fh.godemperorofdune-第61章

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　Idaho　kept　his　attention　on　Moneo　while　speaking：　〃Fremen　did　not　live　in　mud　huts。〃
　〃Who　cares　where　they　conducted　their　cultish　games？〃　she　sneered。
　Still　looking　at　Moneo；　Idaho　said：　〃Real　Fremen　had　only　one　cult；　the　cult　of　personal　honesty。　I　worry　more　about　honesty　than　about　fort。〃
　〃Don't　expect　fort　from　me！〃　Siona　snapped。
　〃I　don't　expect　anything　from　you；〃　Idaho　said。　〃When　would　we　leave　for　this　Tuono；　Moneo？〃
　〃You're　going？〃　she　asked。
　〃I　am　considering　an　acceptance　of　your　father's　kindness；〃　Idaho　said。
　〃Kindness！〃　She　looked　from　Idaho　to　Moneo。
　〃You　would　leave　immediately；〃　Moneo　said。　〃I　have　detailed　a　detachment　of　Fish　Speakers　under　Nayla　to　escort　you　and　provide　for　you　at　Tuono。〃
　〃Nayla？〃　Siona　asked。　〃Really？　Will　she　stay　with　us　there？〃
　〃Until　the　day　of　the　wedding。〃
　Siona　nodded　slowly。　〃Then　we　accept。〃
　〃Accept　for　yourself！〃　Idaho　snapped。
　Siona　smiled。　〃Sorry。　May　I　formally　request　that　the　great　Duncan　Idaho　join　me　at　this　primitive　garrison　where　he　will　keep　his　hands　off　my　person？〃
　Idaho　peered　up　at　her　from　under　his　brows。　〃Have　no　fears　about　where　I　will　put　my　hands。〃　He　looked　at　Moneo。　〃Are　you　being　kind；　Moneo？　Is　that　why　you're　sending　me　away？〃
　〃It's　a　question　of　trust；〃　Siona　said。　〃Who　does　he　trust？〃
　〃Will　I　be　forced　to　go　with　your　daughter？〃　Idaho　insisted。
　Siona　stood。　〃We　either　accept　or　the　troopers　will　bind　us　and　carry　us　out　in　a　most　unfortable　fashion。　You　can　see　it　in　his　face。〃
　〃So　I　really　have　no　choice；〃　Idaho　said。
　〃You　have　the　choice　anyone　has；〃　Siona　said。　〃Die　now　or　later。〃
　Still；　Idaho　stared　at　Moneo。　〃Your　real　intentions；　Moneo？　Won't　you　satisfy　my　curiosity？〃
　〃Curiosity　has　kept　many　people　alive　when　all　else　failed；〃　Moneo　said。　〃I　am　trying　to　keep　you　alive；　Duncan。　I　have　never　done　that　before。〃
　
　It　required　almost　a　thousand　years　before　the　dust　of　Dune's　old　planet…wide　desert　left　the　atmosphere　to　be　bound　up　in　soil　and　water。　The　wind　called　sandblaster　has　not　been　seen　on　Arrakis　for　some　twenty…five　hundred　years。　Twenty　billion　tons　of　dust　could　be　carried　suspended　in　the　wind　of　just　one　of　those　storms。　The　sky　often　had　a　silvery　look　to　it　then。　Fremen　said：　〃The　desert　is　a　surgeon　cutting　away　the　skin　to　expose　what's　underneath。〃　The　planet　and　the　people　had　layers。　You　could　see　them。　My　Sareer　is　but　a　weak　echo　of　what　was。　I　must　be　the　sandblaster　today。
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　〃You　sent　them　to　Tuono　without　consulting　me？　How　surprising　of　you；　Moneo！　You've　not　done　such　an　independent　thing　in　a　long　while。〃
　Moneo　stood　about　ten　paces　from　Leto　in　the　gloomy　center　of　the　crypt；　head　bowed；　using　every　artifice　he　knew　to　keep　from　trembling；　aware　that　even　this　could　be　seen　and　interpreted　by　the　God　Emperor。　It　was　almost　midnight。　Leto　had　kept　his　majordomo　waiting　and　waiting。
　〃I　pray　I　have　not　offended　my　Lord；〃　Moneo　said。
　〃You　have　amused　me；　but　take　no　heart　from　that。　Lately；　I　cannot　separate　the　ic　from　the　sad。〃
　〃Forgive　me；　Lord；〃　Moneo　whispered。
　〃What　is　this　forgiveness　you　ask？　Must　you　always　require　judgment？　Can't　your　universe　merely　be？〃
　Moneo　lifted　his　gaze　to　that　awful　cowled　face。　He　is　both　ship　and　storm。　The　sunset　exists　in　itself。　Moneo　felt　that　he　stood　on　the　brink　of　terrifying　revelations。　The　God　Emperor's　eyes　bored　into　him；　burning；　probing。　〃Lord；　what　would　you　have　of　me？〃
　〃That　you　have　faith　in　yourself。〃
　Feeling　that　something　might　explode　in　him；　Moneo　said：　〃Then　the　fact　that　I　did　not　consult　you　before。　。　。〃
　〃How　enlightened　of　you；　Moneo！　Small　souls　who　seek　power　over　others　first　destroy　the　faith　those　others　might　have　in　themselves。〃
　The　words　were　shattering　to　Moneo。　He　sensed　accusation　in　them；　confession。　He　felt　his　hold　on　a　fearsome　but　infinitely　desirable　thing　weakening。　He　tried　to　find　words　to　call　it　back；　but　his　mind　remained　blank。　Perhaps　if　he　asked　the　God　Emperor　。　。　。
　〃Lord；　if　you　would　but　tell　me　your　thoughts　on。。
　。〃
　〃My　thoughts　vanish　on　contact！〃
　Leto　stared　down　at　Moneo。　How　strange　were　the　majordomo's　eyes　perched　there　above　that　hawkish　Atreides　nose…free…verse　eyes　in　a　metronome　face。　Did　Moneo　hear　that　rhythmic　pulse…beat：　Malky　is　ing！　Malky　is　ing！　Malky　is　ing！？
　Moneo　wanted　to　cry　out　in　anguish。　The　thing　he　had　felt…　all　gone！　He　put　both　his　hands　over　his　mouth。
　〃Your　universe　is　a　two…dimensional　hourglass；〃　Leto　accused。　〃Why　do　you　try　to　hold　back　the　sand？〃
　Moneo　lowered　his　hands　and　sighed。　〃Do　you　wish　to　hear　about　the　wedding　arrangements；　Lord？〃
　〃Don't　be　tiresome！　Where　is　Hwi？〃
　〃The　Fish　Speakers　are　preparing　her　for。　。　。〃
　〃Have　you　consulted　her　about　the　arrangements？〃
　〃Yes；　Lord。〃
　〃She　approved？〃
　〃Yes；　Lord；　but　she　accused　me　of　living　for　the　quantity　of　activity　and　not　for　the　quality。〃
　〃Isn't　she　marvelous；　Moneo？　Does　she　see　the　unrest　among　the　Fish　Speakers？〃
　〃I　think　so；　Lord。〃
　〃The　idea　of　my　marriage　disturbs　them。〃
　〃It's　why　I　sent　the　Duncan　away；　Lord。〃
　〃Of　course　it　is；　and　Siona　with　him　to。　。　。〃
　〃Lord；　I　know　you　have　tested　her　and　she。　。　。〃
　〃She　senses　the　Golden　Path　as　deeply　as　you　do；　Moneo。〃　〃Then　why　do　I　fear　her；　Lord？〃
　〃Because　you　raise　reason　above　all　else。〃
　〃But　I　do　not　know　the　reason　for　my　fear！〃
　Leto　smiled。　This　was　like　playing　bubble　dice　in　an　infinite　bowl。　Moneo's　emotions　were　a　marvelous　play　performed　only　on　this　stage。　How　near　the　edge　he　walked　without　ever　seeing　it！
　〃Moneo；　why　do　you　insist　on　taking　pieces　out　of　the　continuum？〃　Leto　asked。　〃When　you　see　a　spectrum；　do　you　desire　one　color　there　above　all　the　others？〃
　〃Lord；　I　don't　understand　you！〃
　Leto　closed　his　eyes；　remembering　the　countless　times　he　had　heard　this　cry。　The　faces　were　an　unseparated　blend。　He　opened　his　eyes　to　erase　them。
　〃As　long　as　one　human　remains　alive　to　see　them；　the　colors　will　not　suffer　a　linear　mortis　even　if　you　die；　Moneo。〃
　〃What　is　this　thing　of　colors；　Lord？〃
　〃The　continuum；　the　never…ending；　the　Golden　Path。〃
　〃But　you　see　things　which　we　do　not；　Lord！〃
　〃Because　you　refuse！〃
　Moneo　sank　his　chin　to　his　chest。　〃Lord；　I　know　you　have　evolved　beyond　the　rest　of　us。　That　is　why　we　worship　you　and。。。〃
　〃Damn　you；　Moneo！〃
　Moneo　jerked　his　head　up　and　stared　at　Leto　in　terror。
　〃Civilizations　collapse　when　their　powers　outrun　their　religions！〃　Leto　said。　〃Why　can't　you　see　this？　Hwi　does。〃
　〃She　is　Ixian；　Lord。　Perhaps　she。　。　。〃
　〃She's　a　Fish　Speaker！　She　has　been　from　birth；　born　to　serve　me。　No！〃　Leto　raised　one　of　his　tiny　hands　as　Moneo　tried　to　speak。　〃The　Fish　Speakers　are　disturbed　because　I　called　them　my　brides；　and　now　they　see　a　stranger　not　trained　in　Siaynoq　who　knows　it　better　than　they。〃
　〃How　can　that　be；　Lord；　when　your　Fish。。
　。〃
　〃What　are　you　saying？　Each　of　us　es　into　being　knowing　who　he　is　and　what　he　is　supposed　to　do。〃
　Moneo　opened　his　mouth　but　closed　it　without　speaking。
　〃Small　children　know；〃　Leto　said。　〃It's　only　after　adults　have　confused　them　that　children　hide　this　knowledge　even　from　themselves。　Moneo！　Uncover　yourself！〃
　〃Lord；　I　cannot！〃　The　words　were　torn　from　Moneo。　He　trembled　with　anguish。　〃I　do　not　have　your　powers；　your　knowledge　of。　。　。〃
　〃Enough！〃
　Moneo　fell　silent。　His　body　shook。
　Leto　spoke　soothingly　to　him。　〃It's　all　right；　Moneo。　I　asked　too　much　of　you　and　I　can　see　your　fatigue。〃
　Slowly；　Moneo's　trembling　subsided。　He　drew　in　deep；　gulping　breaths。
　Leto　said：　〃There　will　be　some　change　in　my　Fremen　wedding。　We　will　not　use　the　water　rings　of　my　sister；　Ghanima。　We　will　use；　instead；　the　rings　of　my　mother。〃
　〃The　Lady　Chani；　Lord？　But　where　are　her　rings？〃
　Leto　twisted　his　bulk　on　the　cart　and　pointed　to　the　intersection　of　two　cavernous　spokes　on　his　left　where　the　dim　light　revealed　the　earliest　burial　niches　of　the　Atreides　on　Arrakis。　〃In　her　tomb；　the　first　niche。　You　will　remove　those　rings；　Moneo；　and　bring　them　to　the　ceremony。〃
　Moneo　stared　across　the　gloomy　distance　of　the　crypt。　〃Lord。。。is　it　not　a　desecration　to。　。　。〃
　〃You　forget；　Moneo；　who　lives　in　me。〃　He　spoke　then　in　Chani's　voice：　〃I　can　do　what　I　want　with　my　water　rings！〃
　Moneo　cowered。　〃Yes；　Lord。　I　will　bring　them　with　me　to　Tabur　Village　when。。。〃
　〃Tabur　Village？〃　Leto　asked　in　his　usual　voice。　〃But　I　have　changed　my　mind。　We　will　be　wed　at　Tuono　Village！〃
　
　Most　civilization　is　based　on　cowardice。　It's　so　easy　to　civilize　by　teaching　cowardice。　You　water　down　the　standards　which　would　lead　to　bravery。　You　restrain　the　will。　You　regulate　the　appetites。　You　fence　in　the　horizons。　You　make　a　law　for　every　movement。　You　deny　the　existence　of　chaos。　You　teach　even　the　children　to　breathe　slowly。　You　tame。
　The　Stolen　Journals
　IDAHO　STOOD　aghast　at　his　first　close　glimpse　of　Tuono　Village。　That　was　the　home　of　Fremen？
　The　Fish　Speaker　troop　had　taken　them　from　the　Citadel　at　daybreak；　Idaho　and　Siona　bundled　into　a　large　ornithopter；　acpanied　by　two　smaller　guard　ships。　And　the　flight　had　been　slow；　almost　three　hours。　They　had　landed　at　a　flat；　round　plastone　hangar　almost　a　kilometer　from　the　village；　separated　from　it　by　old　dunes　locked　in　shape　with　plantings　of　poverty　grasses　and　a　few　scrubby　bushes。　As　they　came　down；　the　wall　directly　behind　the　village　had　seemed　to　grow　taller　and　taller；　the　village　shrinking　beneath　such　immensity。
　〃The　Museum　Fremen　are　kept　generally　uncontaminated　by　off…planet　technology；〃　Nayla　had　explained　as　the　escort　sealed　the　'thopters　into　the　low　hangar。　One　of　the　troop　already　had　been　sent　trotting　off　toward　Tuono　with　the　announcement　of　their　arrival。
　Siona　had　remained　mostly　silent　all　during　the　flight；　but　she　had　studied　Nayla　with　covert　intensity。
　For　a　time　during　the　march　across　the　morning…lighted　dunes；　Idaho　had　tried　to　imagine　that　he　was　back　in　the　old　
　days。　Sand　was　visible　in　the　plantings　and；　in　the　valleys　between　dunes；　there　was　parched　ground；　yellow　grass；　the　sticklike　shrubs。　Three　vultures；　their　gap…tipped　wings　spread　wide；　circled　in　the　vault　of　sky…〃the　soaring　search；〃　Fremen　had　called　it。　Idaho　had　tried　to　explain　this　to　Siona　walking　beside　him。　You　worried　about　the　carrion…eaters　only　when　they　began　to　descend。
　〃I　have　been　told　about　vultures；〃　she　said；　her　voice　cold。
　Idaho　had　noted　the　perspiration　on　her　upper　lip。　There　was　a　spicy　smell　of　sweat　in　the　troop　pressed　close　around　them。
　His　imagination　was　not　equal　to　the　task　of　defocusing　the　differences　between　the　past　and　this　time。　The　issue　stillsuits　they　wore　were　more　for　show　than　for　efficient　collection　of　the　body's　water。　No　true　Fremen　would　have　trusted　his　life　to　one　of　them；　not　even　here；　where　the　air　smelled　of　nearby　water。　And　the　Fish　Speakers　of　Nayla's　troop　did　not　walk　in　Fremen　silence。　They　chattered　among　themselves　like　children。
　Siona　trudged　beside　him　in　sullen　withdrawal；　her　attention　frequently　on　the　broad　muscular　back　of　Nayla；　who　strode　along　a　few　paces　ahead　of　the　troop。
　What　was　between　those　two　women？　Idaho　wondered。　Nayla　appeared　devoted　to　Si