fh.godemperorofdune-第63章

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d　in　memories　that　came　unbidden。　The　mood　was　hard　to　shake　off　and；　without　even　thinking；　he　muttered　the　remembered　lines　of　an　ancient　verse。
　〃Did　you　speak；　Lord？〃　Moneo's　voice　came　from　close　beside　Leto。　By　merely　turning　his　eyes；　Leto　could　see　the　faithful　majordomo　standing　attentively　waiting。
　Leto　translated　into　Galach　as　he　quoted：　〃The　nightingale　nests　in　the　plum　tree；　but　what　will　she　do　with　the　wind？〃
　〃Is　that　a　question；　Lord？〃
　〃An　old　question。　The　answer　is　simple。　Let　the　nightingale　keep　to　her　flowers。〃
　〃I　don't　understand；　Lord。〃
　〃Stop　mouthing　the　obvious；　Moneo。　It　disturbs　me　when　you　do　that。〃
　〃Forgive　me；　Lord。〃
　〃What　else　can　I　do？〃　Leto　studied　Moneo's　downcast　features。　〃You　and　I；　Moneo；　whatever　else　we　do；　we　provide　good　theater。〃
　Moneo　peered　at　Leto's　face。　〃Lord？〃
　〃The　rites　of　the　religious　festival　of　Bacchus　were　the　seeds　of　Greek　theater；　Moneo。　Religion　often　leads　to　theater。　They　will　have　fine　theater　out　of　us。〃　Once　more；　Leto　turned　and　looked　at　the　southwest　horizon。
　There　was　a　wind　there　now　piling　up　the　clouds。　Leto　thought　he　could　hear　driven　sand　blustering　along　the　dunes；　but　there　was　only　resonant　quiet　in　the　tower　aerie；　a　quiet　with　the　faintest　of　wind　hiss　behind　it。
　〃The　clouds；〃　he　whispered。　〃I　would　take　a　cup　of　moonlight　once　more；　an　ancient　sea　barge　at　my　feet；　thin　clouds　clinging　to　my　darkling　sky；　the　blue…gray　cloak　around　my　shoulders　and　horses　neighing　nearby。〃
　〃My　Lord　is　troubled；〃　Moneo　said。　The　passion　in　his　voice　wrenched　at　Leto。
　〃The　bright　shadows　of　my　pasts；〃　Leto　said。　〃They　never　leave　me　in　peace。　I　listened　for　a　soothing　sound；　the　bell　of　a　country　town　at　nightfall；　and　it　told　me　only　that　I　am　the　sound　and　soul　of　this　place。〃
　As　he　spoke；　darkness　enclosed　the　tower。　Automatic　lights　came　on　around　them。　Leto　kept　his　attention　directed　outward　where　a　thin　melon　slice　of　First　Moon　drifted　above　the　clouds　with　orange　planet…light　revealing　the　satellite's　full　circle。
　〃Lord；　why　have　we　e　out　here？〃　Moneo　asked。　〃Why　won't　you　tell　me？〃
　〃I　wanted　the　benefit　of　your　surprise；〃　Leto　said。　〃A　Guild　lighter　will　land　beside　us　out　here　soon。　My　Fish　Speakers　bring　Malky　to　me。〃
　Moneo　inhaled　a　quick　breath　and　held　it　a　moment　before　exhaling。　〃Hwi's。。。uncle？　That　Malky？〃
　〃You　are　surprised　that　you　had　no　warning　of　this；〃　Leto　said。
　Moneo　felt　a　chill　all　through　his　body。　〃Lord；　when　you　wish　to　keep　things　secret　from。　。　。〃
　〃Moneo？〃　Leto　spoke　in　a　softly　persuasive　tone。　〃I　know　that　Malky　offered　you　greater　temptations　than　any　other。　。　。〃
　〃Lord！　I　never。　。　。〃
　〃I　know　that；　Moneo。〃　Still　in　that　soft　tone。　〃But　surprise　has　shocked　your　memories　alive。　You　are　armed　for　anything　I　may　require　of　you。〃
　〃What。。。what　does　my　Lord。。。〃
　〃Perhaps　we　will　have　to　dispose　of　Malky。　He　is　a　problem。〃
　〃Me？　You　want　me　to。。。〃
　〃Perhaps。〃
　Moneo　swallowed；　then；　〃The　Reverend　Mother。。。〃
　〃Anteac　is　dead。　She　served　me　well；　but　she　is　dead。　There　was　extreme　violence　when　my　Fish　Speakers　attacked　the。。。place　where　Malky　lay　hidden。〃
　〃We　are　better　off　without　Anteac；〃　Moneo　said。
　〃I　appreciate　your　distrust　of　the　Bene　Gesserit；　but　I　would　that　Anteac　had　left　us　in　another　way。　She　was　faithful　to　us；　Moneo。〃
　〃A　Reverend　Mother　was。。。〃
　〃Both　the　Bene　Tleilax　and　the　Guild　wanted　Malky's　secret；〃　Leto　said。　〃When　they　saw　us　move　against　the　lxians；　they　struck　ahead　of　my　Fish　Speakers。　Anteac。。。well；　she　could　only　delay　them　a　bit；　but　it　was　enough。　My　Fish　Speakers　invested　the　place。　。　。〃
　〃Malky's　secret；　Lord？〃
　〃When　a　thing　vanishes；〃　Leto　said；　〃that　is　as　much　of　a　message　as　when　a　thing　suddenly　appears。　The　empty　spaces　are　always　worthy　of　our　study。〃
　〃What　does　my　Lord　mean；　empty。。。〃
　〃Malky　did　not　die！　Certainly　I　would　have　known　that。　Where　did　he　go　when　he　vanished？〃
　〃Vanished。。。from　you；　Lord？　Do　you　mean　that　the　lxians。。。〃
　〃They　have　improved　upon　a　device　they　gave　me　long　ago。　They　improved　it　slowly　and　subtly；　hidden　shells　within　hidden　shells；　but　I　noted　the　shadows。　I　was　surprised。　I　was　pleased。〃
　Moneo　thought　about　this。　A　device　which　concealed。。。Ahhh！　The　God　Emperor　had　mentioned　a　thing　on　several　occasions；　a　way　of　concealing　the　thoughts　he　recorded。　Moneo　spoke：
　〃And　Malky　brings　the　secret　of。　。　。〃
　〃Oh；　yes！　But　that　is　not　Malky's　real　secret。　He　holds　another　thing　in　his　bosom　which　he　does　not　think　that　I　suspect。〃
　〃Another。。。but；　Lord；　if　they　can　hide　even　from　you。　。　。〃
　〃Many　can　do　that　now；　Moneo。　They　scattered　when　my　Fish　Speakers　attacked。　The　secret　of　the　lxian　device　is　spread　far　and　wide。〃
　Moneo's　eyes　went　wide　with　alarm。　〃Lord；　if　anyone。。。〃
　〃If　they　learn　to　be　clever；　they　will　leave　no　tracks；〃　Leto　said。　〃Tell　me；　Moneo；　what　does　Nayla　say　about　the　Duncan？　Does　she　resent　reporting　directly　to　you？〃
　〃Whatever　my　Lord　mands。。。〃　Moneo　cleared　his　throat。　He　could　not　fathom　why　his　God　Emperor　spoke　of　hidden　tracks；　the　Duncan　and　Nayla　in　the　same　breath。
　〃Yes；　of　course；〃　Leto　said。　〃Whatever　I　mand；　Nayla　obeys。　And　what　does　she　say　of　the　Duncan？〃
　〃He　has　not　tried　to　breed　with　Siona；　if　that　is　my　Lord's。　。　。
　〃But　what　does　he　do　with　my　puppet　Naib；　Garun；　and　the　other　Museum　Fremen？〃
　〃He　speaks　to　them　of　the　old　ways；　of　the　wars　against　the　Harkonnens；　of　the　first　Atreides　here　on　Arrakis。〃
　〃On　Dune！〃
　〃Dune；　yes。〃
　〃It's　because　there's　no　more　Dune　that　there　are　no　more　Fremen；〃　Leto　said。　〃Have　you　conveyed　my　message　to　Nayla？〃
　〃Lord；　why　do　you　add　to　your　peril？〃
　〃Did　you　convey　my　message？〃
　〃The　messenger　has　been　sent　to　Tuono；　but　I　could　still　call　her　back。〃
　〃You　will　not　call　her　back！〃
　〃But；　Lord。。　。〃
　〃What　will　she　say　to　Nayla？〃
　〃That。。。that　is　your　mand　for　Nayla　to　continue　in　absolute　and　unquestioning　obedience　of　my　daughter　except　insofar。　。　。　Lord！　This　is　dangerous！〃
　〃Dangerous？　Nayla　is　a　Fish　Speaker。　She　will　obey　me。〃
　〃But　Siona。。。Lord；　I　fear　that　my　daughter　does　not　serve　you　with　all　of　her　heart。　And　Nayla　is。　。　。〃
　〃Nayla　must　not　deviate。〃
　〃Lord；　let　us　hold　your　wedding　in　some　other　place。〃
　〃No！〃
　〃Lord；　I　know　that　your　vision　has　revealed。　。　。〃
　〃The　Golden　Path　endures；　Moneo。　You　know　that　as　well　as　L〃
　Moneo　sighed。　〃Infinity　is　yours；　Lord。　I　do　not　question　the。　。　。〃　He　broke　off　as　a　monstrous　shuddering　roar　shook　the　tower；　louder　and　louder。
　Both　of　them　turned　toward　the　sound…　a　descending　plume　of　blue…orange　light　filled　with　swirling　shockwaves　came　down　to　the　desert　less　than　a　kilometer　away　to　the　south。
　〃Ahhh；　my　guest　arrives；〃　Leto　said。　〃I　will　send　you　down　on　my　cart；　Moneo。　Bring　only　Malky　back　with　you。　Tell　the　Guildsmen　this　has　earned　my　forgiveness；　then　send　them　away。〃
　〃Your　for。。。　yes；　Lord。　But　if　they　have　the　secret　of。　。　。〃
　〃They　serve　my　purpose；　Moneo。　You　must　do　the　same。　Bring　Malky　to　me。〃
　Obediently；　Moneo　went　to　the　cart　which　lay　in　shadows　at　the　far　side　of　the　aerie　chamber。　He　clambered　on　it；　watched　a　mouth　of　night　appear　in　the　Wall。　A　landing…lip　extruded　into　that　night。　The　cart　drifted　outward；　feather…light；　and　floated　at　an　angle　to　the　sand　beside　a　Guild　lighter　which　stood　upright　like　a　distorted　miniature　of　the　Little　Citadel's　tower。
　Leto　watched　from　the　balcony；　his　front　segments　lifted　slightly　to　provide　him　a　better　viewing　angle。　His　acute　eyesight　identified　the　white　movement　of　Moneo　standing　on　the　cart　in　the　moonlight。　Long…legged　Guild　servitors　came　out　with　a　litter　which　they　slid　onto　the　cart；　standing　there　a　moment　in　conversation　with　Moneo。　When　they　left；　Leto　closed　the　cart's　bubble　cover　and　saw　moonlight　reflected　from　it。　At　his　beckoning　thought；　the　cart　and　its　burden　returned　to　the　landing…lip。　The　Guild　lighter　lifted　in　its　noisy　rumbling　while　Leto　was　bringing　the　cart　into　the　chamber's　lights；　closing　the　entrance　behind　it。　Leto　opened　the　bubble　cover。　Sand　grated　beneath　him　as　he　rolled　to　the　litter　and　lifted　his　front　segments　to　peer　in　at　Malky　who　lay　as　though　sleeping；　lashed　into　the　litter　by　broad　gray　elastic　bindings。　The　man's　face　was　ashen　under　dark　gray　hair。
　Haw　he　has　aged；　Leto　thought。
　Moneo　stepped　down　off　the　cart　and　looked　back　at　the　litter's　occupant。　〃He　is　injured；　Lord。　They　want　to　send　a　medical。　。　。〃
　〃They　wanted　to　send　a　spy。〃
　Leto　studied　Malky　the　dark　wrinkled　skin；　the　sunken　cheeks；　that　sharp　nose　at　such　contrast　with　the　rounded　oval　of　his　face。　The　heavy　eyebrows　had　turned　almost　white。　There　but　for　a　lifetime　of　testosterone。。。yes。
　Malky's　eyes　opened。　Such　a　shock　to　find　evil　in　those　doe…like　brown　eyes！　A　smile　twitched　Malky's　mouth。
　〃Lord　Leto。〃　Malky's　voice　was　little　more　than　a　husky　whisper。　His　eyes　turned　right；　focusing　on　the　majordomo。　〃And　Moneo。　Forgive　me　for　not　rising　to　the　occasion。〃
　〃Are　you　in　pain？〃　Leto　asked。
　〃Sometimes。〃　Malky's　eyes　moved　to　study　his　surroundings。　〃Where　are　the　houris？〃
　〃I'm　afraid　I　must　deny　you　that　pleasure；　Malky。〃
　〃Just　as　well；〃　Malky　husked。　〃I　don't　really　feel　up　to　their　demands。　Those　were　not　houris　you　sent　after　me；　Leto。〃
　〃They　were　professional　in　their　obedience　to　me；〃　Leto　said。
　〃They　were　bloody　hunters！〃
　〃Anteac　was　the　hunter。　My　Fish　Speakers　were　merely　the　clean…up　crew。〃
　Moneo　shifted　his　attention　from　one　speaker　to　the　other；　back　and　forth。　There　were　disturbing　undertones　in　this　conversation。　Despite　the　huskiness；　Malky　sounded　almost　flippant。。。but　then　he　had　always　been　that　way。　A　dangerous　man！
　Leto　said：　〃Just　before　your　arrival；　Moneo　and　I　were　discussing　Infinity。〃
　〃Poor　Moneo；〃　Malky　said。
　Leto　smiled。　〃Do　you　remember；　Malky？　You　once　asked　me　to　demonstrate　Infinity。〃
　〃You　said　no　Infinity　exists　to　be　demonstrated。〃　Malky　swept　his　gaze　toward　Moneo。　〃Leto　likes　to　play　with　paradox。　He　knows　all　the　tricks　of　language　that　have　ever　been　discovered。〃
　Moneo　put　down　a　surge　of　anger。　He　felt　excluded　from　this　conversation；　an　object　of　amusement　by　two　superior　beings。　Malky　and　the　God　Emperor　were　almost　like　two　old　friends　reliving　the　pleasures　of　a　mutual　past。
　〃Moneo　accuses　me　of　being　the　sole　possessor　of　Infinity；〃　Leto　said。　〃He　refuses　to　believe　that　he　has　just　as　much　of　Infinity　as　I　have。〃
　Malky　stared　up　at　Leto。　〃You　see；　Moneo？　You　see　how　tricky　he　is　with　words？〃
　〃Tell　me　about　your　niece；　Hwi　Noree；〃　Leto　said。
　〃Is　it　true；　Leto；　what　they　say？　That　you　are　going　to　wed　the　gentle　Hwi？〃
　〃It　is　true。〃
　Malky　chuckled；　then　grimaced　with　pain。　〃They　did　terrible　damage　to　me；　Leto；〃　he　whispered；　then：　〃Tell　me；　old　worm。　。　。〃
　Moneo　gasped。
　Malky　took　a　moment　to　recover　from　pain；　then：　〃Tell　me；　old　worm；　is　there　a　monster　penis　hidden　in　that　monster　body　of　yours？　What　a　shock　for　the　gentle　Hwi！〃
　〃I　told　you　the　truth　about　that　long　ago；〃　Leto　said。
　〃Nobody　tells　the　truth；〃　Malky　husked。
　〃You　often　told　me　the　truth；〃　Leto　said。　〃Even　when　you　didn't　know　it。〃
　〃That's　because　you're　cleverer　than　the　rest　of　us。〃
　〃Will　you　t