bh.houseatreides-第26章
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ly a million or so。〃
〃A million； a billion； what's the difference； hmmmm？ My point is； if melange is a substance found in the universe； we should find it in more than one place。 You know about the Planetologist your father sent to Arrakis？〃
〃Of course； Pardot Kynes。 We expect another report from him at any moment。 It's been a few weeks since the last one。〃 He raised his head in pride。 〃I've made a point to read them whenever they arrive。〃
From the curtained side room； they heard gasping and giggling； heavy furniture sliding aside； something overturning with a thump。 Shaddam allowed himself a thin smile。 The concubine was well trained； indeed。
Fenring rolled his large eyes； then turned back to the teaching machine。 〃Pay attention； Shaddam。 Spice is vital； and yet all production is controlled by a single House on a single world。 The threat of a bottleneck is enormous； even with Imperial oversight and pressure from CHOAM。 For the stability of the Imperium； we need a better source of melange。 We should create it synthetically if we have to。 We need an alternative。〃 He turned to the Crown Prince； his dark eyes glittering。 〃One that's in our control。〃
Shaddam enjoyed discussions like this much more than the tutor's programmed learning routines。 〃Ah； yes！ An alternative to melange would shift the entire balance of power in the Imperium； wouldn't it？〃
〃Exactly！ As it is； CHOAM； the Guild； the Bene Gesserit； the Mentats； the Landsraad； even House Corrino； all fight over the spice production and distribution from a single planet。 But if there was an alternative； one solely in the hands of the Imperial House； your family would bee true Emperors； not just puppets under the control of other political forces。〃
〃We are not puppets；〃 Shaddam snapped。 〃Not even my doddering father。〃 He flicked a nervous glance at the ceiling； as if eyes might be hidden there； though Fenring had already run thorough scans for observational apparatus。 〃Uh； long may he live。〃
〃As you say； my Prince；〃 Fenring said without conceding a millimeter。 〃But if we put the wheels in motion now； then you will reap those benefits when the throne is yours。〃 He fiddled with the teaching machine。 〃Watch； and learn！〃 he said in a creaking falsetto imitation of Elrood's ponderous pronouncements。 Shaddam chuckled at the sarcasm。
The machine displayed scenes of Ixian industrial acplishments； all the new inventions and modifications that had been made during a profitable rule by House Vernius。 〃Why do you think it is the Ixians can't use their technology to find a spice alternative？〃 Fenring asked。 〃They've been instructed time and again to analyze the spice and develop another option for us； yet they play with their navigation machines and their silly timepieces。 Who needs to tell the exact hour on any planet of the Imperium？ How are those pursuits more important than the spice itself？ House Vernius is an utter failure； as far as you are concerned。〃
〃This tutoring machine is Ixian。 The annoying new Heighliner design is Ixian。 So's your high…performance groundcar and。。。〃
〃Off the point；〃 Fenring said。 〃I don't believe House Vernius invests any of its technological resources in solving the alternative…spice problem。 It is not a high priority for them。〃
〃Then my father should give them firmer guidance。〃 Shaddam clasped his hands behind his back and tried to look Imperial； flushed with forced indignation。 〃When I'm Emperor； I'll be certain people understand their priorities。 Ah； yes； I will personally direct what is most important to the Imperium and to House Corrino。〃
Fenring circled the teaching machine like a prowling Laza tiger。 He plucked a sugared date from a fruit tray unobtrusively displayed on a side table。 〃Old Elrood made similar pronouncements a long time ago； yet so far he hasn't followed through on any of them。〃 He waved his long…fingered hand。 〃Oh； in the beginning he asked the Ixians to look into the matter。 He also offered a large bounty for any explorer who found even melange precursors on uncharted planets。〃 He popped the date into his mouth； licked his sticky fingers； and swallowed the smooth； sweet fruit。 〃Still nothing。〃
〃Then my father should increase the reward；〃 Shaddam said。 〃He's not trying hard enough。〃
Fenring studied his neatly clipped nails； then raised his overlarge eyes to meet Shaddam's。 〃Or could it be that old Elrood IX isn't willing to consider all the necessary alternatives？〃
〃He's inpetent； but not entirely stupid。 Why would he do that？〃
〃Suppose someone were to suggest using。。。the Bene Tleilax； for example？ As the only possible solution？〃 Fenring leaned against a stone pillar to observe Shaddam's reaction。
A ripple of disgust crossed the Crown Prince's face。 〃The filthy Tleilaxu！ Why would anyone want to work with them？〃
〃Because they might provide the answer we seek。〃
〃You must be joking。 Who can trust anything the Tleilaxu say？〃 He pictured the gray…skinned race； their oily hair and dwarfish stature； their beady eyes； pug noses； and sharp teeth。 They kept to themselves； isolating their core planets； intentionally digging a societal ditch in which they could wallow。
The Bene Tleilax were； however； true genetic wizards； willing to use unorthodox and socially heinous methods； dealing in live or dead flesh； in biological waste。 With their mysterious yet powerful axlotl tanks they could grow clones from live cells and gholas from dead ones。 The Tleilaxu had a slippery； shifty aura about them。 How can anyone take them seriously？
〃Think about it； Shaddam。 Are the Tleilaxu not masters of organic chemistry and cellular mechanics； hm…m…m…m…ah？〃 Fenring sniffed。 〃Through my own web of spies I've learned that the Bene Tleilax； despite the distaste with which we view them； have developed a new technique。 I have certain。。。technical skills myself； you know； and I believe this Tleilaxu technique could be applicable to the production of artificial melange。。。our own source。〃 He fixed his bright birdlike eyes on Shaddam's。 〃Or are you unwilling to consider all alternatives； and let your father maintain control？〃
Shaddam squirmed； hesitating to answer。 He would much rather have been playing a game of shield…ball。 He didn't like to think of the gnomelike men； religious fanatics； the Bene Tleilax were intensely secretive and did not invite guests。 Heedless of how other worlds regarded them； they sent their representatives out to observe and to make deals at the highest levels for unique bioengineered products。 Rumor held that no outsider had ever seen a Tleilaxu woman。 Never。 He thought they must be either wildly beautiful。。。or incredibly ugly。
Seeing the Crown Prince shudder； Fenring pointed a finger at him。 〃Shaddam； don't fall into the same trap as your father。 As your friend and advisor； I must investigate unseen opportunities； hm…m…m…m…ah？ Put aside such feelings and consider the possible victory if this works a victory over the Landsraad； the Guild； CHOAM； and the scheming House Harkonnen。 How amusing to think that all the strings the Harkonnens pulled to gain Arrakis after the downfall of Richese would be for naught。〃
His voice became softer； infinitely reasonable。 〃What difference does it make if we have to deal with the Tleilaxu？ So long as House Corrino breaks the spice monopoly and establishes an independent source？〃
Shaddam looked at him； turning his back on the teaching machine。 〃You're sure about this？〃
〃No； I'm not sure；〃 Fenring snapped。 〃No one can be sure until it is done。 But we must at least consider the idea； give it a chance。 If we don't； somebody else will。。。eventually。 Maybe even the Bene Tleilax themselves。 We need to do this for our own survival。〃
〃What will happen when my father hears about it？〃 Shaddam asked。 〃He won't like the idea。〃
Old Elrood never could think for himself； and Fenring's chaumurky had already begun to fossilize his brain。 The Emperor had always been a pathetic pawn； shifted around by political forces。 Perhaps the senile vulture had made a deal with House Harkonnen to keep them in control of the spice production。 It wouldn't surprise Shaddam if the young and powerful Baron had old Elrood wrapped around his little finger。 House Harkonnen was fabulously wealthy； and their means of influence were legion。
It would be good to bring them to their knees。
Fenring put his hands on his hips。 〃I can make all of this happen； Shaddam。 I have contacts。 I can bring a Bene Tleilax representative here without anybody knowing。 He can state our case before the Imperial Court and then if your father turns him down； we might be able to find out who's controlling the throne。。。the trail would be fresh。 Hmmm…ahh； shall I set it up？〃
The Crown Prince glanced back at the teaching machine that obliviously continued to instruct a nonexistent pupil。 〃Yes； yes； of course；〃 he said impatiently； now that he had e to a decision。 〃Let's not waste more time。 And stop making that noise。〃
〃It'll take a while for me to get all the pieces in place； but the investment will be worth it。〃
From the next room came a high…pitched moan； then a thin squeal of ecstasy built higher and higher until it seemed that the walls themselves must crumble。
〃Our tutor must have learned how to pleasure his little pet；〃 Shaddam said with a scowl。 〃Or perhaps she's just faking。〃
Fenring laughed and shook his head。 〃That wasn't her； my friend。 That was his voice。〃
〃I wish I knew what they were doing in there；〃 Shaddam said。
〃Don't worry。 It's all being recorded for your later enjoyment。 If our beloved tutor cooperates with us and causes no trouble； we'll simply watch it for amusement。 If； however； he proves difficult； we'll wait until after your father's been given this concubine for his own private toy then we'll show Emperor Elrood a glimpse of those images。〃
〃And we'll have what we want anyway；〃 Shaddam said。
〃Exactly； my Prince。〃
The working Planetologist has access to many resources； data； and projections。 However； his most important tools are human beings。 Only by cultivating ecological literacy among the people themselves can he save an entire planet。
…PARDOT KYNES； The Case for Bela Tegeuse
As he gathered notes for his next report to the Emperor； Pardot Kynes encountered increasing evidence of subtle ecological manipulations。 He suspected the Fremen。 Who else could be responsible out there in the wastelands of Arrakis？
It became clear to him that the desert people must be present in far greater numbers than the Harkonnen stewards imagined and that the Fremen had a dream of their own。。。but the Planetologist in him wondered if they had developed an actual plan to acplish it。
While delving into the geological and ecological enigmas of this desert world； Kynes came to believe that he had the power at his fingertips to breathe life into these sunblistered sands。 Arrakis was not merely the dead lump it appeared to be on the surface； instead； it was a seed capable of magnificent growth。。。provided the environment received the proper care。
The Harkonnens certainly wouldn't expend the effort。 Though they had been planetary governors here for decades； the Baron and his capricious crew behaved as if they were unruly houseguests with no long…term investment in Arrakis
