fh.godemperorofdune-第51章

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ailed　the　people　who　depended　on　me。　But　they　found　out　and　they　were　elated。　You　know；　I　think　I　was　being　tested。〃
　Idaho　scowled。　〃Is　that　how　it　was　with　me？　I　needed　you？〃　〃No；　Duncan。〃　Her　features　were　grave。　〃We　gave　joy　to　each　other　because　that's　how　it　is　with　love。〃
　〃Love！〃　he　said；　and　it　was　a　bitter　sound。
　She　said：　〃My　Uncle　Malky　used　to　say　that　love　was　a　bad　bargain　because　you　get　no　guarantees。〃
　〃Your　Uncle　Malky　was　a　wise　man。〃
　〃He　was　stupid！　Love　needs　no　guarantees。〃
　A　smile　twitched　at　the　corners　of　Idaho's　mouth。
　She　grinned　up　at　him。　〃You　know　it's　love　when　you　want　to　give　joy　and　damn　the　consequences。〃
　He　nodded。　〃I　think　only　of　the　danger　to　you。〃
　〃We　are　what　we　are；〃　she　said。
　〃What　will　we　do？〃
　〃We'll　cherish　this　for　as　long　as　we　live。〃
　〃You　sound。　。　。　so　final。〃
　〃I　am。〃
　〃But　we'll　see　each　other　every。　。　。
　〃Never　again　like　this。〃
　〃Hwi！〃　He　hurled　himself　across　the　bed　and　buried　his　face　in　her　breast。
　She　stroked　his　hair。
　His　voice　muffled　against　her；　he　said：　〃What　if　I've　impreg。。。
　〃Shush！　If　there's　to　be　a　child；　there　will　be　a　child。〃
　Idaho　lifted　his　head　and　looked　at　her。　〃But　he'll　know　for　sure！〃
　〃He'll　know　anyway。〃
　〃You　think　he　really　knows　everything？〃
　〃Not　everything；　but　he'll　know　this。〃
　〃How？〃
　〃I　will　tell　him。〃
　Idaho　pushed　himself　away　from　her　and　sat　up　on　the　bed。　Anger　warred　with　confusion　in　his　expression。
　〃I　must；〃　she　said。
　〃If　he　turns　against　you。。。　Hwi；　there　are　stories。　You　could　be　in　terrible　danger！〃
　〃No。　I　have　needs；　too。　He　knows　this。　He　will　not　harm　either　of　us。〃
　〃But　he。。。〃
　〃He　will　not　destroy　me。　He　will　know　that　if　he　harms　you　that　would　destroy　me。〃
　〃How　can　you　marry　him？〃
　〃Dear　Duncan；　have　you　not　seen　that　he　needs　me　more　than　you　do？〃
　〃But　he　cannot。　。　。　I　mean；　you　can't　possibly。　。　。
　〃The　joy　that　you　and　I　have　in　each　other；　I'll　not　have　that　with　Leo。　It's　impossible　for　him。　He　has　confessed　this　to　me。〃
　〃Then　why　can't。　。　。　If　he　loves　you　。　。　。〃
　〃He　has　larger　plans　and　larger　needs。〃　She　reached　out　and　took　Idaho's　right　hand　in　both　of　hers。　〃I've　known　that　since　I　first　began　to　study　about　him。　Needs　larger　than　either　of　us　have。〃
　〃What　plans？　What　needs？〃
　〃Ask　him。〃
　〃Do　you　know？〃　〃Yes。。；　〃You　mean　you　believe　those　stories　about。　。　。〃　〃There　is　honesty　and　goodness　in　him。　I　know　it　by　my　own　responses　to　him。　What　my　Ixian　masters　made　in　me　was；　I　think；　a　reagent　which　reveals　more　than　they　wanted　me　to　know。〃
　〃Then　you　believe　him！〃　Idaho　accused。　He　tried　to　pull　his　hand　away　from　her。
　〃If　you　go　to　him；　Duncan；　and。。。〃
　〃He'll　never　see　me　again！〃
　〃He　will。〃
　She　pulled　his　hand　to　her　mouth　and　kissed　his　fingers。
　〃I'm　a　hostage；〃　he　said。　〃You've　made　me　fearful。。。the　two　of　you　together。　。　。〃
　〃I　never　thought　it　would　be　easy　to　serve　God；〃　she　said。　〃I　just　didn't　think　it　would　be　this　hard。〃
　
　Memory　has　a　curious　meaning　to　me；　a　meaning　I　have　hoped　others　might　share。　It　continually　astonished　me　how　people　hide　from　their　ancestral　memories；　shielding　themselves　behind　a　thick　barrier　of　mythos。　Ohhh；　I　do　not　expect　them　to　seek　the　terrible　immediacy　of　every　living　moment　which　I　must　experience。　I　can　understand　that　they　might　not　want　to　be　submerged　in　a　mush　of　petty　ancestral　details。　You　have　reason　to　fear　that　your　living　moments　might　be　taken　over　by　others。　Yet；　the　meaning　is　there　within　those　memories。　We　carry　all　of　our　ancestry　forward　like　a　living　wave；　all　of　the　hopes　and　joys　and　griefs；　the　agonies　and　the　exultations　of　our　past。　Nothing　within　those　memories　remains　pletely　without　meaning　or　influence；　not　as　long　as　there　is　a　humankind　somewhere。　We　have　that　bright　Infinity　all　around　us；　that　Golden　Path　of　forever　to　which　we　can　continually　pledge　our　puny　but　inspired　allegiance。
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　〃I　HAVE　summoned　yon；　Moneo；　because　of　what　my　guards　tell　me；〃　Leto　said。
　They　stood　in　the　darkness　of　the　crypt　where；　Moneo　reminded　himself；　some　of　the　God　Emperor's　most　painful　decisions　originated。　Moneo；　too；　had　heard　reports。　He　had　been　expecting　the　summons　all　afternoon　and；　when　it　came　shortly　after　the　evening　meal；　a　moment　of　terror　had　engulfed　him。
　〃Is　it　about。。。　about　the　Duncan；　Lord？〃
　〃Of　course　it's　about　the　Duncan！〃
　〃I'm　told；　Lord。。。his　behavior。　。　。〃
　〃Terminal　behavior；　Moneo？〃
　Moneo　bowed　his　head。　〃If　you　say　it；　Lord。〃
　〃How　long　until　the　Tleilaxu　could　supply　us　with　another　one？〃
　〃They　say　they　have　had　problems；　Lord。　It　might　be　as　much　as　two　years。〃
　〃Do　you　know　what　my　guards　tell　me；　Moneo？〃
　Moneo　held　his　breath。　If　the　God　Emperor　had　learned　about　this　latest。。。No！　Even　the　Fish　Speakers　were　terrified　by　the　affront。　Had　it　been　anyone　but　a　Duncan；　the　women　would　have　taken　it　upon　themselves　to　eliminate　him。
　〃Well；　Moneo？〃
　〃I　am　told；　Lord；　that　he　called　out　a　levy　of　guards　and　questioned　them　about　their　origins。　On　what　worlds　were　they　born？　What　of　their　parentage；　their　childhood？〃
　〃And　the　answers　did　not　please　him。〃
　〃He　frightened　them；　Lord。　He　kept　insisting。〃
　〃As　though　repetition　could　elicit　the　truth；　yes。〃
　Moneo　allowed　himself　to　hope　that　this　might　be　the　whole　of　his　Lord's　concern。　〃Why　do　the　Duncans　always　do　this；　Lord？〃
　〃It　was　their　early　training；　the　Atreides　training。〃
　〃But　how　did　that　differ　from。。　。〃
　〃The　Atreides　lived　in　the　service　of　the　people　they　governed。　The　measure　of　their　government　was　found　in　the　lives　of　the　governed。　Thus；　the　Duncans　always　want　to　know　how　the　people　live。〃
　〃He　has　spent　a　night　in　one　village；　Lord。　He　has　been　to　some　of　the　towns。　He　has　seen。。　。〃
　〃It's　all　in　how　you　interpret　the　results；　Moneo。　Evidence　is　nothing　without　judgments。〃
　〃I　have　observed　that　he　judges；　Lord。〃
　〃We　all　do；　but　the　Duncans　tend　to　believe　that　this　universe　is　hostage　to　my　will。　And　they　know　that　you　cannot　do　wrong　in　the　name　of　right。〃
　〃Is　that　what　he　says　you。　。　。〃
　〃It　is　what　I　say；　what　all　of　the　Atreides　in　me　say。　This　universe　will　not　permit　it。　The　things　you　attempt　will　not　endure　if　you。　。　。〃
　〃But；　Lord！　You　do　no　wrong！〃
　〃Poor　Moneo。　You　cannot　see　that　I　have　created　a　vehicle　of　injustice。〃
　Moneo　could　not　speak。　He　realized　that　he　had　been　diverted　by　a　seeming　return　to　mildness　in　the　God　Emperor。　But　now；　Moneo　sensed　changes　moving　in　that　great　body；　and　at　this　proximity　。　。　。Moneo　glanced　around　the　crypt's　central　chamber；　reminding　himself　of　the　many　deaths　which　had　occurred　here　and　which　were　enshrined　here。
　Is　it　my　time？
　Leto　spoke　in　a　musing　tone。　〃You　cannot　succeed　by　taking　hostages。　That　is　a　form　of　enslavement。　One　kind　of　human　cannot　own　another　kind　of　human。　This　universe　will　not　permit　it。〃
　The　words　lay　there；　simmering　in　Moneo's　awareness；　a　terrifying　contrast　to　the　rumblings　of　transformation　which　he　sensed　in　his　Lord。
　The　Worm　es！
　Again；　Moneo　glanced　around　the　crypt　chamber。　This　place　was　far　worse　than　the　aerie！　Sanctuary　was　too　remote。
　〃Well；　Moneo；　do　you　have　any　response？〃　Leto　asked。
　Moneo　ventured　a　whisper：　〃The　Lord's　words　enlighten　me。〃
　〃Enlighten？　You　are　not　enlightened！〃
　Moneo　spoke　out　of　desperation。　〃But　I　serve　my　Lord！〃
　〃You　claim　service　to　God？〃
　〃Yes；　Lord。〃
　〃Who　created　your　religion；　Moneo？〃
　〃You　did；　Lord。〃
　〃That's　a　sensible　answer。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Lord。〃
　〃Don't　thank　me！　Tell　me　what　religious　institutions　perpetuate！〃
　Moneo　backed　away　four　steps。
　〃Stand　where　you　are！〃　Leto　ordered。
　Trembling　all　through　his　body；　Moneo　shook　his　head　dumbly。　At　last；　he　had　encountered　the　question　without　answer。　Failure　to　answer　would　precipitate　his　death。　He　waited　for　it；　head　bowed。
　〃Then　I　will　tell　you；　poor　servant；〃　Leto　said。
　Moneo　dared　to　hope。　He　lifted　his　gaze　to　the　God　Emperor's　face；　noting　that　the　eyes　were　not　glazed。。。and　the　hands　were　not　trembling。　Perhaps　the　Worm　did　not　e。
　〃Religious　institutions　perpetuate　a　mortal　master…servant　relationship；〃　Leto　said。　〃They　create　an　arena　which　attracts　prideful　human　power…seekers　with　all　of　their　nearsighted　prejudices！〃
　Moneo　could　only　nod。　Was　that　a　trembling　in　the　God　Emperor's　hands？　Was　the　terrible　face　withdrawing　slightly　into　its　cowl？
　〃The　secret　revelations　of　infamy；　that　is　what　the　Duncans　ask　after；〃　Leto　said。　〃The　Duncans　have　too　much　passion　for　their　fellows　and　too　sharp　a　limit　on　fellowship。〃
　Moneo　had　studied　holos　of　Dune's　ancient　sandworms；　the　gigantic　mouths　full　of　crysknife　teeth　around　consuming　fire。　He　noted　the　tumescence　of　the　latent　rings　on　Leto's　tubular　surface。　Were　they　more　prominent？　Would　a　new　mouth　open　below　that　cowled　face？
　〃The　Duncans　know　in　their　hearts；〃　Leto　said；　〃that　I　have　deliberately　ignored　the　admonition　of　Mohammed　and　Moses。　Even　you　know　it；　Moneo！〃
　It　was　an　accusation。　Moneo　started　to　nod；　then　shook　his　head　from　side　to　side。　He　wondered　if　he　dared　renew　his　retreat。　Moneo　knew　from　experience　that　lectures　in　this　tenor　did　not　long　continue　without　the　ing　of　the　Worm。
　〃What　might　that　admonition　be？〃　Leto　asked。　There　was　a　mocking　lightness　in　his　voice。
　Moneo　allowed　himself　a　faint　shrug。
　Abruptly；　Leto's　voice　filled　the　chamber　with　a　rumbling　baritone；　an　ancient　voice　which　spoke　across　the　centuries：　〃You　are　servants　unto　God；　not　servants　unto　servants！〃
　Moneo　wrung　his　hands　and　cried　out：　〃I　serve　you；　Lord！〃
　〃Moneo；　Moneo；〃　Leto　said；　his　voice　low　and　resonant；　〃a　million　wrongs　cannot　give　rise　to　one　right。　The　right　is　known　because　it　endures。〃
　Moneo　could　only　stand　in　trembling　silence。
　〃I　had　intended　Hwi　to　mate　with　you；　Moneo；〃　Leto　said。　〃Now；　it　is　too　late。〃
　The　words　took　a　moment　penetrating　Moneo's　consciousness。　He　felt　that　their　meaning　was　out　of　any　known　context。　Hwi？　Who　was　Hwi？　Oh；　yes…the　God　Emperor's　Ixian　bride…to…be。　Mate。。。with　me？
　Moneo　shook　his　head。
　Leto　spoke　with　infinite　sadness：　〃You；　too；　shall　pass　away。
　Will　all　your　works　be　as　dust　forgotten？〃
　Without　any　warning；　even　as　he　spoke；　Leto's　body　convulsed　in　a　thrashing　roll　which　heaved　him　from　the　cart。　The　speed　of　it；　the　monstrous　violence；　threw　him　within　centimeters　of　Moneo；　who　screamed　and　fled　across　the　crypt。
　〃Moneo！〃
　Leto's　call　stopped　the　majordomo　at　the　entrance　to　the　lift。
　〃The　test；　Moneo！　I　will　test　Siona　tomorrow！〃
　
　The　realization　of　what　I　am　occurs　in　the　timeless　awareness　which　does　not　stimulate　nor　delude。　I　create　a　field　without　self　or　center；　a　field　where　even　death　bees　only　analogy。　I　desire　no　results。　I　merely　permit　this　field　which　has　no　goals　nor　desires；　no　perfections　nor　even　visions　of　achievements。　In　that　field；　omnipresent　primal　awareness　is　all。　It　is　the　light　which　pours　through　the　windows　of　my　universe。
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　THE　SUN　came　up；　sending　its　harsh　glare　across　the　dunes。　Leto　felt　the　sand　beneath　him　as　a　soft　caress。　Only　his　human　ears；　hearing　the　abrasive　rasp　of　his　heavy　body；　reported　otherwise。　It　was