fh.godemperorofdune-第8章

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　〃It　happened；〃　he　muttered。
　〃Lord？〃
　Leto　opened　his　eyes。　〃I　will　go　to　my　tower；〃　he　said。　〃I　must　have　more　time　to　mourn　my　Duncan。〃
　〃The　new　one　is　already　on　his　way　here；〃　Moneo　said。
　You；　the　first　person　to　encounter　my　chronicles　for　at　least　four　thousand　years；　beware。　Do　not　feel　honored　by　your　primacy　in　reading　the　revelations　of　my　Ixian　storehouse。　You　will　find　much　pain　in　it。　Other　than　the　few　glimpses　required　to　assure　me　that　the　Golden　Path　continued。　I　never　wanted　to　peer　beyond　those　four　millennia。　Therefore；　I　am　not　sure　what　the　events　in　my　journals　may　signify　to　your　times。　I　only　know　that　my　journals　have　suffered　oblivion　and　that　the　events　which　I　recount　have　undoubtedly　been　submitted　to　historical　distortion　for　eons。　I　assure　you　that　the　ability　to　view　our　futures　can　bee　a　bore。　Even　to　be　thought　of　as　a　god；　as　I　certainly　was；　can　bee　ultimately　boring。　It　has　occurred　to　me　more　than　once　that　holy　boredom　is　good　and　sufficient　reason　for　the　invention　of　free　will。
　…Inscription　on　the　storehouse　at　bar…es…Balat
　I　am　Duncan　Idaho。
　That　was　about　all　he　wanted　to　know　for　sure。　He　did　not　like　the　Tleilaxu　explanations；　their　stories。　But　then　the　Tleilaxu　had　always　been　feared。　Disbelieved　and　feared。
　They　had　brought　him　down　to　the　planet　on　a　small　Guild　shuttle；　arriving　at　the　dusk　line　with　a　green　glimmer　of　sun　corona　along　the　horizon　as　they　dipped　into　the　shadow。　The　spaceport　had　not　looked　at　all　like　anything　he　remembered。
　It　was　larger　and　with　a　ring　of　strange　buildings。
　〃Are　you　sure　this　is　Dune'？〃　he　had　asked。
　〃Arrakis；〃　his　Tleilaxu　escort　had　corrected　him。
　They　had　sped　him　in　a　sealed　groundcar　to　this　building　somewhere　within　a　city　they　called　Onn；　giving　the　〃n〃　sound　a　strange　rising　nasal　inflection。　The　room　in　which　they　left　him　was　about　three　meters　square；　a　cube　really。　There　was　no　sign　of　glowglobes；　but　the　place　was　filled　with　warm　yellow　light。
　I　am　a　ghola；　he　told　himself。
　That　had　been　a　shock；　but　he　had　to　believe　it。　To　find　himself　living　when　he　knew　he　had　died；　that　was　proof　enough。　The　Tleilaxu　had　taken　cells　from　his　dead　flesh　and　they　had　grown　a　bud　in　one　of　their　axlotl　tanks。　That　bud　had　bee　this　body　in　a　process　which　had　made　him　feel　at　first　an　alien　in　his　own　flesh。
　He　looked　down　at　the　body。　It　was　clothed　in　dark　brown　trousers　and　jacket　of　a　coarse　weave　which　irritated　his　skin。　Sandals　protected　his　feet。　Except　for　the　body；　that　was　all　they　had　given　him；　a　parsimony　which　said　something　about　the　real　Tleilaxu　character。
　There　was　no　furniture　in　the　room。　They　had　let　him　in　through　a　single　door　which　had　no　handle　on　the　inside。　He　looked　up　at　the　ceiling　and　around　at　the　walls；　at　the　door。　Despite　the　featureless　character　of　the　place；　he　felt　that　he　was　being　watched。
　〃Women　of　the　Imperial　Guard　will　e　for　you；〃　they　had　said。　Then　they　had　gone　away；　smiling　slyly　among　themselves。
　Women　of　the　Imperial　Guard？
　The　Tleilaxu　escort　had　taken　sadistic　delight　in　exposing　their　shapechanging　abilities。　He　had　not　known　from　one　minute　to　the　next　what　new　form　the　plastic　flow　of　their　flesh　would　present。
　Damned　Face　Dancers！
　They　had　known　all　about　him；　of　course；　had　known　how　much　the　Shape　Changers　disgusted　him。
　What　could　he　trust　if　it　came　from　Face　Dancers'？　Very　little。　Could　anything　they　said　be　believed？
　My　name。　I　know　my　name。
　And　he　had　his　memories。　They　had　shocked　the　identity　back　into　him。　Gholas　were　supposed　to　be　incapable　of　recovering　the　original　identity。　But　the　Tleilaxu　had　done　it　and　he　was　forced　to　believe　because　he　understood　how　it　had　been　done。
　In　the　beginning；　he　knew；　there　had　been　the　fully　formed　ghola；　adult　flesh　without　name　or　memories…a　palimpsest　upon　which　the　Tleilaxu　could　write　almost　anything　they　wished。
　〃You　are　Ghola；〃　they　had　said。　That　had　been　his　only　name　for　a　long　time。　Ghola　had　been　taken　like　a　malleable　infant　and　conditioned　to　kill　a　particular　man…a　man　so　like　the　original　Paul　Muad'Dib　he　had　served　and　adored　that　Idaho　now　suspected　it　might　have　been　another　ghola。　But　if　that　were　true；　where　had　they　obtained　the　original　cells？
　Something　in　the　Idaho　cells　had　rebelled　at　killing　an　Atreides。　He　had　found　himself　standing　with　a　knife　in　one　hand；　the　bound　form　of　the　pseudo…Paul　staring　up　at　him　in　angry　terror。
　Memories　had　gushered　into　his　awareness。　He　remembered　Ghola　and　he　remembered　Duncan　Idaho。
　　am　Duncan　Idaho；　swordmaster　of　the　Atreides。
　He　clung　to　this　memory　as　he　stood　in　the　yellow　room。
　I　died　defending　Paul　and　his　mother　in　a　cave…sietch　beneath　the　sands　of　Dune。　I　have　been　returned　to　that　planet；　but　Dune　is　no　more。　Now　it　is　only　Arrakis。
　He　had　read　the　truncated　history　which　the　Tleilaxu　provided；　but　he　did　not　believe　it。　More　than　thirty…five　hundred　years？　Who　could　believe　his　flesh　existed　after　such　a　time？　Except。。。with　Tleilaxu　it　was　possible。　He　had　to　believe　his　own　senses。
　〃There　have　been　many　of　you；〃　his　instructors　had　said。
　〃How　many？〃
　〃The　Lord　Leto　will　provide　that　information。〃
　The　Lord　Leto？
　The　Tleilaxu　history　said　this　Lord　Leto　was　Leto　II；　grandson　of　the　Leto　whom　Idaho　had　served　with　fanatical　devotion。　But　this　second　Leto　（so　the　history　said）　had　bee　something。。。something　so　strange　that　Idaho　despaired　of　understanding　the　transformation。
　How　could　a　human　slowly　turn　into　a　sandworm？　How　could　any　thinking　creature　live　more　than　three　thousand　years？　Not　even　the　wildest　projections　of　geriatric　spice　allowed　such　a　lifespan。
　Leto　II；　the　God　Emperor？
　The　Tleilaxu　history　was　not　to　be　believed！
　Idaho　remembered　a　strange　child…twins；　really：　Leto　and　Ghanima；　Paul's　children；　the　children　of　Chani；　who　had　died　delivering　them。　The　Tleilaxu　history　said　Ghanima　had　died　after　a　relatively　normal　life；　but　the　God　Emperor　Leto　lived　on　and　on　and　on　。。。。
　〃He　is　a　tyrant；〃　Idaho's　instructors　had　said。　〃He　has　ordered　us　to　produce　you　from　our　axlotl　tanks　and　to　send　you　into　his　service。　We　do　not　know　what　has　happened　to　your　predecessor。〃
　And　here　I　am。
　Once　more；　Idaho　let　his　gaze　wander　around　the　featureless　walls　and　ceiling。
　The　faint　sound　of　voices　intruded　upon　his　awareness。　He　looked　at　the　door。　The　voices　were　muted；　but　at　least　one　of　them　sounded　female。
　Women　of　the　Imperial　Guard？
　The　door　swung　inward　on　noiseless　hinges。　Two　women　entered。　The　first　thing　to　catch　his　attention　was　the　fact　that　one　of　the　women　wore　a　mask；　a　cibus　hood　of　shapeless；　light…drinking　black。　She　would　see　him　clearly　through　the　hood；　he　knew；　but　her　features　would　never　reveal　themselves；　not　even　to　the　most　subtle　instruments　of　penetration。　The　hood　said　that　the　Ixians　or　their　inheritors　were　still　at　work　in　the　Imperium。　Both　women　wore　one…piece　uniforms　of　rich　blue　with　the　Atreides　hawk　in　red　braid　at　the　left　breast。
　Idaho　studied　them　as　they　closed　the　door　and　faced　him。
　The　masked　woman　had　a　blocky；　powerful　body。　She　moved　with　the　deceptive　care　of　a　professional　muscle　fanatic。　The　other　woman　was　graceful　and　slender　with　almond　eyes　in　sharp；　high…boned　features。　Idaho　had　the　feeling　that　he　had　seen　her　somewhere；　but　he　could　not　fix　the　memory。　Both　women　carried　needle　knives　in　hip　sheaths。　Something　about　their　movements　told　Idaho　these　women　would　be　extremely　petent　with　such　weapons。
　The　slender　one　spoke　first。
　〃My　name　is　Luli。　Let　me　be　the　first　to　address　you　as　mander。　My　panion　must　remain　anonymous。　Our　Lord　Leto　has　manded　it。　You　may　address　her　as　Friend。〃
　〃mander？〃　he　asked。
　〃It　is　the　Lord　Leto's　wish　that　you　mand　his　Royal　Guard；〃　Luli　said。
　〃That　so？　Let's　go　talk　to　him　about　it。〃
　〃Oh；　no！〃　Luli　was　visibly　shocked。　〃The　Lord　Leto　will　summon　you　when　it　is　time。　For　now；　he　wishes　us　to　make　you　fortable　and　happy。〃
　〃And　I　must　obey？〃
　Luli　merely　shook　her　head　in　puzzlement。
　〃Am　I　a　slave？〃
　Luli　relaxed　and　smiled。　〃By　no　means。　It's　just。　that　the　Lord　Leto　has　many　great　concerns　which　require　his　personal　attention。　He　must　make　time　for　you。　He　sent　us　because　he　was　concerned　about　his　Duncan　Idaho。　You　have　been　a　long　time　in　the　hands　of　the　dirty　Tleilaxu。〃
　Dirty　Tleilaxu；　Idaho　thought。
　That；　at　least；　had　not　changed。
　He　was　concerned；　though；　by　a　particular　reference　in　Luli's　explanation。
　〃His　Duncan　Idaho？〃
　〃Are　you　not　an　Atreides　warrior？〃　Luli　asked。
　She　had　him　there。　Idaho　nodded；　turning　his　head　slightly　to　stare　at　the　enigmatic　masked　woman。
　〃Why　are　you　masked？〃
　〃It　must　not　be　known　that　I　serve　the　Lord　Leto；〃　she　said。　Her　voice　was　a　pleasant　contralto；　but　Idaho　suspected　that　this；　too；　was　masked　by　the　cibus　hood。
　〃Then　why　are　you　here？〃
　〃The　Lord　Leto　trusts　me　to　determine　if　you　have　been　tampered　with　by　the　dirty　Tleilaxu。〃
　Idaho　tried　to　swallow　in　a　suddenly　dry　throat。　This　thought　had　occurred　to　him　several　times　aboard　the　Guild　transport。　If　the　Tleilaxu　could　condition　a　ghola　to　attempt　the　murder　of　a　dear　friend；　what　else　might　they　plant　in　the　psyche　of　the　regrown　flesh？
　〃I　see　that　you　have　thought　about　this；〃　the　masked　woman　said。
　〃Are　you　a　mentat？〃　Idaho　asked。
　〃Oh；　no！〃　Luli　interrupted。　〃The　Lord　Leto　does　not　permit　the　training　of　mentats。〃
　Idaho　glanced　at　Luli；　then　returned　his　attention　to　the　masked　woman。　No　mentats。　The　Tleilaxu　history　had　not　mentioned　that　interesting　fact。　Why　would　Leto　prohibit　mentats？　Surely；　the　human　mind　trained　in　the　super　abilities　of　putation　still　had　its　uses。　The　Tleilaxu　had　assured　him　that　the　Great　Convention　remained　in　force　and　that　mechanical　puters　were　still　anathema。　Surely；　these　women　would　know　that　the　Atreides　themselves　had　used　mentats。
　〃What　is　your　opinion？〃　the　masked　woman　asked。　〃Have　the　dirty　Tleilaxu　tampered　with　your　psyche？〃
　〃I　don't。。。think　so。〃
　〃But　you　are　not　certain？〃
　。。No。〃
　〃Do　not　fear；　mander　Idaho；〃　she　said。　〃We　have　ways　of　making　sure　and　ways　of　dealing　with　such　problems　should　they　arise。　The　dirty　Tleilaxu　have　tried　it　only　once　and　they　paid　dearly　for　their　mistake。〃
　〃That's　reassuring。　Did　the　Lord　Leto　send　me　any　messages？〃
　Luli　spoke　up：　〃He　told　us　to　assure　you　that　he　still　loves　you　as　the　Atreides　have　always　loved　you。〃　She　was　obviously　awed　by　her　own　words。
　Idaho　relaxed　slightly。　As　an　old　Atreides　hand；　superbly　trained　by　them；　he　had　found　it　easy　to　determine　several　things　from　this　encounter。　These　two　had　been　heavily　conditioned　to　a　fanatic　obedience。　If　a　cibus　mask　could　hide　the　identity　of　that　woman；　there　had　to　be　many　more　whose　bodies　were　very　similar。　All　of　this　spoke　of　dangers　around　Leto　which　still　required　the　old　and　subtle　services　of　spies　and　an　imaginative　arsenal　of　weapons。
　Luli　looked　at　her　panion。　〃What　say　you；　Friend？〃
　〃He　may　be　brought　to　the　Citadel；〃　the　masked　woman　said。　〃This　is　not　a　good　place。　Tleilaxu　have　been　here。〃
　〃A　warm　bath　and　change　of　clothing　would　be　pleasant；〃　Idaho　said。
　Luli　continued　to　look　at　her　Friend。　〃