　vehicle　which　bears　us。　But　if　we　deny　emotion；　we　lose　all　touch　with　our　internal　universe。　It　was　emotions　which　I　missed　the　most。〃
　〃I　insist；　Lord；　that　you。　。　。〃
　〃You　are　making　me　angry；　Moneo。　That　is　an　emotion。〃
　Leto　saw　Moneo's　frustrated　fury　cool；　quenched　like　a　hot　iron　plunged　into　icy　water。　There　was　still　some　steam　in　him；　though。
　〃I　care　not　for　myself；　Lord。　My　concern　is　mostly　for　you；　and　you　know　this。〃
　Leto　spoke　softly。　〃It　is　your　emotion；　Moneo；　and　I　hold　it　dear。〃
　Moneo　inhaled　a　deep；　trembling　breath。　He　had　never　be…
　fore　seen　the　God　Emperor　in　this　mood；　reflecting　this　emotion。　Leto　appeared　both　elated　and　resigned；　if　Moneo　were　reading　it　correctly。　One　could　not　be　certain。
　〃That　which　makes　life　sweet　for　the　living；〃　Leto　said；　〃that　which　makes　life　warm　and　filled　with　beauty；　that　is　what　I　would　preserve　even　though　it　were　denied　to　me。〃
　〃Then　this　Hwi　Noree　。　。　。〃
　〃She　makes　me　recall　the　Butlerian　Jihad　in　a　poignant　way。　She　is　the　antithesis　of　all　that's　mechanical　and　non…human。　How　odd　it　is；　Moneo；　that　the　lxians；　of　all　people；　should　produce　this　one　person　who　so　perfectly　embodies　those　qualities　which　I　hold　most　dear。〃
　〃I　do　not　understand　your　reference　to　the　Butlerian　Jihad；　Lord；　Machines　that　think　have　no　place　in。。　。〃
　〃The　target　of　the　Jihad　was　a　machine…attitude　as　much　as　the　machines；〃　Leto　said。　〃Humans　had　set　those　machines　to　usurp　our　sense　of　beauty；　our　necessary　selfdom　out　of　which　we　make　living　judgments。　Naturally；　the　machines　were　destroyed。〃
　〃Lord；　I　still　resent　the　fact　that　you　wele　this。　。　。〃
　〃Moneo！　Hwi　reassures　me　merely　by　her　presence。　For　the　first　time　in　centuries；　I　am　not　lonely　unless　she　is　away　from　my　side。　If　I　had　no　other　proof　of　the　emotion；　this　would　serve。〃
　Moneo　fell　silent；　obviously　touched　by　Leto's　evocation　of　loneliness。　Surely；　Moneo　could　understand　the　absence　of　the　intimate　sharing　in　love。　His　expression　betrayed　as　much。
　For　the　first　time　in　a　long　while；　Leto　noted　how　much　Moneo　had　aged。
　It　happens　so　suddenly　to　them。　Leto　thought。
　It　made　Leto　deeply　aware　of　how　much　he　cared　for　Moneo。
　I　should　not　let　attachments　happen　to　me；　but　I　cannot　help　it。。。especially　now　that　Hwi　is　here。
　〃They　will　laugh　at　you　and　make　obscene　jests；〃　Moneo　said。
　〃That　is　a　good　thing。〃
　〃How　can　it　be　good？〃
　〃This　is　something　new。　Our　task　has　always　been　to　bring　the　new　into　balance　and；　with　it；　modify　behavior　while　not　suppressing　survival。〃
　〃Even　so；　how　can　you　wele　this？〃
　〃The　making　of　obscenities？〃　Leto　asked。　〃What　is　the　opposite　of　obscenity？〃
　Moneo's　eyes　went　wide　with　a　sudden　questioning　awareness。　He　had　seen　the　action　of　many　polarities…the　thing　made　known　by　its　opposite。
　The　thing　stands　out　against　a　background　which　defines　it；　Leto　thought。　Surely　Moneo　will　see　this。
　〃It's　too　dangerous；〃　Moneo　said。
　The　ultimate　verdict　of　conservatism！
　Moneo　was　not　convinced。　A　deep　sigh　wracked　him。
　I　must　remember　not　to　take　away　their　doubts；　Leto　thought。　That's　how　I　failed　my　Fish　Speakers　in　the　plaza。　The　lxians　are　holding　on　to　the　ragged　end　of　human　doubts。　Hwi　is　the　evidence　of　that。
　A　disturbance　sounded　in　the　anteroom。　Leto　sealed　the　portal　against　impetuous　intrusions。
　〃My　Duncan　has　e；〃　he　said。
　〃He's　probably　heard　about　your　wedding　plans…〃
　〃Probably。〃
　Leto　watched　Moneo　wrestle　with　doubts；　his　thoughts　utterly　transparent。　In　that　moment；　Moneo　fit　so　precisely　into　his　human　niche　that　Leto　wanted　to　hug　him。
　He　has　the　full　spectrum：　doubt…to…trust；　love…to