fh.godemperorofdune-第47章

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limpse　a　thing　〃destined　to　occur。〃　But　the　prophetic　instant　releases　something　of　infinite　portent　and　power。　The　universe　undergoes　a　ghostly　shift。　Thus；　the　wise　prophet　conceals　actuality　behind　shimmering　labels。　The　uninitiated　then　believe　the　prophetic　language　is　ambiguous。　The　listener　distrusts　the　prophetic　messenger。　Instinct　tells　you　how　the　utterance　blunts　the　power　of　such　words。　The　best　prophets　lead　you　up　to　the　curtain　and　let　you　peer　through　for　yourself。
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　LETO　ADDRESSED　Moneo　in　the　coldest　voice　he　had　ever　used：　〃The　Duncan　disobeys　me。〃
　They　were　in　the　airy　room　of　golden　stone　atop　the　Citadel's　south　tower；　Leto's　third　full　day　back　from　the　Decennial　Festival　in　Onn。　An　open　portal　beside　him　looked　out　over　the　harsh　noonday　of　the　Sareer。　The　wind　made　a　deep　humming　sound　through　the　opening。　It　stirred　up　dust　and　sand　which　made　Moneo　squint。　Leto　seemed　not　to　notice　the　irritation。　He　stared　out　across　the　Sareer；　where　the　air　was　alive　with　heat　movements。　The　distant　flow　of　dunes　suggested　a　mobility　in　the　landscape　which　only　his　eyes　observed。
　Moneo　stood　immersed　in　the　sour　odors　of　his　own　fear；　knowing　that　the　wind　conveyed　the　message　of　these　odors　to　Leto's　senses。　The　arrangements　for　the　wedding；　the　upset　among　the　Fish　Speakers…everything　was　paradox。　It　reminded　Moneo　of　something　the　God　Emperor　had　said　in　the　first　days　of　their　association。
　〃Paradox　is　a　pointer　telling　you　to　look　beyond　it。　If　paradoxes　bother　you；　that　betrays　your　deep　desire　for　absolutes。　The　relativist　treats　a　paradox　merely　as　interesting；　perhaps　amusing　or　even；　dreadful　thought；　educational。　〃
　〃You　do　not　respond；〃　Leto　said。　He　turned　from　his　examination　of　the　Sareer　and　focused　the　weight　of　his　attention　on　Moneo。
　Moneo　could　only　shrug。　How　near　is　the　Worm？　he　wondered。　Moneo　had　noticed　that　the　return　to　the　Citadel　from　Onn　sometimes　aroused　the　Worm。　No　sign　of　that　awful　shift　in　the　God　Emperor's　presence　had　yet　betrayed　itself；　but　Moneo　sensed　it。　Could　the　Worm　e　without　warning？
　〃Accelerate　arrangements　for　the　wedding；〃　Leto　said。　〃Make　it　as　soon　as　possible。〃
　〃Before　you　test　Siona？〃
　Leto　was　silent　for　a　moment；　then：　〃No。　What　will　you　do　about　the　Duncan；〃
　〃What　would　you　have　me　do；　Lord？〃
　〃I　told　him　not　to　see　Noree；　to　avoid　her。　I　told　him　it　was　an　order。〃
　〃She　has　sympathy　for　him；　Lord。　Nothing　more。〃
　〃Why　would　she　have　sympathy　for　him？〃
　〃He　is　a　ghola。　He　has　no　connection　to　our　times；　no　roots。〃
　〃He　has　roots　as　deep　as　mine！〃
　〃But　he　does　not　know　this；　Lord。〃
　〃Are　you　arguing　with　me；　Moneo？〃
　Moneo　backed　away　a　half　step；　knowing　that　this　did　not　remove　him　from　danger。　〃Oh；　no；　Lord。　But　I　always　try　to　tell　you　truly　what　I　believe　is　happening。〃
　〃I　will　tell　you　what　is　happening。　He　is　courting　her。〃
　〃But　she　initiates　their　meetings；　Lord。〃
　〃Then　you　knew　about　this！〃
　〃I　did　not　know　you　had　absolutely　prohibited　it；　Lord。〃
　Leto　spoke　in　a　musing　voice：　〃He　is　clever　with　women；
　Moneo；　exceedingly　clever。　He　sees　into　their　souls　and　makes　them　do　what　he　wants。　It　has　always　been　that　way　with　the　Duncans。〃
　〃I　did　not　know　you　had　prohibited　all　meetings　between　them；　Lord！〃　Moneo's　voice　was　almost　strident。
　〃He　is　more　dangerous　than　any　of　the　others；〃　Leto　said。　〃It　is　the　fault　of　our　times。〃
　〃Lord；　the　Tleilaxu　do　not　have　a　successor　for　him　ready　to　deliver。〃
　〃And　we　need　this　one？〃
　〃You　said　it　yourself；　Lord。　It　is　a　paradox　which　I　do　not　understand；　but　you　did　say　it。〃
　〃How　long　until　there　could　be　a　replacement？〃
　〃At　least　a　year；　Lord。　Shall　I　inquire　as　to　a　specific　date？〃
　〃Do　it　today。〃
　〃He　may　hear　about　it；　Lord。　The　previous　one　did。〃
　〃I　do　not　want　it　to　happen　this　way；　Moneo！〃
　〃I　know；　Lord。〃
　〃And　I　dare　not　speak　of　this　to　Noree；〃　Leto　said。　〃The　Duncan　is　not　for　her。　Yet；　I　cannot　hurt　her！〃　This　last　was　almost　a　wail。
　Moneo　stood　in　awed　silence。
　〃Can't　you　see　this？〃　Leto　demanded。　〃Moneo；　help　me。〃
　〃I　see　that　it　is　different　with　Noree；〃　Moneo　said。　〃But　I　do　not　know　what　to　do。〃
　〃What　is　different？〃　Leto's　voice　had　a　penetrating　quality　which　cut　right　through　Moneo。
　〃I　mean　your　attitude　toward　her；　Lord。　It　is　different　from　anything　I　have　ever　seen　in　you。〃
　Moneo　noted　then　the　first　signs…twitching　in　the　God　Emperor's　hands；　the　beginning　glaze　in　the　eyes。　Gods！　The　Worm　is　ing！　Moneo　felt　totally　exposed。　A　simple　flick　of　the　great　body　would　crush　Moneo　against　a　wall。　I　must　appeal　to　the　human　in　him。
　〃Lord；〃　Moneo　said；　〃I　have　read　the　accounts　and　heard　your　own　words　about　your　marriage　to　your　sister；　Ghanima。〃
　〃If　only　she　were　with　me　now；〃　Leto　said。
　〃She　was　never　your　mate；　Lord。〃
　〃What're　you　suggesting？〃　Leto　demanded。
　The　twitching　of　Leto's　hands　had　bee　a…　spasmodic　vibration。
　〃She　was。。。I　mean；　Lord；　that　Ghanima　was　Harq　al…Ada's　mate。〃
　〃Of　course　she　was！　All　of　you　Atreides　are　descended　from　them！〃
　〃Is　there　something　you　have　not　told　me；　Lord？　Is　it　possible。。。that　is；　with　Hwi　Noree。。uld　you　mate？〃
　Leto's　hands　shook　so　strongly　Moneo　wondered　that　their　owner　did　not　know　it。　The　glazing　of　the　great　blue　eyes　deepened。
　Moneo　backed　another　step　toward　the　door　to　the　stairs　leading　down　from　this　deadly　place。
　〃Do　not　question　me　about　possibilities；〃　Leto　said；　and　his　voice　was　hideously　distant；　gone　somewhere　into　the　layers　of　his　past。
　〃Never　again；　Lord；〃　Moneo　said。　He　bowed　himself　back　to　only　a　single　pace　from　the　door。　〃I　will　speak　to　Noree；　Lord。　。　。　and　to　the　Duncan。〃
　〃Do　what　you　can。〃　Leto's　voice　was　far　away　in　those　interior　chambers　which　only　he　could　enter。
　Softly；　Moneo　let　himself　out　of　the　door。　He　closed　it　behind　him　and　placed　his　back　against　it；　trembling。　Ahhh；　that　was　the　closest　ever。
　And　the　paradox　remained。　Where　did　it　point？　What　was　the　meaning　of　the　God　Emperor's　odd　and　painful　decisions？　What　had　brought　The　Worm　Who　Is　God？
　A　thumping　sounded　from　within　Leto's　aerie；　a　heavy　beating　against　stone。　Moneo　dared　not　open　the　door　to　investigate。　He　pushed　himself　away　from　the　surface　which　reflected　that　dreadful　thumping　…and　went　down　the　stairs；　moving　cautiously；　not　drawing　an　easy　breath　until　he　reached　ground　level　and　the　Fish　Speaker　guard　there。
　〃Is　he　disturbed？〃　she　asked；　looking　up　the　stairs。
　Moneo　nodded。　They　both　could　hear　the　thumping　quite　plainly。
　〃What　disturbs　him？〃　the　guard　asked。
　〃He　is　God　and　we　are　mortal；〃　Moneo　said。　This　was　an　answer　which　usually　satisfied　Fish　Speakers；　but　new　forces　were　at　work　now。
　She　looked　directly　at　him　and　Moneo　saw　the　killer　training　close　to　the　surface　of　her　soft　features。　She　was　a　relatively　young　woman　with　auburn　hair　and　a　face　usually　dominated　by　a　turned…up　nose　and　full　lips；　but　now　her　eyes　were　hard　and　demanding。　Only　a　fool　would　turn　his　back　on　those　eyes。
　〃I　did　not　disturb　him；〃　Moneo　said。
　〃Of　course　not；〃　she　agreed。　Her　look　softened　slightly。
　〃But　I　would　like　to　know　who　or　what　did。〃
　〃I　think　he　is　impatient　for　his　marriage；〃　Moneo　said。　〃I　think　that's　all　it　is。〃
　〃Then　hurry　the　day！〃　she　said。
　〃That's　what　I'm　about；〃　Moneo　said。　He　turned　and　hurried　away　down　the　long　hall　to　his　own　area　of　the　Citadel。　Gods！　The　Fish　Speakers　were　being　as　dangerous　as　the　God　Emperor。
　That　stupid　Duncan！　He　puts　us　all　in　peril。　And　Hwi　Noree！　What's　to　be　done　about　her？
　
　The　pattern　of　monarchies　and　similar　systems　has　a　message　of　value　for　all　political　forms。　My　memories　assure　me　that　governments　of　any　kind　could　profit　from　this　message。　Governments　can　be　useful　to　the　governed　only　so　long　as　inherent　tendencies　toward　tyranny　are　restrained。　Monarchies　have　some　good　features　beyond　their　star　qualities。　They　can　reduce　the　size　and　parasitic　nature　of　the　management　bureaucracy。　They　can　make　speedy　decisions　when　necessary。　They　fit　an　ancient　human　demand　for　a　parental　（tribal/feudal）　hierarchy　where　every　person　knows　his　place。　It　is　valuable　to　know　your　place；　even　if　that　place　is　temporary。　It　is　galling　to　be　held　in　place　against　your　will。　This　is　why　I　teach　about　tyranny　in　the　best　possible　way　by　example。　Even　though　you　read　these　words　after　a　passage　of　eons；　my　tyranny　will　not　be　forgotten。　My　Golden　Path　assures　this。　Knowing　my　message；　I　expect　you　to　be　exceedingly　careful　about　the　powers　you　delegate　to　any　government。
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　Leto　PREPARED　with　patient　care　for　his　first　private　meeting　with　Siona　since　her　childhood　banishment　to　the　Fish　Speaker　schools　in　the　Festival　City。　He　told　Moneo　that　he　would　see　her　at　the　Little　Citadel；　a　vantage　tower　he　had　built　in　the　central　Sareer。　The　site　had　been　chosen　to　provide　views　of　old　and　new　and　places　between。　There　were　no　roads　to　the　Little　Citadel。　Visitors　arrived　by　'thopter。　Leto　went　there　as　though　by　magic。　'
　With　his　own　hands；　in　the　early　days　of　his　ascendancy；　Leto　has　used　an　Ixian　machine　to　dig　a　secret　tunnel　under　the　Sareer　to　his　tower；　doing　all　of　the　work　himself。　In　those　days；　a　few　wild　sandworms　still　roamed　the　desert。　He　had　lined　his　tunnel　with　massive　walls　of　fused　silica　and　had　imbedded　countless　bubbles　of　worm…repelling　water　in　the　outer　layers。　The　tunnel　anticipated　his　maximum　growth　and　the　requirements　of　a　Royal　Cart　which；　at　that　time；　had　been　only　a　figment　of　his　visions；
　In　the　early　predawn　hours　of　the　day　assigned　to　Siona；　Leto　descended　to　the　crypt　and　gave　orders　to　his　guard　that　he　was　not　to　be　disturbed　by　anyone。　His　cart　sped　him　down　one　of　the　crypt's　dark　spokes　where　he　opened　a　hidden　portal；　emerging　in　less　than　an　hour　at　the　Little　Citadel。
　One　of　his　delights　was　to　go　out　alone　onto　the　sand。　No　cart。　Only　his　pre…worm　body　to　carry　him。　The　sand　felt　luxuriously　sensuous　against　him。　The　heat　of　his　passage　through　the　dunes　in　the　day's　first　light　sent　up　a　wake　of　steam　which　required　him　to　keep　moving。　He　brought　himself　to　a　stop　only　when　he　found　a　relatively　dry　pocket　about　five　kilometers　out。　He　lay　there　at　the　center　of　an　unfortable　dampness　from　the　trace…dew；　his　body　just　outside　the　long　shadow　of　the　tower　which　stretched　eastward　from　him　across　the　dunes。
　From　a　distance；　the　three　thousand　meters　of　the　tower　could　be　seen　as　an　impossible　needle　stabbing　the　sky。　Only　the　inspired　blend　of　Leto's　mands　and　Ixian　imagination　made　the　structure　conceivable。　One　hundred　and　fifty　meters　in　diameter；　the　tower　sat　on　a　foundation　which　plunged　as　deeply　under　the　sand　as　it　climbed　above。　The　magic　of　plasteel　and　superlight　alloys　kept　it　supple　in　the　wind　and　resistant　to　sandblast　abrasions。
　Leto　enjoyed　the　place　so　much　that　he　rationed　his　visits；　making　up　a　long　list　of　personal　rules　which　had　to　be　met。　The　rules　added　up　to　〃Great　Necessity。〃
　For　a　few　moments　while　he　lay　there；　he　could　shed　the　loads　of　the　Golden　Path。　Moneo；　good　and　reliable　Moneo；　would　see　that　Siona　arrived　promptly；　just　at　nightfall。　Leto　had　a　full　day　in　which　to　relax　and　think；　to　play　and　pretend　that