bh.houseatreides-第106章

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　Such　possessions　would　increase　her　husband's　standing　in　Arrakeen；　where　they　would　set　up　a　private　residence；　many　kilometers　from　the　Harkonnen　seat　of　power　in　Carthag。　This　show　of　independence　and　luxury　would　emphasize　to　the　Harkonnen　governors　and　their　functionaries　the　power　of　Shaddam　and　his　omnipresent　watchful　eyes。
　Smiling；　Fenring　watched　Margot　go　about　her　finishing　tasks。　She　was　a　flow　of　bright　colors　and　lovely　honey…blonde　hair；　encouraging　smiles；　and　sharp　words　for　anyone　who　moved　too　slowly。　What　a　magnificent　woman！　He　and　his　new　bride　kept　such　fascinating　secrets　from　each　other；　and　the　process　of　mutual　discovery　was　proving　most　enjoyable。
　By　nightfall　they　would　be　dispatched　to　the　desert　planet；　which　the　natives　called　Dune。
　LATER　IN　THE　day；　during　a　relaxed　hour　in　which　neither　the　Emperor　nor　his　lifelong　friend　would　utter　the　apologies　that　needed　to　be　said；　Fenring　sat　at　the　shield…ball　console；　waiting　for　Padishah　Emperor　Shaddam　IV　to　make　the　next　move。　They　sat　alone　in　a　plaz…walled　retiring　room　at　the　top　of　one　of　the　Palace　pinnacles。　Flitter…thopters　buzzed　by　in　the　distance；　higher　than　ribbon…festooned　kites　and　gleam…bubbles。
　Fenring　hummed　to　himself；　though　he　knew　Shaddam　hated　the　mannerism。　Finally；　the　new　Emperor　slid　a　rod　through　the　shimmering　shield　at　precisely　the　correct　speed　　not　too　fast　and　not　too　slow。　The　aimed　rod　engaged　a　spinning　interior　disk；　causing　the　black　ball　in　the　center　of　the　globe　to　float　into　the　air。　Focusing　hard；　Shaddam　yanked　the　rod　free；　and　the　ball　plunked　into　the　number　〃9〃　receptacle。
　〃You've　been　practicing；　Sire；　hm…m…m…m？〃　Fenring　said。　〃Doesn't　an　Emperor　have　more　pressing　duties？　But　you'll　need　to　do　better　than　that　to　beat　me。〃
　The　Emperor　stared　at　the　rod　he　had　just　used；　as　if　it　had　failed　him。
　〃You　want　to　change　sticks；　Sire？〃　Fenring　offered；　in　a　taunting　tone。　〃Something　wrong　with　that　one？〃
　Shaddam　shook　his　head　stubbornly。　〃I'll　stay　with　this　one；　Hasimir　　this　will　be　our　last　game　for　some　time。〃　He　drew　a　deep　breath；　flaring　his　nostrils。　〃I　told　you　I　could　handle　things　on　my　own。〃　He　fumbled　a　bit。　〃But　that　doesn't　mean　I　no　longer　value　your　advice。〃
　〃Naturally；　Sire。　That's　why　you　sent　me　to　a　dust　pit　populated　by　sandworms　and　unwashed　barbarians。〃　Dispassionately；　he　stared　past　the　shield…ball　at　Shaddam。　〃I　think　it's　a　grave　mistake；　Highness。　In　these　first　days　of　your　rule；　you　will　require　good；　objective　counsel　more　than　ever　before。　You　can't　handle　it　alone；　and　whom　can　you　trust　more　than　me？〃
　〃Well；　I　handled　the　Leto　Atreides　crisis　rather　well。　I　alone　avoided　disaster。〃
　Delaying　his　turn　at　the　shield…ball　station；　Fenring　said；　〃I　agree　the　result　was　favorable　　but　we　still　haven't　learned　what　he　knows　about　us　and　the　Tleilaxu。〃
　〃I　didn't　want　to　appear　overly　worried。〃
　〃Um…m…ah…m…m。　Maybe　you're　right；　but　if　you　solved　the　problem；　then　tell　me　this：　If　not　Leto；　who　really　did　fire　on　the　Tleilaxu　ships？　And　how？〃
　〃I'm　considering　alternatives。〃
　Fenring's　overlarge　eyes　flashed。　〃Leto　is　incredibly　popular　now；　perhaps　even　a　threat　to　your　throne　one　day。　Whether　he　engineered　the　crisis　or　not；　Duke　Atreides　has　turned　it　into　an　undeniable　victory　for　himself　and　the　honor　of　his　House。　He　overcame　an　insurmountable　obstacle　and　behaved　with　marvelous　grace。　The　members　of　the　Landsraad　notice　things　like　that。〃
　〃Ah　yes；　true；　true。。。but　nothing　to　worry　about。〃
　〃I'm　not　so　certain；　Sire。　The　discontent　among　the　Houses　might　not　have　dissipated　entirely；　as　we　were　led　to　believe。〃
　〃We　do　have　the　Bene　Gesserit　on　our　side；　thanks　to　my　wife。〃
　Fenring　sniffed。　〃Whom　you　married　at　my　suggestion；　Sire　　but　just　because　the　witches　say　a　thing；　does　not　make　it　true。　And　what　if　the　alliance　isn't　sufficient？〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Shaddam　slid　back　from　the　game　station　and　impatiently　motioned　for　Fenring　to　take　his　turn。
　〃Think　about　Duke　Leto；　how　unpredictable　he　is。　Maybe　he's　setting　up　secret　military　alliances　for　an　assault　on　Kaitain。　His　tremendous　acclaim　translates　into　bargaining　power　for　him；　and　he's　obviously　ambitious。　Leaders　of　Great　Houses　are　eager　to　talk　with　him　now。　You；　on　the　other　hand；　have　no　such　popular　basis　of　support。〃
　〃I　have　my　Sardaukar。〃　But　creases　of　doubt　crept　into　the　Emperor's　face。
　〃Watch　your　legions　to　make　certain　they　aren't　infiltrated。　I'm　going　to　be　away　on　Arrakis；　and　I　worry　about　such　things。　I　know　you　said　you　could　handle　it　all　yourself；　and　I　believe　you。　I'm　just　giving　you　my　best　advice　　as　I　always　have；　Sire。〃
　〃I　appreciate　that；　Hasimir。　But　I　cannot　believe　my　cousin　Leto　created　the　Heighliner　crisis　in　order　to　achieve　this　particular　end。　It　was　too　clumsy；　too　risky。　He　couldn't　have　known　I'd　testify　for　him。〃
　〃He　knew　you'd　do　something；　once　you　learned　he　had　secret　information。〃
　Shaddam　shook　his　head。　〃No。　The　potential　for　failure　was　enormous。　He　nearly　lost　his　family's　entire　holdings。〃
　Fenring　held　out　a　long　finger。　〃But　consider　the　potential　glory　he　reaped；　hm…m…m…m？　For　proof；　just　look　at　what　has　happened　to　him　in　the　meantime。　I　doubt　he　could　have　planned　it　this　way；　but　Leto's　a　hero　now。　His　people　love　him；　all　the　nobles　admire　him　　and　the　Tleilaxu　have　been　made　to　look　like　whining　fools。　I'd　suggest；　Sire　　since　you　insist　on　doing　this　alone　　that　you　keep　a　careful　eye　on　the　ambitions　of　House　Atreides。〃
　〃Thank　you　for　your　advice；　Hasimir；〃　Shaddam　said；　turning　back　to　study　the　game　console。　〃Oh；　by　the　way；　did　I　mention　that　I'm。。。promoting　you？〃
　Fenring　gave　a　quiet　snort。　〃I　wouldn't　exactly　call　the　Arrakis　assignment　a　promotion。　'Imperial　Observer'　doesn't　sound　terribly　exalted；　does　it？〃
　Shaddam　smiled　and　raised　his　chin　in　a　very　Imperial　gesture。　He　had　intended　to　do　this　all　along。　〃Ah；　yes。。。but　how　does　Count　Fenring　sound？〃
　Fenring　was　taken　aback。　〃You're。。。making　me　a　Count？〃
　Shaddam　nodded。　〃Count　Hasimir　Fenring；　Imperial　Observer　assigned　to　Arrakis。　Your　family　fortunes　are　improving；　my　friend。　Eventually；　we'll　see　about　establishing　you　in　the　Landsraad。〃
　〃With　a　CHOAM　directorship；　as　well？〃
　Shaddam　laughed。　〃All　in　good　time；　Hasimir。〃
　〃That　makes　Margot　a　Countess；　I　presume？〃　His　large　eyes　glittered　as　Shaddam　nodded　to　him。　He　tried　to　hold　his　pleasure　inside；　but　the　Emperor　could　see　it　clearly　on　his　face。
　〃And　now　I'll　tell　you　why　this　is　such　a　critically　important　assignment；　for　you　and　for　the　Imperium。　Do　you　remember　a　man　named　Pardot　Kynes　　the　Planetologist　my　father　stationed　there　several　years　ago？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃Well；　he　hasn't　been　much　help　lately。　A　few　erratic　reports；　inplete　and　seemingly　censored。　One　of　my　spies　even　sent　word　that　Kynes　has　grown　too　close　to　the　Fremen；　that　he　may　have　crossed　the　line　and　bee　one　of　them。　Gone　native。〃
　Fenring's　eyebrows　arched。　〃An　Imperial　servant　mixing　with　that　nasty；　primitive　brood？〃
　〃I　hope　not；　but　I'd　like　you　to　uncover　the　truth。　In　essence；　I'm　making　you　my　Imperial　Spice　Czar；　secretly　overseeing　the　melange　operations　on　Arrakis　as　well　as　the　progress　of　our　synthetic…spice　experiments　on　Xuttah。　You'll　shuttle　back　and　forth　between　those　planets　and　the　Imperial　Palace。　You　will　transmit　only　coded　messages；　and　only　to　me。〃
　As　the　magnitude　of　the　task　and　its　repercussions　sank　in；　Fenring　felt　a　renewed　fervor　that　burned　away　his　discontent。　Yes；　he　did　see　the　possibilities　now。　He　couldn't　wait　to　tell　Margot　　with　her　Bene　Gesserit　mind；　she　would　no　doubt　see　additional　advantages。
　〃That　sounds　provocative；　Sire。　A　challenge　worthy　of　my　particular　talents。　Um…m…m…m；　I　might　actually　enjoy　it。〃
　Turning　back　to　the　game；　Fenring　engaged　the　spinning　interior　disk　and　guided　the　floating　shield…ball。　It　dropped　into　the　number　〃8〃　receptacle。　Dissatisfied；　he　shook　his　head。
　〃Too　bad；〃　Shaddam　said。　With　a　deft　movement　he　dropped　his　final　ball　into　number　〃10；〃　winning　the　game。
　Progress　and　profit　require　a　substantial　investment　in　personnel；　equipment；　and　capital　funding。　However；　the　resource　most　often　overlooked；　yet　which　can　often　provide　the　greatest　payoff；　is　an　investment　in　time。
　…DOMINIC　VERNIUS；
　The　Secret　Workings　of　Ix
　Nothing　left　to　lose。
　Nothing　left　at　all。
　The　renegade　Earl　and　war　hero　once　known　as　Dominic　Vernius　was　dead；　erased　from　records　and　removed　from　the　bosom　of　the　Imperium。　But　the　man　himself　lived　on　in　different　guises。　He　was　a　person　who　would　never　give　up。
　Dominic　had　once　fought　for　the　glory　of　his　Emperor。　In　war；　he　had　killed　thousands　of　enemies　with　fighter　craft　and　handheld　lasguns；　he　had　also　felt　the　blood　of　his　victims　up　close　when　he　used　bladed　weapons；　or　even　his　bare　hands。　He　fought　hard；　worked　hard；　and　loved　hard。
　And　the　payment　for　his　lifetime's　investment　was　dishonor；　banishment；　the　death　of　his　wife；　the　disgrace　of　his　children。
　Despite　all　that；　Dominic　was　a　survivor；　a　man　with　a　purpose。　He　knew　how　to　bide　his　time。
　Though　the　bitter　vulture　Elrood　was　already　dead；　Dominic　felt　no　glimmer　of　forgiveness　within　him。　The　power　of　the　Imperial　throne　itself　had　brought　about　such　abuses　and　such　pain。　Even　the　new　ruler　Shaddam　would　turn　out　no　better。。。。
　He　had　watched　Caladan　from　a　distance。　Rhombur　and　Kailea　seemed　safe　enough；　their　sanctuary　was　holding；　even　without　the　charismatic　presence　of　the　Old　Duke。　He　had　mourned　the　death　of　his　friend　Paulus　Atreides；　but　he　dared　not　attend　the　funeral　or　even　send　coded　messages　to　the　young　heir　Leto。
　He　had；　though；　been　sorely　tempted　to　arrive　on　Kaitain　during　the　Trial　by　Forfeiture。　Rhombur　had　foolishly　left　Caladan　and　e　to　the　Imperial　Court　to　lend　support　to　his　panion；　though　in　doing　so　he　had　risked　capture　and　summary　execution。　If　things　had　gone　wrong；　Dominic　would　have　gone　there　and　sacrificed　himself　to　buy　the　life　of　his　son。
　But　that　had　been　unnecessary。　Leto　had　been　freed；　given　amnesty；　impossibly　forgiven　　and　so；　too；　Rhombur　and　Kailea。　How　had　it　all　e　about？　Dominic's　mind　was　in　a　turmoil　and　his　brow　furrowed　on　his　shaved…smooth　head。　Shaddam　himself　had　saved　young　Leto。　Shaddam　Corrino　IV；　son　of　the　despicable　Emperor　Elrood　who　had　destroyed　House　Vernius；　had　　seemingly　on　a　whim　　dismissed　the　case。　Dominic　suspected　enormous　bribes　and　coercion　had　gone　into　that　resolution；　but　he　couldn't　imagine　what　a　sixteen…year…old　untried　Duke　could　possibly　use　to　blackmail　the　Emperor　of　the　Known　Universe。
　One　risk；　though；　Dominic　decided　he　had　to　take。　Against　good　judgment　but　blinded　by　grief；　he　had　dressed　in　shabby　clothes；　tinted　his　skin　a　ruddy　copper；　and　traveled　alone　to　Bela　Tegeuse。　Before　he　could　go　anywhere　else；　he　felt　pelled　to　see　where　his　wife　had　been　slaughtered　by　Elrood's　Sardaukar。
　Using　air　and　ground　vehicles　he　searched　the　planet　in　silence；　not　daring　to　ask　questions；　though　many　reports　hinted　at　where　the　massacre　had　taken　place。　Finally　he　found　an　unmarked　spot　where　the　crops　had　been　leveled；　plowed　under；　and　then　salted　so　that　nothing　would　ever　g