fh.godemperorofdune-第66章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃I　was　born　an　Ixian；　Love；〃　she　said。　〃Why　don't　I　share　their　mechanical　view　of　our　universe？　Do　you　know　my　view；　Leto　my　love？〃
　He　could　only　stare　at　her。
　〃I　sense　the　supernatural　at　every　turning；〃　she　said。
　Leto's　voice　rasped；　sounding　angry　even　to　him：　〃Each　person　creates　his　own　supernatural。〃
　〃Don't　be　angry　with　me；　Love。〃
　Again；　that　awful　rasping：　〃It　is　impossible　for　me　to　be　angry　with　you。〃
　〃But　something　happened　between　you　and　Malky　once；〃　she　said。　〃He　would　never　tell　me　what　it　was；　but　he　said　he　often　wondered　why　you　spared　him。〃
　〃Because　of　what　he　taught　me。〃
　〃What　happened　between　you　two；　Love？〃
　〃I　would　rather　not　talk　about　Malky。〃
　〃Please；　Love。　I　feel　that　it's　important　for　me　to　know。〃
　〃I　suggested　to　Malky　that　there　might　be　some　things　men　should　not　invent。〃
　〃And　that's　all？〃
　〃No。〃　He　spoke　reluctantly。　〃My　words　angered　him。　He　said：　‘You　think　that　in　a　world　without　birds；　men　would　not　invent　aircraft！　What　a　fool　you　are！　Men　can　invent　anything！〃'
　〃He　called　you　a　fool？〃　There　was　shock　in　Hwi's　voice。
　〃He　was　right。　And　although　he　denied　it；　he　spoke　the　truth。　He　taught　me　that　there　was　a　reason　for　running　away　from　inventions。〃
　〃Then　you　fear　the　lxians？〃
　〃Of　course　I　do！　They　can　invent　catastrophe。〃
　〃Then　what　could　you　do？〃
　〃Run　faster。　History　is　a　constant　race　between　invention　and　catastrophe。　Education　helps　but　it's　never　enough。　You　also　must　run。〃
　〃You　are　sharing　your　soul　with　me；　Love。　Do　you　know　that？〃
　Leto　looked　away　from　her　and　focused　on　Moneo's　back；　the　motions　of　the　majordomo；　the　tucked…in　pretenses　of　secrecy　so　apparent　there。　The　procession　had　e　off　the　first　gentle　incline。　It　turned　now　to　begin　the　climb　onto　Ringwall　West。　Moneo　moved　as　he　had　always　moved；　one　foot　ahead　of　another；　aware　of　the　ground　where　he　would　place　each　step；　but　there　was　something　new　in　the　majordomo。　Leto　could　feel　the　man　drawing　away；　no　longer　content　to　march　beside　his　Lord's　cowled　face；　no　longer　trying　to　match　himself　to　his　master's　destiny。　Off　to　the　east；　the　Sareer　waited。　Off　to　the　west；　there　was　the　river；　the　plantations。　Moneo　looked　neither　left　nor　right。　He　had　seen　another　destination。
　〃You　do　not　answer　me；〃　Hwi　said。
　〃You　already　know　the　answer。〃
　〃Yes。　I　am　beginning　to　understand　something　of　you；〃　she　said。　〃I　can　sense　some　of　your　fears。　And　I　think　I　already　know　where　it　is　that　you　live。〃
　He　turned　a　startled　glance　on　her　and　found　himself　locked　in　her　gaze。　It　was　astonishing。　He　could　not　move　his　eyes　away　from　her。　A　profound　fear　coursed　through　and　he　felt　his　hands　begin　to　twitch。
　〃You　live　where　the　fear　of　being　and　the　love　of　being　are　bined；　all　in　one　person；〃　she　said。
　He　could　not　blink。
　〃You　area　mystic；〃　she　said；　〃gentle　to　yourself　only　because　you　are　in　the　middle　of　that　universe　looking　outward；　looking　in　ways　that　others　cannot。　You　fear　to　share　this；　yet　you　want　to　share　it　more　than　anything　else。〃
　〃What　have　you　seen？〃　he　whispered。
　〃I　have　no　inner　eye；　no　inner　voices；〃　she　said。　〃But　I　have　seen　my　Lord　Leto；　whose　soul　I　love；　and　I　know　the　only　thing　that　you　truly　understand。〃
　He　broke　from　her　gaze；　fearful　of　what　she　might　say。　The　trembling　of　his　hands　could　be　felt　all　through　his　front　segment。
　〃Love；　that　is　what　you　understand；〃　she　said。　〃Love；　and　that　is　all　of　it。〃
　His　hands　stopped　trembling。　A　tear　rolled　down　each　of　his　cheeks。　When　the　tears　touched　his　cowl；　wisps　of　blue　smoke　erupted。　He　sensed　the　burning　and　was　thankful　for　the　pain。
　〃You　have　faith　in　life；〃　Hwi　said。　〃I　know　that　the　courage　of　love　can　reside　only　in　this　faith。〃
　She　reached　out　with　her　left　hand　and　brushed　the　tears　from　his　cheeks。　It　surprised　him　that　the　cowl　did　not　react　with　its　ordinary　reflex　to　prevent　the　touch。
　〃Do　you　know；〃　he　asked；　〃that　since　I　have　bee　thus；　you　are　the　first　person　to　touch　my　cheeks？〃
　〃But　I　know　what　you　are　and　what　you　were；〃　she　said。
　〃What　I　was。。。ahhh；　Hwi。　What　I　was　has　bee　only　this　face；　and　all　the　rest　is　lost　in　the　shadows　of　memory。。。hidden。。。gone。〃
　〃Not　hidden　from　me；　Love。〃
　He　looked　directly　at　her；　no　longer　afraid　to　lock　gazes。　〃Is　it　possible　that　the　lxians　know　what　they　have　created　in　you。〃
　〃I　assure　you；　Leto；　love　of　my　soul；　that　they　do　not　know。　You　are　the　first　person；　the　only　person　to　whom　I　have　ever　pletely　revealed　myself。〃
　〃Then　I　will　not　mourn　for　what　might　have　been；〃　he　said。　〃Yes；　my　love；　I　will　share　my　soul　with　you。〃
　
　Think　of　it　as　plastic　memory；　this　force　within　you　which　trends　you　and　your　fellows　toward　tribal　forms。　This　plastic　memory　seeks　to　return　to　its　ancient　shape；　the　tribal　society。　It　is　all　around　you…the　feudatory；　the　diocese；　the　corporation；　the　platoon；　the　sports　club；　the　dance　troupes；　the　rebel　cell；　the　planning　council；　the　prayer　group。。。each　with　its　master　and　servants；　its　host　and　parasites。　And　the　swarms　of　alienating　devices　（including　these　very　words！）　tend　eventually　to　be　enlisted　in　the　argument　for　a　return　to　〃those　better　rimes。〃　I　despair　of　teaching　you　other　ways。　You　have　square　thoughts　which　resist　circles。
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　IDAHO　FOUND　he　could　manage　the　climb　without　thinking　about　it。　This　body　grown　by　the　Tleilaxu　remembered　things　the　Tleilaxu　did　not　even　suspect。　His　original　youth　might　be　lost　in　the　eons；　but　his　muscles　were　Tleilaxu…young　and　he　could　bury　his　childhood　in　forgetfulness　while　he　climbed。　In　that　childhood；　he　had　learned　survival　by　flight　into　the　high　rocks　of　his　home　planet。　It　did　not　matter　that　these　rocks　in　front　of　him　now　had　been　brought　here　by　men；　they　also　had　been　shaped　by　ages　of　weather。
　The　morning　sun　was　hot　on　Idaho's　back。　He　could　hear　Siona's　efforts　to　reach　the　relatively　simple　support　position　of　a　narrow　ledge　far　below　him。　The　position　was　virtually　useless　to　Idaho；　but　it　had　been　the　argument　which　had　brought　Siona　finally　into　agreement　that　they　should　attempt　this　climb。
　They。
　She　had　objected　that　he　might　try　it　alone。
　Nayla；　three　of　her　Fish　Speaker　aides；　Garun　and　three　chosen　from　his　Museum　Fremen　waited　on　the　sand　at　the　foot　of　the　barrier　Wall　which　enclosed　the　Sareer。
　Idaho　did　not　think　about　the　Wall's　height。　He　thought　only　about　where　he　would　next　put　a　hand　or　a　foot。　He　thought　about　the　coil　of　light　rope　around　his　shoulders。　That　rope　was　the　tallness　of　this　Wall。　He　had　measured　it　out　on　the　ground；　triangulating　across　the　sand；　not　counting　his　steps。　When　the　rope　was　long　enough　it　was　long　enough。　The　Wall　was　as　high　as　the　rope　was　long。　Any　other　way　of　thinking　could　only　dull　his　mind。
　Feeling　for　handholds　which　he　could　not　see；　Idaho　groped　his　way　up　the　sheer　face。　。　。　well；　not　quite　sheer。　Wind　and　sand　and　even　some　rain；　the　forces　of　cold　and　heat；　had　been　at　their　erosive　work　here　for　more　than　three　thousand　years。　For　one　full　day；　Idaho　had　sat　on　the　sand　below　the　Wall　and　he　had　studied　what　had　been　acplished　by　Time。　He　had　fixed　certain　patterns　in　his　mind…a　slanting　shadow；　a　thin　line；　a　crumbling　bulge；　a　tiny　lip　of　rock　here　and　another　over　there。
　His　fingers　wriggled　upward　into　a　sharp　crack。　He　tested　his　weight　gently　on　the　support。　Yes。　Briefly；　he　rested；　pressing　his　face　against　warm　rock；　not　looking　up　or　down。　He　was　simply　here。　Everything　was　a　matter　of　the　pacing。　His　shoulders　must　not　be　allowed　to　tire　too　soon。　Weight　must　be　adjusted　between　feet　and　arms。　Fingers　took　inevitable　damage；　but　while　bone　and　tendons　held；　the　skin　could　be　ignored。
　Once　more；　he　crept　upward。　A　bit　of　rock　broke　away　from　his　hand；　dust　and　shards　fell　across　his　right　cheek；　but　he　did　not　even　feel　it。　Every　bit　of　his　awareness　concentrated　on　the　groping　hand；　the　balance　of　his　feet　on　the　tiniest　of　protrusions。　He　was　a　mote；　a　particle　which　defied　gravity。　。　。　a　finger…hold　here；　a　toehold　there；　clinging　to　the　rock　surface　at　times　by　the　sheer　power　of　his　will。
　Nine　makeshift　pitons　bulged　one　of　his　pockets；　but　he　resisted　using　them。　The　equally　makeshift　hammer　dangled　from　his　belt　on　a　short　cord　whose　knot　his　fingers　had　memorized。
　Nayla　had　been　difficult。　She　would　not　give　up　her　lasgun。　She　had；　however；　obeyed　Siona's　direct　order　to　acpany　them。　A　strange　woman。。。strangely　obedient。
　〃Have　you　not　sworn　to　obey　me？〃　Siona　had　demanded。
　Nayla's　reluctance　had　vanished。
　Later；　Siona　had　said：　〃She　always　obeys　my　direct　orders。〃
　〃Then　we　may　not　have　to　kill　her；〃　Idaho　had　said。
　〃I　would　rather　not　attempt　it。　I　don't　think　you　have　even　the　faintest　idea　of　her　strength　and　quickness。〃
　Garun；　the　Museum　Fremen　who　dreamed　of　being　a　〃true　Naib　in　the　old　fashion；〃　had　set　the　stage　for　this　climb　by　answering　Idaho's　question：　〃How　will　the　God　Emperor　e　to　Tuono？〃
　〃In　the　same　way　he　chose　for　a　visit　during　my　great…grandfather's　time。〃
　〃And　that　was？〃　Siona　had　prompted　him。
　They　had　been　sitting　in　the　dusty　shadows　outside　the　guest　house；　sheltering　from　the　afternoon　sun　on　the　day　of　the　announcement　that　the　Lord　Leto　would　be　wed　in　Tuono。　A　semicircle　of　Garun's　aides　squatted　around　the　doorstep　where　Siona　and　Idaho　sat　with　Garun。　Two　Fish　Speakers　lounged　nearby；　listening。　Nayla　was　due　to　arrive　momentarily。
　Garun　pointed　to　the　high　Wall　behind　the　village；　its　rim　glistening　distant　gold　in　the　sunlight。　〃The　Royal　Road　runs　there　and　the　God　Emperor　has　a　device　which　lowers　him　gently　from　the　heights。〃
　〃It's　built　into　his　cart；〃　Idaho　said。
　〃Suspensors；〃　Siona　agreed。　〃I've　seen　them。〃
　〃My　great…grandfather　said　they　came　along　the　Royal　Road；　a　great　troop　of　them。　The　God　Emperor　glided　down　to　our　village　square　on　his　device。　The　others　came　down　on　ropes。〃
　Idaho　spoke　thoughtfully：　〃Ropes。〃
　〃Why　did　they　e？〃　Siona　asked。
　〃To　affirm　that　the　God　Emperor　had　not　forgotten　his　Fremen；　so　my　great…grandfather　said。　It　was　a　great　honor；　but　not　as　great　as　this　wedding。〃
　Idaho　arose　while　Garun　was　still　talking。　There　was　a　clear　view　of　the　high　Wall　from　nearby…straight　down　the　central　street；　a　view　from　the　base　in　the　sand　to　the　top　in　the　sunlight。　Idaho　strode　to　the　corner　of　the　guest　house　out　into　the　central　street。　He　stopped　there；　turned　and　looked　at　the　Wall。　The　first　look　told　why　everyone　said　it　was　not　possible　to　climb　that　face。　Even　then；　he　resisted　thinking　about　a　measurement　of　the　height。　It　could　be　five　hundred　meters　or　five　thousand。　The　important　thing　lay　in　what　a　more　careful　study　revealed　tiny　transverse　cracks；　broken　places；　even　a　narrow　ledge　about　twenty　meters　above　the　drifting　sand　at　the　bottom。。。and　another　ledge　about　two…thirds　of　the　way　up　the　face。
　He　knew　that　an　unconscious　part　of　him；　an　ancient　and　dependable　part；　was　making　the　necessary　measurements；　scaling　them　to　his　own　body…so　many　Duncan…lengths　to　that　place；　a　handgrip　here；　another　there。　His　own　hands。　He　could　already　feel　himself　climbing。
　Siona's　voice　came　from　near　his　right　shoulder　as　he　stood　in　that　first　examination。　〃Wha