fh.godemperorofdune-第53章

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meters　high。　Finally；　they　entered　the　braided　dunes　of　the　central　erg　where　the　general　high　pressure　and　electrically　charged　air　gave　his　spirits　a　lift。　He　knew　the　same　magic　would　be　working　on　Siona。
　〃Here　is　where　the　songs　of　the　Long　Trek　originated；〃　he　said。　〃They　are　perfectly　preserved　in　the　Oral　History。〃
　She　did　not　answer；　but　he　knew　she　heard。
　Leto　slowed　his　pace　and　began　to　speak　to　Siona；　telling　her　about　their　Fremen　past。　He　sensed　the　quickening　of　her　interest。　She　even　asked　questions　occasionally；　but　he　could　also　feel　her　fears　building。　Even　the　base　of　his　Little　Citadel　was　no　longer　visible　here。　She　could　recognize　nothing　manmade。　And　she　would　think　he　engaged　now　in　small　talk；　unimportant　things　to　put　off　something　portentous。
　〃Equality　between　our　men　and　women　originated　here；〃　he　said。
　〃Your　Fish　Speakers　deny　that　men　and　women　are　equal；〃　she　said。
　Her　voice；　full　of　questioning　disbelief；　was　a　better　locator　than　the　sensation　of　her　crouched　on　his　back。　Leto　stopped　at　the　intersection　of　two　braided　dunes　and　let　the　venting　of　his　heat…generated　oxygen　subside。
　〃Things　are　not　the　same　today；〃　he　said。　〃But　men　and　women　do　have　different　evolutionary　demands　upon　them。　With　the　Fremen；　though；　there　was　an　interdependence。　That　fostered　equality　out　here　where　questions　of　survival　can　bee　immediate。〃
　〃Why　did　you　bring　me　here？〃　she　demanded。
　〃Look　behind　us；〃　he　said。
　He　felt　her　turn。　Presently；　she　said：　〃What　am　I　supposed　to　see？〃
　〃Have　we　left　any　tracks？　Can　you　tell　where　we've　been？〃
　〃There's　a　little　wind　now。〃
　〃It　has　covered　our　tracks？〃
　〃I　guess　so。。。yes。〃
　〃This　desert　made　us　what　we　were　and　are；〃　he　said。　〃It's　the　real　museum　of　all　our　traditions。　Not　one　of　those　traditions　has　really　been　lost。〃
　Leto　saw　a　small　sandstorm；　a　ghibli；　moving　across　the　southern　horizon。　He　noted　the　narrow　ribbons　of　dust　and　sand　moving　out　ahead　of　it。　Surely；　Siona　had　seen　it。
　〃Why　won't　you　tell　me　why　you　brought　me　here？〃　she　asked。　Fear　was　obvious　in　her　voice。
　〃But　I　have　told　you。〃
　〃You　have　not！〃
　〃How　far　have　we　e；　Siona？〃
　She　thought　about　this。　〃Thirty　kilometers？　Twenty？〃
　〃Farther；〃　he　said。　〃I　can　move　very　fast　in　my　own　land。　Didn't　you　feel　the　wind　on　your　face？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Sullen。　〃So　why　ask　me　how　far？〃
　〃e　down　and　stand　where　I　can　see　you。〃
　。。Why？〃
　Good；　he　thought。　She　believes　I　will　abandon　her　here　and　speed　off　faster　than　she　can　follow。
　〃e　down　and　I'll　explain；〃　he　said。
　She　slid　off　his　back　and　came　around　to　where　she　could　look　into　his　face。
　〃Time　passes　swiftly　when　your　senses　are　full；〃　he　said。
　〃We　have　been　out　almost　four　hours。　We　have　e　about　sixty　kilometers。〃
　〃Why　is　that　important？〃
　〃Moneo　put　dried　food　in　the　pouch　of　your　robe；〃　he　said。　〃Eat　a　little　and　I　will　tell　you。〃
　She　found　a　dried　cube　of　protomor　in　the　pouch　and　chewed　on　it　while　she　watched　him。　It　was　the　authentic　old　Fremen　food　even　to　the　slight　addition　of　melange。
　〃You　have　felt　your　past；〃　he　said。　〃Now；　you　must　be　sensitized　to　your　future；　to　the　Golden　Path。〃
　She　swallowed。　〃I　don't　believe　in　your　Golden　Path。〃
　〃If　you　are　to　live；　you　will　believe　in　it。〃
　〃Is　that　your　test？　Have　faith　in　the　Great　God　Leto　or　die？〃
　〃You　need　no　faith　in　me　whatsoever。　I　want　you　to　have　faith　in　yourself。〃
　〃Then　why　is　it　important　how　far　we've　e？〃
　〃So　you'll　understand　how　far　you　still　have　to　go。〃
　She　put　a　hand　to　her　cheek。　〃I　don't。　。　。〃
　〃Right　where　you　stand；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　in　the　unmistakable　midst　of　Infinity。　Look　around　you　at　the　meaning　of　Infinity。〃
　She　glanced　left　and　right　at　the　unbroken　desert。
　〃We　are　going　to　walk　out　of　my　desert　together；〃　he　said。　〃Just　the　two　of　us。〃
　〃You　don't　walk；〃　she　sneered。
　〃A　figure　of　speech。　But　you　will　walk。　I　assure　you　of　that。〃
　She　looked　in　the　direction　they　had　e。　〃So　that's　why　you　asked　me　about　tracks。〃
　〃Even　if　there　were　tracks；　you　could　not　go　back。　There　is　nothing　at　my　Little　Citadel　that　you　could　get　to　and　use　for　survival。〃
　〃No　water？〃
　〃Nothing。〃
　She　found　the　catchpocket　tube　at　her　shoulder；　sucked　at　it　and　restored　it。　He　noted　the　care　with　which　she　sealed　the　end；　but　she　did　not　pull　the　face　flap　across　her　mouth；　although　Leto　had　heard　her　father　warning　her　about　this。　She　wanted　her　mouth　free　for　talking！
　〃You're　telling　me　I　can't　run　away　from　you；〃　she　said。
　〃Run　away　if　you　want。〃
　She　turned　a　full　circle；　examining　the　wasteland。
　〃There　is　a　saying　about　the　open　land；〃　he　said；　〃that　one　direction　is　as　good　as　another。　In　some　ways；　that's　still　true；　but　I　would　not　depend　on　it。〃
　〃But　I'm　really　free　to　leave　you　if　I　want？〃
　〃Freedom　can　be　a　very　lonely　estate；〃　he　said。
　She　pointed　to　the　steep　side　of　the　dune　on　which　they　had　stopped。　〃But　I　could　just　go　down　there　and。　。　。〃
　〃Were　I　you；　Siona；　I　would　not　go　down　where　you　are　pointing。〃
　She　glared　at　him。　〃Why？〃
　〃On　the　dune's　steep　side；　unless　you　follow　the　natural　curves；　the　sand　may　slide　down　upon　you　and　bury　you。〃
　She　looked　down　the　slope；　absorbing　this。
　〃See　how　beautiful　words　can　be？〃　he　asked。
　She　returned　her　attention　to　his　face。　〃Should　we　be　going？〃
　〃You　learn　to　value　leisure　out　here。　And　courtesy。　There's　no　hurry。〃
　〃But　we　have　no　water　except　the。。
　。〃
　〃Used　wisely；　that　stillsuit　will　keep　you　alive。〃
　〃But　how　long　will　it　take　us　to。　。　。〃
　〃Your　impatience　alarms　me。〃
　〃But　we　have　only　this　dried　food　in　my　pouch。　What　will　we　eat　when。。。〃
　〃Siona！　Have　you　noticed　that　you　are　expressing　our　situation　as　mutual。　What　will　we　eat？　We　have　no　water。　Should　we　be　going？　How　long　will　it　take　us？〃
　He　sensed　the　dryness　of　her　mouth　as　she　tried　to　swallow。
　〃Could　it　be　that　we're　interdependent？〃　he　asked。
　She　spoke　reluctantly。　〃I　don't　know　how　to　survive　out　here。〃
　〃But　I　do？〃
　She　nodded。
　〃Why　should　I　share　such　precious　knowledge　with　you？〃　he　asked。
　She　shrugged；　a　pitiful　gesture　which　touched　him。　How　quickly　the　desert　cut　away　previous　attitudes。
　〃I　will　share　my　knowledge　with　you；〃　he…said。　〃And　you　must　find　something　valuable　that　you　can　share　with　me。〃
　Her　gaze　traversed　his　length；　paused　a　moment　at　the　flippers　which　once　were　his　legs　and　feet；　then　came　back　to　his　face。
　〃Agreement　bought　with　threats　is　no　agreement；〃　she　said。
　〃I　offer　you　no　violence。〃
　〃There　are　many　kinds　of　violence；〃　she　said。
　〃And　I　brought　you　out　here　where　you　may　die？〃
　〃Did　I　have　a　choice　in　it？〃
　〃It　is　difficult　to　be　born　an　Atreides；〃　he　said。　〃Believe　me；　I　know。〃
　〃You　don't　have　to　do　it　this　way；〃　she　said。
　〃And　there　you　are　wrong。〃
　He　turned　away　from　her　and　set　off　in　a　sinusoidal　track　down　the　dune。　He　heard　her　slipping　and　stumbling　as　she　followed。　Leto　stopped　well　into　the　dune　shadow。
　〃We'll　wait　out　the　day　here；〃　he　said。　〃It　uses　less　water　to　travel　by　night。〃
　
　One　of　the　most　terrible　words　in　any　language　is　Soldier。　The　synonyms　parade　through　our　history：　yogahnee；　trooper；　hussar；　kareebo；　cossack；　deranzeef；　legionnaire；　sardaukar；　fish　speaker。。。　I　know　them　all。　They　stand　there　in　the　ranks　of　my　memory　to　remind　me：　Always　make　sure　you　have　the　army　with　you。
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　IDAHO　FOUND　Moneo　at　last　in　the　long　underground　corridor　which　connected　the　Citadel's　eastern　and　western　plexes。　Since　daybreak　two　hours　before；　Idaho　had　been　prowling　the　Citadel　seeking　the　majordomo　and　there　he　was；　far　off　down　the　corridor；　talking　to　someone　concealed　in　a　doorway；　but　Moneo　was　recognizable　even　at　this　distance　by　his　stance　and　that　inevitable　white　uniform。
　The　corridor's　plastone　walls　were　amber　here　fifty　meters　below　the　surface　and　lighted　by　glowstrips　keyed　to　the　daylight　hours。　Cool　breezes　were　drawn　into　these　depths　by　a　simple　arrangement　of　free　swinging　wings　which　stood　like　gigantic　robed　figures　on　perimeter　towers　at　the　surface。　Now　that　the　sun　had　warmed　the　sands；　all　of　the　wings　pointed　northward　for　the　cool　air　pouring　into　the　Sareer。　Idaho　smelled　the　flinty　breeze　as　he　walked。
　He　knew　what　this　corridor　was　supposed　to　represent。　It　did　have　some　characteristics　of　an　ancient　Fremen　sietch。　The　corridor　was　wide；　big　enough　to　take　Leto　on　his　cart。　The　arched　ceiling　looked　like　rock。　But　the　twin　glowstrips　were　discord。　Idaho　had　never　seen　glowstrips　before　ing　to　the　Citadel；　they　had　been　considered　impractical　in　his　day；　requiring　too　much　energy；　too　costly　to　maintain。　Glowglobes　were　simpler　and　easily　replaced。　He　had　e　to　realize；　however；　that　Leto　considered　few　things　impractical。
　What　Leto　wants；　someone　provides。
　The　thought　had　an　ominous　feeling　as　Idaho　marched　down　the　corridor　toward　Moneo。
　Small　rooms　lined　the　corridor　sietch…fashion；　no　doors；　only　thin　hangings　of　russet　fabric　which　swayed　in　the　breeze。　Idaho　knew　that　this　area　was　mostly　quarters　for　the　younger　Fish　Speakers。　He　had　recognized　an　assembly　chamber　with　attendant　rooms　for　weapons　storage；　kitchen；　a　dining　hall；　maintenance　shops。　He　had　also　seen　other　things　behind　the　inadequate　privacy　of　the　hangings；　things　which　fed　his　rage。
　Moneo　turned　at　Idaho's　approach。　The　woman　to　whom　Moneo　had　been　talking　retreated　and　let　the　hanging　drop；　but　not　before　Idaho　glimpsed　an　older　face　with　an　air　of　mand　about　it。　Idaho　did　not　recognize　that　particular　mander。
　Moneo　nodded　as　Idaho　stopped　two　paces　away。
　〃The　guards　say　you've　been　looking　for　me；〃　Moneo　said。
　〃Where　is　he；　Moneo？〃
　〃Where　is　who？〃
　Moneo　swept　his　gaze　up　and　down　Idaho's　figure；　noting　the　old…fashioned　Atreides　uniform；　black　with　a　red　hawk　at　the　breast；　the　high　boots　glistening　with　polish。　There　was　a　ritual　look　about　the　man。
　Idaho　took　a　shallow　breath　and　spoke　through　clenched　teeth：　〃Don't　you　start　that　game　with　me！〃
　Moneo　took　his　attention　away　from　the　sheathed　knife　at　Idaho's　waist。　It　looked　like　a　museum　piece　with　its　jeweled　handle。　Where　had　Idaho　found　it？〃
　〃If　you　mean　the　God　Emperor。。。〃　Moneo　said。
　〃Where？〃
　Moneo　kept　his　voice　mild。　〃Why　are　you　so　anxious　to　die？〃
　〃They　said　you　were　with　him。〃
　〃That　was　earlier。〃
　〃I'll　find　him；　Moneo！〃
　〃Not　right　now。〃
　Idaho　put　a　hand　on　his　knife。　〃Do　I　have　to　use　force　to　make　you　talk？〃
　〃I　would　not　advise　that。〃
　〃Where。。。is。。。he？〃
　〃Since　you　insist；　he　is　out　in　the　desert　with　Siona。〃
　〃With　your　daughter？〃　〃Is　there　another　Siona？〃　〃What're　they　doing？〃　〃She　is　being　tested。〃　〃When　will　they　return？〃　Moneo　shrugged；　then：　〃Why　this　unseemly　anger；　Duncan？〃　〃What's　this　test　of　your。。
　。〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Now；　why　are　you　so　upset？〃
　〃I'm　sick　of　this　place！　Fish　Speakers！〃　He　turned　his　head　and　spat。
　Moneo　glanced　down　the　corridor　behind　Idaho；　recalling　the　man's　approach。　Knowing　the　Duncans；　it　was　easy　to　recognize　what　had　fed　his　current　rage。
　〃Duncan；〃　Moneo　said；　〃it's　perfectly　normal　for　adolescent　females　as　well　as　males　to　have　feelings　of　physical　attraction　toward　members　of　their　own　sex。　Most　of　them　will　gr