fh.godemperorofdune-第54章

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　〃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　grow　out　of　it。〃
　〃It　should　be　stamped　out！〃
　〃But　it's　part　of　our　heritage。〃
　〃Stamped　out！　And　that's　not。。
　。〃
　〃Oh；　be　still。　If　you　try　to　suppress　it；　you　only　increase　its　power。〃
　Idaho　glared　at　him。　〃And　you　say　you　don't　know　what's　going　on　up　there　with　your　own　daughter！〃
　〃Siona　is　being　tested；　I　told　you。〃
　〃And　what's　that　supposed　to　mean？〃
　Moneo　put　a　hand　over　his　eyes　and　sighed。　He　lowered　the　hand；　wondering　why　he　put　up　with　this　foolish；　dangerous；　antique　human。
　〃It　means　that　she　may　die　out　there。〃
　Idaho　was　taken　aback；　some　of　his　anger　cooling。　〃How　can　you　allow。。　。〃
　〃Allow？　You　think　I　have　a　choice？〃
　〃Every　man　has　a　choice！〃
　A　bitter　smile　flitted　across　Moneo's　lips。　〃How　is　it　that　you　are　so　much　more　foolish　than　the　other　Duncans？〃
　〃Other　Duncans！〃　Idaho　said。　〃How　did　those　others　die；　Moneo？〃
　〃The　way　we　all　die。　They　ran　out　of　time。〃
　〃You　lie。〃　Idaho　spoke　past　gritted　teeth；　his　knuckles　white　on　the　knife　handle。
　Still　speaking　mildly；　Moneo　said：　〃Have　a　care。　There　are　limits　even　to　what　I　will　take；　especially　just　now。〃
　〃This　place　is　rotten！〃　Idaho　said。　He　gestured　with　his　free　hand　at　the　corridor　behind　him。　〃There　are　some　things　I'll　never　accept！〃
　Moneo　stared　down　the　empty　corridor　without　seeing。　〃You　must　mature；　Duncan。　You　must。〃
　Idaho's　hand　tensed　on　the　knife。　〃What　does　that　mean？〃
　〃These　are　sensitive　times。　Anything　unsettling　to　him；　anything。。。must　be　prevented。〃
　Idaho　held　himself　on　the　edge　of　violence；　his　anger　restrained　only　by　something　puzzling　in　Moneo's　manner。　Words　had　been　spoken；　though；　which　could　not　be　ignored。
　〃I'm　not　some　damned　immature　child　you　can。。。〃
　〃Duncan！〃　It　was　the　loudest　sound　Idaho　had　ever　heard　from　the　mild…mannered　Moneo。　Surprise　stayed　Idaho's　hand　while　Moneo　continued：　〃If　the　demands　of　your　flesh　are　for　maturity；　but　something　holds　you　in　adolescence；　quite　nasty　behavior　develops。　Let　go。〃
　〃Are。。。you。。。accusing　。。。　me　。。。　of。；
　〃No！〃　Moneo　gestured　at　the　corridor。　〃Oh；　I　know。　what　you　must've　seen　back　there；　but　it。　。　。〃
　〃Two　women　in　a　passionate　kiss！　You　think　that's　not。　。　。〃
　〃It's　not　important。　Youth　explores　its　potential　in　many　ways。〃
　Idaho　balanced　himself　on　the　edge　of　an　explosion；　rocking　forward　on　his　toes。　〃I'm　glad　to　learn　about　you；　Moneo。〃
　〃Yes；　well；　I've　learned　about　you；　several　times。〃
　Moneo　watched　the　effect　of　these　words　as　they　twisted　through　Idaho；　tangling　him。　The　gholas　could　never　avoid　a　fascination　with　the　others　who　had　preceded　them。
　Idaho　spoke　in　a　hoarse　whisper：　〃What　have　you　learned？〃
　〃You　have　taught　me　valuable　things；〃　Moneo　said。　〃All　of　us　try　to　evolve；　but　if　something　blocks　us；　we　can　transfer　our　potential　into　pain…seeking　it　or　giving　it。　Adolescents　are　particularly　vulnerable。〃
　Idaho　leaned　close　to　Moneo。　〃I'm　talking　about　sex！〃
　〃Of　course　you　are。〃
　〃Are　you　accusing　me　of　adolescent。　。　。〃
　〃That's　right。〃
　〃I　should　cut　your。。
　。〃
　〃Oh；　shut　up！〃
　Moneo's　response　did　not　have　the　training　nuances　of　Bene　Gesserit　Voice　control；　but　it　had　a　lifetime　of　mand　behind　it。　Something　in　Idaho　could　only　obey。
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　Moneo　said。　〃But　I'm　distracted　by　the　fact　that　my　only　daughter。　。　。〃　He　broke　off　and　shrugged。
　Idaho　inhaled　two　deep　breaths。　〃You're　crazy；　all　of　you！　You　say　your　daughter　may　be　dying　and　yet　you。。　。〃
　〃You　fool！〃　Moneo　snapped。　〃Have　you　any　idea　how　your　petty　concerns　appear　to　me！　Your　stupid　questions　and　your　selfish。　。　。〃　He　broke　off；　shaking　his　head。
　〃I　make　allowances　because　you　have　personal　problems；〃　Idaho　said。　〃But　if　you。　。　。〃
　〃Allowances？　You　make　allowances？〃　Moneo　took　a　trembling　breath。　It　was　too　much！
　Idaho　spoke　stiffly：　〃I　can　forgive　you　for。　。　。〃
　〃You！　You　prattle　about　sex　and　forgiving　and　pain　and。。。you　think　you　and　Hwi　Noree　。　。　。〃
　〃Leave　her　out　of　this！〃
　〃Oh；　yes。　Leave　her　out。　Leave　out　that　pain！　You　share　sex　with　her　and　you　never　think　about　parting。　Tell　me；　fool；　how　do　you　give　of　yourself　in　the　face　of　that？〃
　Abashed；　Idaho　inhaled　deeply。　He　had　not　suspected　such　passion　smoldering　in　the　quiet　Moneo；　but　this　attack；　this　could　not　be　。　。　。
　〃You　think　I'm　cruel？〃　Moneo　demanded。　〃I　make　you　think　about　things　you'd　rather　avoid。　Hah！　Crueler　things　have　been　done　to　the　Lord　Leto　for　no　better　reason　than　the　cruelty！〃
　〃You　defend　him？　You。。。〃
　〃I　know　him　best！〃
　〃He　uses　you！〃
　〃To　what　ends？〃
　〃You　tell　me！〃
　〃He's　our　best　hope　to　perpetuate。　。　。〃
　〃Perverts　don't　perpetuate！〃
　Moneo　spoke　in　a　soothing　tone；　but　his　words　shook　Idaho。　〃I　will　tell　you　this　only　once。　Homosexuals　have　been　among　the　best　warriors　in　our　history；　the　berserkers　of　last　resort。　They　were　among　our　best　priests　and　priestesses。　Celibacy　was　no　accident　in　religions。　It　is　also　no　accident　that　adolescents　make　the　best　soldiers。〃
　〃That's　perversion！〃
　〃Quite　right。　Military　manders　have　known　about　the　perverted　displacement　of　sex　into　pain　for　thousands　upon　thousands　of　centuries。〃
　〃Is　that　what　the　Great　Lord　Leto's　doing？〃
　Still　mild；　Moneo　said：　〃Violence　requires　that　you　inflict　pain　and　suffer　it。　How　much　more　manageable　a　military　force　driven　to　this　by　its　deepest　urgings。〃
　〃He's　made　a　monster　out　of　you；　too！〃
　〃You　suggested　that　he　uses　me；〃　Moneo　said。　〃I　permit　this　because　I　know　that　the　price　he　pays　is　much　greater　than　what　he　demands　of　me。〃
　〃Even　your　daughter？〃
　〃He　holds　back　nothing。　Why　should　I？　Ohhh；　I　think　you　understand　this　about　the　Atreides。　The　Duncans　are　always　good　at　that。〃
　〃The　Duncans！　Damn　you；　I　won't　be。。。〃
　〃You　just　haven't　the　guts　to　pay　the　price　he's　asking；〃　Moneo　said。
　In　one　blurred　motion；　Idaho　whipped　his　knife　from　its　sheath　and　lunged　at　Moneo。　As　fast　as　he　moved；　Moneo　moved　faster…sidestepping；　tripping　Idaho　and　propelling　him　face…down　onto　the　floor。　Idaho　scrambled　forward；　rolled　and　started　to　leap　to　his　feet；　then　hesitated；　realizing　that　he　had　actually　tried　to　attack　an　Atreides。　Moneo　was　Atreides。　Shock　held　Idaho　immobile。
　Moneo　stood　unmoving；　looking　down　at　him。　There　was　an　odd　look　of　sadness　on　the　majordomo's　face。
　〃If　you're　going　to　kill　me；　Duncan；　you'd　best　do　it　in　the　back　by　stealth；〃　Moneo　said。　〃You　might　succeed　that　way。〃
　Idaho　levered　himself　to　one　knee；　put　a　foot　flat　on　the　floor；　but　remained　there　still　clutching　his　knife。　Moneo　had　moved　so　quickly　and　with　such　grace…so。。。so　casually！　Idaho　cleared　his　throat。　〃How　did　you。　。　。〃
　〃He　has　been　breeding　us　for　a　long　time；　Duncan；　strengthening　many　things　in　us。　He　has　bred　us　for　speed；　for　intelligence；　for　self…restraint；　for　sensitivity。　You're。　。　。　you're　just　an　older　model。〃
　
　Do　you　know　what　guerrillas　often　say？　They　claim　that　their　rebellions　are　invulnerable　to　economic　warfare　because　they　have　no　economy；　that　they　are　parasitic　on　those　they　would　overthrow。　The　fools　merely　fail　to　assess　the　coin　in　which　they　must　inevitably　pay。　The　pattern　is　inexorable　in　its　degenerative　failures。　You　see　it　repeated　in　the　systems　of　slavery；　of　welfare　states；　of　caste…ridden　religions；　of　socializing　bureaucracies…in　any　system　which　creates　and　maintains　dependencies。　Too　long　a　parasite　and　you　cannot　exist　without　a　host。
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　LETO　AND　Siona　lay　all　day　in　the　dune…shadows；　moving　only　as　the　sun　moved。　He　taught　her　how　to　protect　herself　under　a　blanket　of　sand　in　the　noontime　heat；　it　never　grew　too　warm　at　the　rock…level　between　the　dunes。
　In　the　afternoon；　Siona　crept　close　to　Leto　for　warmth；　a　warmth　he　knew　he　had　in　excess　these　days。
　They　talked　sporadically。　He　told　her　about　the　Fremen　graces　which　once　had　dominated　this　landscape。　She　probed　for　secret　knowledge　of　him。
　Once；　he　said：　〃You　may　find　it　odd；　but　out　here　is　where　I　can　be　most　human。〃
　His　words　failed　to　make　her　fully　conscious　of　her　human　vulnerability　and　the　fact　that　she　might　die　out　here。　Even　when　she　was　not　talking；　she　did　not　restore　the　face　flap　of　her　stillsuit。
　Leto　recognized　the　unconscious　motivation　behind　this　failure；　but　knew　the　futility　of　addressing　that　directly。
　In　the　late　afternoon；　night's　chill　already　starting　to　creep　over　the　land；　he　began　regaling　her　with　songs　of　the　Long　Trek　which　had　not　been　saved　in　the　Oral　History。　He　enjoyed　the　fact　that　she　liked　one　of　his　favorites；　〃Liet's　March。〃
　〃The　tune　is　really　ancient；〃　he　said；　〃a　pre…space　thing　of　Old　Terra。〃
　〃Would　you　sing　it　again？〃
　He　chose　one　of　his　best　baritones；　a　long…dead　artist　who　had　filled　many　a　concert　hall。
　〃The　wall　of　past…beyond…recall　Hides　me　from　an　ancient　fall　Where　all　the　waters　tumble！　And　plays　of　sprays　Carve　caves　in　clays　Beneath　a　torrent's　rumble。〃
　When　he　had　finished；　she　was　silent　for　a　moment；　then：　〃That's　an　odd　song　for　marching。〃
　〃They　liked　it　because　they　could　dissect　it；〃　he　said。
　〃Dissect？〃
　〃Before　our　Fremen　ancestors　came　to　this　planet；　night　was　the　time　for　storytelling；　songs　and　poetry。　In　the　Dune　days；　though；　that　was　reserved　for　the　false　dark；　the　daytime　gloom　of　the　sietch。　The　night　was　when　they　could　emerge　and　move　about。。。just　as　we　do　now。〃
　〃But　you　said　dissect。〃
　〃What　does　that　song　mean？〃　he　asked。
　〃Oh。　It's。。。it's　just　a　song。〃
　〃Siona！〃
　She　heard　anger　in　his　voice　and　remained　silent。
　〃This　planet　is　the　child　of　the　worm；〃　he　warned　her；　〃and　I　am　that　worm。〃
　She　responded　with　a　surprising　insouciance：　〃Then　tell　me　what　it　means。〃
　〃The　insect　has　no　more　freedom　from　its　hive　than　we　have　freedom　from　our　past；〃　he　said。　〃The　caves　are　there　and　all　of　the　messages　written　in　the　sprays　of　the　torrents。〃
　〃I　prefer　dancing　songs；〃　she　said。
　It　was　a　flippant　answer；　but　Leto　chose　to　take　it　as　a　change　of　subject。　He　told　her　about　the　marriage　dance　of　Fremen　women；　tracing　the　steps　back　to　the　whirling　of　dust　devils。　Leto　prided　himself　on　telling　a　good　story。　It　was　clear　from　her　rapt　attention　that　she　could　see　the　women　whirling　before　her　inner　eye；　long　black　hair　thrown　in　the　ancient　movements；　straggling　across　long…dead　faces。
　Darkness　was　almost　upon　them　when　he　finished。
　〃e；〃　he　said。　〃Morning　and　evening　are　still　the　times　of　silhouettes。　Let　us　see　if　anyone　shares　our　desert。〃
　Siona　followed　him　up　to　a　dune…crest　and　they　stared　all　around　at　the　darkening　desert。　There　was　only　one　bird　high　overhead；　attracted　by　their　movements。　From　the　splayed…gap　tips　on　its　wings　and　the　shape；　he　knew　it　was　a　vulture。　He　pointed　this　out　to　Siona。
　〃But　what　do　they　eat？〃　she　asked。
　〃Anything　that's　dead　or　nearly　so。〃
　This　hit　her　and　she　stared　up　at　the　last　of　the　sunlight　gilding　the　lone　bird's　flight　feathers。
　Leto　pressed　it：　〃A　few　people　still　venture　into　my　Sareer。　Sometimes；　a　Museum　Fremen　wanders　off　and　gets　lost。　They're　really　only　good　at　the　rituals。　And　then