fh.godemperorofdune-第50章

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　〃My　father　says　you　can　be　very　tricky　with　words；〃　she　said。
　〃And　he　ought　to　know。　But　there　is　knowledge　you　can　only　gain　by　participating　in　it。　There's　no　way　to　learn　it　by　standing　off　and　looking　and　talking。〃
　〃That's　the　kind　of　thing　he　means；〃　she　said。
　〃You're　quite　right；〃　he　agreed。　〃It's　not　logical。　But　it　is　a　light；　an　eye　which　can　see；　but　does　not　see　itself。〃
　〃I'm　tired　of　talking；〃　she　said。
　〃As　am　L〃　And　he　thought：　l　have　seen　enough；　done　enough。　She　is　wide　open　to　her　doubts。　How　vulnerable　they　are　in　their　ignorance！
　〃You　haven't　convinced　me　of　anything；〃　she　said。
　〃That　was　not　the　purpose　of　this　meeting。〃
　〃What　was　the　purpose？〃
　〃To　see　if　you　are　ready　to　be　tested。〃
　〃Test。　。　。〃　She　tipped　her　head　a　bit　to　the　right　and　stared　at　him。
　〃Don't　play　the　innocent　with　me；〃　he　said。　〃Moneo　has　told　you。　And　I　tell　you　that　you　are　ready！〃
　She　tried　to　swallow；　then：　〃What　are。　。　。〃
　〃I　have　sent　for　Moneo　to　return　you　to　the　Citadel；〃　he　said。　〃When　we　meet　again；　we　will　really　learn　what　you　are　made　of。〃
　
　You　know　the　myth　of　the　Great　Spice　Hoard？　Yes；　I　know　about　that　story；　too。　A　majordomo　brought　it　to　me　one　day　to　amuse　me。　The　story　says　there　is　a　hoard　of　melange；　a　gigantic　hoard；　big　as　a　great　mountain。　The　hoard　is　concealed　in　the　depths　of　a　distant　planet。　It　is　not　Arrakis；　that　planet。　It　is　not　Dune。　The　spice　was　hidden　there　long　ago；　even　before　the　First　Empire　and　the　Spacing　Guild。　The　story　says　Paul　Muad'Dib　went　there　and　lives　yet　beside　the　hoard；　kept　alive　by　it；　waiting。　The　majordomo　did　not　understand　why　the　story　disturbed　me。
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　IDAHO　TREMBLED　with　anger　as　he　strode　along　the　gray　plastone　halls　toward　his　quarters　in　the　Citadel。　At　each　guard　post　he　passed；　the　woman　there　snapped　to　attention。　He　did　not　respond。　Idaho　knew　he　was　causing　disturbance　among　them。　Nobody　could　mistake　the　mander's　mood。　But　he　did　not　abate　his　purposeful　stride。　The　heavy　thumping　of　his　boots　echoed　along　the　walls。
　He　could　still　taste　the　noon　meal…oddly　familiar　Atreides　chopstick…fare　of　mixed　grains　herb…seasoned　and　baked　around　a　pungent　morsel　of　pseudomeat；　all　of　it　washed　down　with　a　drink　of　clear　cidrit　juice。　Moneo　had　found　him　at　table　in　the　Guard　Mess；　alone　in　a　corner　with　a　regional　operations　schedule　propped　up　beside　his　plate。
　Without　invitation；　Moneo　had　seated　himself　opposite　
　Idaho　and　had　pushed　aside　the　operations　schedule。
　〃I　bring　a　message　from　the　God　Emperor；〃　Moneo　said。
　The　tightly　controlled　tone　warned　Idaho　that　this　was　no　casual　encounter。　Others　sensed　it。　Listening　silence　settled　over　the　women　at　nearby　tables；　spreading　out　through　the　room。
　Idaho　put　down　his　chopsticks。　〃Yes？〃
　〃These　were　the　words　of　the　God　Emperor；〃　Moneo　said。　〃‘It　is　my　bad　luck　that　Duncan　Idaho　should　bee　enamored　of　Hwi　Noree。　This　mischance　must　not　continue。〃'
　Anger　thinned　Idaho's　lips；　but　he　remained　silent。
　〃Such　foolishness　endangers　us　all；〃　Moneo　said。　〃Noree　is　the　God　Emperor's　intended。〃
　Idaho　tried　to　control　his　anger；　but　the　words　were　a　betrayal：　〃He　can't　marry　her！〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃What　game　is　he　playing；　Moneo？〃
　〃I　am　a　messenger　with　a　single　message；　no　more；〃　Moneo　said。
　Idaho's　voice　was　low　and　threatening。　〃But　he　confides　in　you。〃
　〃The　God　Emperor　sympathizes　with　you；〃　Moneo　lied。
　〃Sympathizes！〃　Idaho　shouted　the　word；　creating　a　new　depth　to　the　room's　silence。
　〃Noree　is　a　woman　of　obvious　attractions；〃　Moneo　said。　〃But　she　is　not　for　you。〃
　〃The　God　Emperor　has　spoken；〃　Idaho　sneered；　〃and　there　is　no　appeal。〃
　〃I　see　that　you　understand　the　message；〃　Moneo　said。
　Idaho　started　to　push　himself　away　from　the　table。
　〃Where　are　you　going？〃　Moneo　demanded。
　〃I'm　going　to　have　this　out　with　him　right　now！〃
　〃That　is　certain　suicide；〃　Moneo　said。
　Idaho　glared　at　him；　aware　suddenly　of　the　listening　intensity　in　the　women　at　the　tables　around　them。　An　expression　which　Muad'Dib　would　have　recognized　immediately　came　over　Idaho's　face：　〃Playing　to　the　Devil's　Gallery；〃　Muad'Dib　had　called　it。
　〃D'you　know　what　the　original　Atreides　Dukes　always　said？〃　Idaho　asked。　There　was　a　mocking　tone　in　his　voice。
　〃Is　it　pertinent？〃
　〃They　said　your　liberties　all　vanish　when　you　look　up　to　any　absolute　ruler。〃
　Rigid　with　fear；　Moneo　leaned　toward　Idaho。　Moneo's　lips　barely　moved。　His　voice　was　little　more　than　a　whisper。　〃Don't　say　such　things。〃
　〃Because　one　of　these　women　will　report　it？〃
　Moneo　shook　his　head　in　disbelief。　〃You　are　more　reckless　than　any　of　the　others。〃
　〃Really？〃
　〃Please！　It　is　perilous　in　the　extreme　to　take　this　attitude。〃
　Idaho　heard　the　nervous　stirring　that　swept　through　the　room。
　〃He　can　only　kill　us；〃　Idaho　said。
　Moneo　spoke　in　a　tight　whisper：　〃You　fool！　The　Worm　can　dominate　him　at　the　slightest　provocation！〃
　〃The　Worm；　you　say？〃　Idaho's　voice　was　unnecessarily　loud。
　〃You　must　trust　him；〃　Moneo　said。
　Idaho　glanced　left　and　right。　〃Yes；　I　think　they　heard　that。〃
　〃He　is　billions　upon　billions　of　people　united　in　that　one　body；〃　Moneo　said。
　〃So　I've　been　told。〃
　〃He　is　God　and　we　are　mortal；〃　Moneo　said。
　〃How　is　it　a　god　can　do　evil　things？〃　Idaho　asked。
　Moneo　thrust　his　chair　backward　and　leaped　to　his　feet。　〃I　wash　my　hands　of　you！〃　Whirling　away；　he　dashed　from　the　room。
　Idaho　looked　out　into　the　room；　finding　himself　the　center　of　attention　for　all　of　the　guards'　faces。
　〃Moneo　doesn't　judge；　but　I　do；〃　Idaho　said。
　It　surprised　him　then　to　glimpse　a　few　wry　smiles　among　the　women。　They　all　returned　to　their　eating。
　As　he　strode　down　the　hall　of　the　Citadel；　Idaho　replayed　the　conversation；　seeking　out　the　oddities　in　Moneo's　behavior。　The　terror　could　be　recognized　and　even　understood；　but　it　had　seemed　far　more　than　fear　of　death。。。far；　far　more。
　The　Worm　can　dominate　him。
　Idaho　felt　that　this　had　slipped　out　of　Moneo；　an　inadvertent　betrayal。　What　could　it　mean？
　More　reckless　than　any　of　the　others。
　It　galled　Idaho　that　he　should　have　to　bear　parisons　to　himself…as…an…unknown。　How　careful　had　the　others　been？
　Idaho　came　to　his　own　door；　put　a　hand　on　the　palm…lock　and　hesitated。　He　felt　like　a　hunted　animal　retreating　to　his　den。　The　guards　in　the　mess　surely　would　have　reported　that　conversation　to　Leto　by　now。　What　would　the　God　Emperor　do？　Idaho's　hand　moved　across　the　lock。　The　door　swung　inward。　He　entered　the　anteroom　of　his　apartment　and　sealed　the　door；　looking　at　it。
　Will　he　send　his　Fish　Speakers　for　me？
　Idaho　glanced　around　the　entry　area。　It　was　a　conventional　space…racks　for　clothing　and　shoes；　a　full…length　mirror；　a　weapons　cupboard。　He　looked　at　the　closed　door　of　the　cupboard。　Not　one　of　the　weapons　behind　that　door　offered　any　real　threat　to　the　God　Emperor。　There　wasn't　even　a　lasgun。。。although　even　lasguns　were　ineffectual　against　the　Worm；　according　to　all　the　accounts。
　He　knows　I　will　defy　him。
　Idaho　sighed　and　looked　toward　the　arched　portal　which　led　into　the　sitting　area。　Moneo　had　replaced　the　soft　furniture　with　heavier；　stiffer　pieces；　some　of　them　recognizably　Fremen　culled　from　the　coffers　of　the　Museum　Fremen。
　Museum　Fremen！
　Idaho　spat　and　strode　through　the　portal。　Two　steps　into　the　room　he　stopped；　shocked。　The　soft　light　from　the　north　windows　revealed　Hwi　Noree　seated　on　the　low　sling…divan。　She　wore　a　shimmering　blue　gown　which　draped　itself　revealingly　around　her　figure。　Hwi　looked　up　at　his　entrance。
　〃Thank　the　gods　you've　not　been　harmed；〃　she　said。
　Idaho　glanced　back　at　his　entry；　at　the　palm…locked　door。　He　returned　a　speculative　look　at　Hwi。　No　one　but　a　few　selected　guards　should　be　able　to　open　that　door。
　She　smiled　at　his　confusion。　〃We　lxians　manufactured　those　locks；〃　she　said。
　He　found　himself　filled　with　fear　for　her。　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　〃We　must　talk。〃
　〃About　what？〃
　〃Duncan。　。　。〃　She　shook　her　head。　〃About　us。〃
　〃They　warned　you；〃　he　said。
　〃I've　been　told　to　reject　you。〃
　〃Moneo　sent　you！〃
　〃Two　guardswomen　who　overheard　you　in　the　mess…they　brought　me。　They　think　you　are　in　terrible　danger。〃
　〃Is　that　why　you're　here？〃
　She　stood；　one　graceful　motion　which　reminded　him　of　the　way　Leto's　grandmother；　Jessica；　had　moved…the　same　fluid　control　of　muscles；　every　movement　beautiful。
　Realization　came　as　a　shock。　〃You're　Bene　Gesserit。　。　。〃
　〃No！　They　were　among　my　teachers；　but　I　am　not　Bene　Gesserit。〃
　Suspicions　clouded　his　mind。　What　allegiances　were　really　at　work　in　Leto's　Empire？　What　does　a　ghola　know　about　such　things？
　The　changes　since　last　I　lived。。。
　〃I　suppose　you're　still　just　a　simple　Ixian；〃　he　said。
　〃Please　don't　sneer　at　me；　Duncan。〃
　〃What　are　you？〃
　〃I　am　the　intended　bride　of　the　God　Emperor。〃
　〃And　you'll　serve　him　faithfully！〃
　〃I　will。〃
　〃Then　there's　nothing　for　us　to　talk　about。〃
　〃Except　this　thing　between　us。〃
　He　cleared　his　throat。　〃What　thing？〃
　〃This　attraction。〃　She　raised　a　hand　as　he　started　to　speak。　〃I　want　to　hurl　myself　into　your　arms；　to　find　the　love　and　shelter　I　know　is　there。　You　want　it；　too。〃
　He　held　himself　rigid。　〃The　God　Emperor　forbids！〃
　〃But　I　am　here。〃　She　took　two　steps　toward　him；　the　gown　rippling　across　her　body。
　〃Hwi。　。　。〃　He　tried　to　swallow　in　a　dry　throat。　〃It's　best　you　leave。〃
　〃Prudent；　but　not　best；〃　she　said。
　〃If　he　finds　that　you've　been　here。　。　。〃
　〃It　is　not　my　way　to　leave　you　like　this。〃　Again；　she　stopped　his　response　with　a　lifted　hand。　〃I　was　bred　and　trained　for　just　one　purpose。〃
　Her　words　filled　him　with　icy　caution。　〃What　purpose？〃
　〃To　woo　the　God　Emperor。　Oh；　he　knows　this。　He　would　not　change　a　thing　about　me。〃
　〃Nor　would　L〃
　She　moved　a　step　closer。　He　smelled　the　milky　warmth　of　her　breath。
　〃They　made　me　too　well；〃　she　said。　〃I　was　designed　to　please　an　Atreides。　Leto　says　his　Duncan　is　more　an　Atreides　than　many　born　to　the　name。〃
　〃Leto？〃
　〃How　else　should　I　address　the　one　I'll　wed？〃
　Even　as　she　spoke；　Hwi　leaned　toward　Idaho。　As　though　a　magnet　had　found　its　point　of　critical　attraction；　they　moved　together。　Hwi　pressed　her　cheek　against　his　tunic；　her　arms　around　him　feeling　the　hard　muscles。　Idaho　rested　his　chin　in　her　hair；　the　musk　filling　his　senses。
　〃This　is　insane；〃　he　whispered。
　〃Yes。〃
　He　lifted　her　chin　and　kissed　her。
　She　pressed　herself　against　him。
　Neither　of　them　doubted　where　this　must　lead。　She　did　not　resist　when　he　lifted　her　off　her　feet　and　carried　her　into　the　bedroom。
　Only　once　did　Idaho　speak。　〃You're　not　a　virgin。〃
　〃Nor　are　you；　love。〃
　〃Love；〃　he　whispered。　〃Love；　love；　love。　。　。〃
　〃Yes。。。yes！〃
　In　the　post…coital　peace；　Hwi　put　both　hands　behind　her　head　and　stretched；　twisting　on　the　rumpled　bed。　Idaho　sat　with　his　back　to　her　looking　out　the　window。
　〃Who　were　your　other　lovers？〃　he　asked。
　She　lifted　herself　on　one　elbow。　〃I've　had　no　other　lovers。〃　〃But。　。　。〃　He　turned　and　looked　down　at　her。
　〃In　my　teens；〃　she　said；　〃there　was　a　young　man　who　needed　me　very　much。〃　She　smiled。　〃Afterward；　I　was　very　ashamed。　How　trusting　I　was！　I　thought　I　had　failed　the　people　who　depended　on　me。　But　they　found