fh.godemperorofdune-第6章

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ant。
　She　wore　a　one…piece　pajama　suit　of　dark　blue　which　stretched　tightly　across　her　wide　shoulders　as　she　hunched　over　the　desk。　The　glowglobe　illuminated　closely　cropped　blonde　hair　and　the　right　side　of　her　face；　emphasizing　the　square　block　of　jaw。　The　jaw　moved　with　silent　words　as　her　thick　fingers　carefully　depressed　the　keys　of　a　thin　keyboard　on　the　desk。　She　handled　the　machine　with　a　deference　which　had　originated　as　awe　and　moved　reluctantly　into　fearsome　excitement。　Long　familiarity　with　the　machine　had　eliminated　neither　emotion。
　As　she　wrote；　words　appeared　on　a　screen　concealed　within　the　wall　rectangle　exposed　by　the　downward　folding　of　the　desk。
　〃Siona　continues　actions　which　predict　violent　attack　on　Your　Holy　Person；〃　she　wrote。　〃Siona　remains　unswerving　in　her　avowed　purpose。　She　told　me　today　that　she　will　give　copies　of　the　stolen　books　to　groups　whose　loyalty　to　You　cannot　be　trusted。　The　named　recipients　are　the　Bene　Gesserit；　the　Guild　and　the　Ixians。　She　says　the　books　contain　Your　enciphered　words　and；　by　this　gift；　she　seeks　help　in　translating　Your　Holy　Words。
　〃Lord；　I　do　not　know　what　great　revelations　may　be　concealed　on　those　pages　but　if　they　contain　anything　of　threat　to　Your　Holy　Person；　I　beg　You　to　relieve　me　from　my　vow　of　obedience　to　Siona。　I　do　not　understand　why　You　made　me　take　this　vow；　but　I　fear　it。
　〃I　remain　Your　worshipful　servant；　Nayla。〃
　The　chair　creaked　as　Nayla　sat　back　and　thought　about　her　words。　The　room　fell　into　the　almost　soundless　withdrawal　of　thick　insulation。　There　was　only　Nayla's　faint　breathing　and　a　distant　throbbing　of　machinery　felt　more　in　the　floor　than　in　the　air。
　Nayla　stared　at　her　message　on　the　screen。　Destined　only　for　the　eyes　of　the　God　Emperor；　it　required　more　than　holy　truthfulness。　It　demanded　a　deep　candor　which　she　found　draining。　Presently；　she　nodded　and　pressed　the　key　which　would　encode　the　words　and　prepare　them　for　transmission。　Bowing　her　head；　she　prayed　silently　before　concealing　the　desk　within　the　wall。　These　actions；　she　knew；　transmitted　the　message。　God　himself　had　implanted　a　physical　device　within　her　head；　swearing　her　to　secrecy　and　warning　her　that　there　might　e　a　time　when　he　would　speak　to　her　through　the　thing　within　her　skull。　He　had　never　done　this。　She　suspected　that　Ixians　had　fashioned　the　device。　It　had　possessed　some　of　their　look。　But　God　Himself　had　done　this　thing　and　she　could　ignore　the　suspicion　that　there　might　be　a　puter　in　it；　that　it　might　be　prohibited　by　the　Great　Convention。
　〃Make　no　device　in　the　likeness　of　the　mind！〃
　Nayla　shuddered。　She　stood　then　and　moved　her　chair　to　its　regular　position　beside　the　cot。　Her　heavy；　muscular　body　strained　against　the　thin　blue　garment。　There　was　a　steady　deliberation　about　her；　the　actions　of　someone　constantly　adjusting　to　great　physical　strength。　She　turned　at　the　cot　and　studied　the　place　where　the　desk　had　been。　There　was　only　a　rectangular　gray　panel　like　all　the　others。　No　bit　of　lint；　no　strand　of　hair；　nothing　caught　there　to　reveal　the　panel's　secret。
　Nayla　took　a　deep；　restorative　breath　and　let　herself　out　of　the　room's　only　door　into　a　gray　passage　dimly　lighted　by　widely　spaced　white　glowglobes。　The　machinery　sounds　were　louder　here。　She　turned　left　and　a　few　minutes　later　was　with　Siona　in　a　somewhat　larger　room；　a　table　at　its　center　upon　which　things　stolen　from　the　Citadel　had　been　arranged。　Two　silvery　glowglobes　illuminated　the　scene…Siona　seated　at　the　table；　with　an　assistant　named　Topri　standing　beside　her。
　Nayla　nurtured　grudging　admiration　for　Siona；　but　Topri；　there　was　a　man　worthy　of　nothing　except　active　dislike。　He　was　a　nervous　fat　man　with　bulging　green　eyes；　a　pug　nose　and　thin　lips　above　a　dimpled　chin。　Topri　squeaked　when　he　spoke。
　〃Look　here；　Nayla！　Look　what　Siona　has　found　pressed　between　the　pages　of　these　two　books。〃
　Nayla　closed　and　locked　the　room's　single　door。
　〃You　talk　too　much；　Topri；〃　Nayla　said。　〃You're　a　blurter。　How　could　you　know　if　I　was　alone　in　the　passage？〃
　Topri　paled。　An　angry　scowl　settled　onto　his　face。
　〃I'm　afraid　she's　right；〃　Siona　said。　〃What　made　you　think　I　wanted　Nayla　to　know　about　my　discovery？〃
　〃You　trust　her　with　everything！〃
　Siona　turned　her　attention　to　Nayla。　〃Do　you　know　why　I　trust　you；　Nayla？〃　The　question　was　asked　in　a　flat；　unemotional　voice。
　Nayla　put　down　a　sudden　surge　of　fear。　Had　Siona　discovered　her　secret？
　Have　I　failed　my　Lord？
　〃Have　you　no　response　to　my　question？〃　Siona　asked。
　〃Have　I　ever　given　you　cause　to　do　otherwise？〃　Nayla　asked。
　〃That's　not　a　sufficient　cause　for　trust；〃　Siona　said。　〃There's　no　such　thing　as　perfection…not　in　human　or　machine。〃
　〃Then　why　do　you　trust　me？〃
　〃Your　words　and　your　actions　always　agree。　It's　a　marvelous　quality。　For　instance；　you　don't　like　Topri　and　you　never　try　to　conceal　your　dislike。〃
　Nayla　glanced　at　Topri；　who　cleared　his　throat。
　〃I　don't　trust　him；〃　Nayla　said。
　The　words　popped　into　her　mind　and　out　of　her　mouth　without　reflection。　Only　after　she　had　spoken　did　Nayla　realize　the　true　core　of　her　dislike：　Topri　would　betray　anyone　for　personal　gain。
　Has　he　found　me　out？
　Still　scowling；　Topri　said；　〃I　am　not　going　to　stand　here　and　accept　your　abuse。〃　He　started　to　leave　but　Siona　held　up　a　restraining　hand。　Topri　hesitated。
　〃Although　we　speak　the　old　Fremen　words　and　swear　our　loyalty　to　each　other；　that　is　not　what　holds　us　together；〃　Siona　said。　〃Everything　is　based　on　performance。　That　is　all　I　measure。　Do　you　understand；　both　of　you？〃
　Topri　nodded　automatically；　but　Nayla　shook　her　head　from　side　to　side。
　Siona　smiled　up　at　her。　〃You　don't　always　agree　with　my　decisions；　do　you；　Nayla？〃
　〃No。〃　The　word　was　forced　from　her。
　〃And　you　have　never　tried　to　conceal　your　disagreement；　yet　you　always　obey　me。　Why？〃
　〃That　is　what　I　have　sworn　to　do。〃
　〃But　I　have　said　this　is　not　enough。〃
　Nayla　knew　she　was　perspiring；　knew　this　was　revealing；　but　she　could　not　move。　What　am　Ito　do？　I　swore　to　God　that　I　would　obey　Siona　but　I　cannot　tell　her　this。
　〃You　must　answer　my　question。〃　Siona　said。　〃I　mand　it。〃
　Nayla　caught　her　breath。　This　was　the　dilemma　she　had　most　feared。　There　was　no　way　out。　She　said　a　silent　prayer　and　spoke　in　a　low　voice。
　〃I　have　sworn　to　God　that　I　will　obey　you。〃
　Siona　clapped　her　hands　in　glee　and　laughed。
　〃I　knew　it！〃
　Topri　chuckled。
　〃Shut　up；　Topri；〃　Siona　said。　〃I　am　trying　to　teach　you　a　lesson。　You　don't　believe　in　anything；　not　even　in　yourself。〃
　〃But　I。。。
　〃Be　still；　I　say！　Nayla　believes。　I　believe。　This　is　what　holds　us　together。　Belief。〃
　Topri　was　astonished。　〃Belief？　You　believe　in。　。。〃
　〃Not　in　the　God　Emperor；　you　fool！　We　believe　that　a　higher　power　will　settle　with　the　tyrant　worm。　We　are　that　higher　power。　〃
　Nayla　took　a　trembling　breath。
　〃It's　all　right；　Nayla；〃　Siona　said。　〃I　don't　care　where　you　draw　your　strength；　just　as　long　as　you　believe。〃
　Nayla　managed　a　smile；　then　grinned。　She　had　never　been　more　profoundly　stirred　by　the　wisdom　of　her　Lord。　I　may　speak　the　truth　and　it　works　only　for　my　God！
　〃Let　me　show　you　what　I've　found　in　these　books；〃　Siona　said。　She　gestured　at　some　sheets　of　ordinary　paper　on　the　table。　〃Pressed　between　the　pages。〃
　Nayla　stepped　around　the　table　and　looked　down　at　it。
　〃First；　there's　this。〃　Siona　held　up　an　object　which　Nayla　had　not　noticed。　It　was　a　thin　strand　of　something。。。and　what　appeared　to　be　a　。　。　。
　〃A　flower？〃　Nayla　asked。
　〃This　was　between　two　pages　of　paper。　On　the　paper　was　written　this。〃
　Siona　leaned　over　the　table　and　read：　〃A　strand　of　Ghanima's　hair　with　a　starflower　blossom　which　she　once　brought　me。〃
　Looking　up　at　Nayla；　Siona　said：　〃Our　God　Emperor　is　revealed　as　a　sentimentalist。　That　is　a　weakness　I　had　not　expected。〃
　〃Ghanima？〃　Nayla　asked。
　〃His　sister！　Remember　your　Oral　History。〃
　〃Oh。。。oh；　yes。　The　Prayer　to　Ghanima。〃
　〃Now；　listen　to　this。〃　Siona　took　up　another　sheet　of　paper　and　read　from　it。
　〃The　sand　beach　as　gray　as　a　dead　cheek；　A　green　tideflow　reflects　cloud　ripples；　II　stand　on　the　dark　wet　edge。　Cold　foam　cleanses　my　toes。　I　smell　driftwood　smoke。　〃
　Again；　Siona　looked　up　at　Nayla。　〃This　is　identified　as　‘Words　I　wrote　when　told　of　Ghani's　death。'　What　do　you　think　of　that？〃
　〃He。。。he　loved　his　sister。〃
　〃Yes！　He　is　capable　of　love。　Oh；　yes！　We　have　him　now。〃
　
　Sometimes　I　indulge　myself　in　safaris　which　no　other　being　may　take。　I　strike　inward　along　the　axis　of　my　memories。　Like　a　schoolchild　reporting　on　a　vacation　trip；　I　take　up　my　subject。　Let　it　be。。。female　intellectuals！　I　course　backward　into　the　ocean　which　is　my　ancestors。　I　am　a　great　winged　fish　in　the　depths。　The　mouth　of　my　awareness　opens　and　I　scoop　them　up！　Sometimes。。。　sometimes　I　hunt　out　specific　persons　recorded　in　our　histories。　What　a　private　joy　to　relive　the　life　of　such　a　one　while　I　mock　the　academic　pretentions　which　supposedly　formed　a　biography。
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　MONEO　DESCENDED　to　the　crypt　with　sad　resignation。　There　was　no　escaping　the　duties　required　of　him　now。　The　God　Emperor　required　a　small　passage　of　time　to　grieve　the　loss　of　another　Duncan。。。but　then　life　went　on。。。and　on。。。and　on。。。。
　The　lift　slid　silently　downward　with　its　superb　Ixian　dependability。　Once；　just　once；　the　God　Emperor　had　cried　out　to　his　majordomo：　〃Moneo！　Sometimes　I　think　you　were　made　by　the　Ixians！〃
　Moneo　felt　the　lift　stop。　The　door　opened　and　he　looked　out　across　the　crypt　at　the　shadowy　bulk　on　the　Royal　Cart。　There　was　no　indication　that　Leto　had　noticed　the　arrival。　Moneo　sighed　and　began　the　long　walk　through　the　echoing　gloom。　There　was　a　body　on　the　floor　near　the　cart。　No　need　for　deja　vu。　This　was　merely　familiar。
　Once；　in　Moneo's　early　days　of　service。　Leto　had　said：　〃You　don't　like　this　place；　Moneo。　I　can　see　that。〃
　〃No；　Lord。〃
　With　just　a　little　prodding　of　memory；　Moneo　could　hear　his　own　voice　in　that　naive　past。　And　the　voice　of　the　God　Emperor　responding：
　〃You　don't　think　of　a　mausoleum　as　a　forting　place；　Moneo。　I　find　it　a　source　of　infinite　strength。〃
　Moneo　remembered　that　he　had　been　anxious　to　get　off　this　topic。　〃Yes；　Lord。〃
　Leto　had　persisted：　〃There　are　only　a　few　of　my　ancestors　here。　The　water　of　Muad'Dib　is　here。　Ghani　and　Harq…al…Ada　are　here；　of　course；　but　they're　not　my　ancestors。　No；　if　there's　any　true　crypt　of　my　ancestors；　l　am　that　crypt。　This　is　mostly　the　Duncans　and　the　products　of　my　breeding　program。　You'll　be　here　someday。〃
　Moneo　found　that　these　memories　had　slowed　his　pace。　He　sighed　and　moved　a　bit　faster。　Leto　could　be　violently　impatient　on　occasion　but　there　was　still　no　sign　from　him。　Moneo　did　not　take　this　to　mean　that　his　approach　went　unobserved。
　Leto　lay　with　his　eyes　closed　and　only　his　other　senses　to　record　Moneo's　progress　across　the　crypt。　Thoughts　of　Siona　had　been　occupying　Leto's　attention。
　Siona　is　my　ardent　enemy；　he　thought。　I　do　not　need　Nayla's　words　to　confirm　this。　Siona　is　a　woman　of　action。　She　lives　on　the　surface　of　enormous　energies　which　fill　me　with　fantasies　of　delight。　I　cannot　contemplate　those　living　energies　without　a　feeling　of　ecstasy。　They　are　my　reason　for　being；　th