bh.houseatreides-第34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！


　The　fact　that　he　got　lost　probably　saved　him。　The　suboids　continued　to　block　his　retreat；　attempting　to　intercept　him　in　corridors　that　led　to　the　surface。　But　Leto　didn't　know　where　he　was　going　and　took　blind　turns；　sometimes　hiding　in　empty　alcoves；　until　finally　he　reached　a　small　maintenance　door　that　spilled　out　into　the　dusty　air　under　the　glaring　lights　of　industrial　glowglobes。
　Several　suboids；　seeing　his　silhouette　in　the　doorway；　shouted　from　deep　below；　but　Leto　raced　out　to　an　emergency　lift　tube。　He　swept　his　bioscram　card　through　the　reader　and　gained　access　to　the　upper　levels。
　Shaking　in　the　aftermath　of　a　burned…out　adrenaline　rush；　Leto　couldn't　believe　what　he　had　just　heard　and　didn't　know　what　the　suboids　would　have　done　had　they　caught　him。　He　had　been　astonished　enough　to　see　their　outrage　and　their　reactions。　Intellectually；　he　couldn't　believe　they　would　have　killed　him　　not　the　son　of　Duke　Atreides；　an　honored　guest　of　House　Vernius。　He　had　offered　to　help　them；　after　all。
　But　the　suboids　clearly　held　a　deep　potential　for　violence；　a　frightening　darkness　that　they　had　managed　to　hide　from　their　oblivious　rulers　above。
　Leto　wondered　with　dread　if　perhaps　there　might　be　other　enclaves　of　dissent；　other　groups　with　similarly　charismatic　speakers　who　could　manage　to　tap　into　the　low…level　dissatisfaction　of　the　vast　worker　population。
　As　he　rode　up　in　the　lift　chamber；　Leto　looked　down　and　saw　the　workers　below；　innocently　acting　out　their　roles；　carrying　out　their　daily　routines。　He　knew　he　had　to　report　what　he　had　overheard。　But　would　anyone　believe　him？
　He　realized　with　a　tightness　in　his　stomach　that　he　was　learning　far　more　about　Ix　than　he　had　ever　meant　to　know。
　Hope　can　be　the　greatest　weapon　of　a　downtrodden　people；　or　the　greatest　enemy　of　those　who　are　about　to　fail。　We　must　remain　aware　of　its　advantages　and　its　limitations。
　…LADY　HELENA　ATREIDES；
　her　personal　journals
　After　weeks　of　aimless　journeying；　the　cargo　ship　dropped　out　of　the　orbiting　Heighliner　and　sped　down　toward　the　cloud…swirled　atmosphere　of　Caladan。
　For　Duncan　Idaho；　the　end　of　his　long　ordeal　seemed　at　hand。
　From　his　stowaway　spot　in　the　cluttered　cargo　bay；　Duncan　shifted　a　heavy　box。　Its　metal　corners　grated　across　the　deckplates；　but　he　finally　got　the　burden　out　of　the　way　so　he　could　remove　the　cover　flange　on　a　small　windowport。　Leaning　close　to　the　protective　plaz；　Duncan　stared　down　at　the　ocean…rich　world。　Finally；　he　began　to　believe。
　Caladan。　My　new　home。
　Even　from　high　orbit；　Giedi　Prime　had　looked　dark　and　forbidding；　like　an　infected　sore。　But　Caladan；　home　of　the　legendary　Duke　Atreides　　mortal　enemy　of　the　Harkonnens　　seemed　like　a　sapphire　sparkling　with　a　blaze　of　sunlight。
　After　everything　that　had　happened　to　him；　it　still　seemed　impossible　that　the　surly　and　treacherous　woman　Janess　Milam　had　actually　been　true　to　her　word。　She　had　rescued　him　for　her　own　petty　reasons；　her　own　spiteful　revenge；　but　that　did　not　matter　to　Duncan。　He　was　here。
　IT　HAD　BEEN　worse　than　a　nightmare；　which　he　relived　in　the　brooding　days　as　the　Heighliner　journeyed　from　system　to　system　in　a　roundabout　way　to　Caladan：
　In　the　darkness　of　Forest　Guard　Station；　as　he　had　approached　the　mysterious　flitter　'thopter；　the　woman　had　snatched　Duncan；　gripping　tightly　before　he　could　defend　himself。　The　young　boy　had　reacted　with　fear　and　frantic　struggles；　but　Janess　yanked　his　arm；　breaking　open　the　hardened　newskin　he'd　placed　over　the　deep　cut　in　his　shoulder。
　With　surprising　strength　the　dusky…skinned　woman　hauled　him　inside　the　small　flitter　and　sealed　the　entry　hatch。　Yowling　like　a　wild　animal；　Duncan　thrashed　and　clawed；　trying　to　writhe　away　from　her　grip。　He　pounded　on　the　curved　hatch；　desperate　to　get　out；　to　run　once　again　into　the　night　filled　with　armed　hunters。
　But　instead；　the　flitter's　door　remained　locked。　Panting；　Janess　released　the　boy；　tossed　her　chocolate　hair；　and　glared　at　him。　〃If　you　don't　stop　it　right　now；　Idaho；　I'm　going　to　dump　you　in　the　laps　of　those　Harkonnen　hunters。〃
　Turning　away　from　him　with　disdain；　she　powered　up　the　flitter's　engines。　Duncan　could　feel　an　ominous　hum　travel　through　the　small　craft；　vibrating　through　the　seat　and　floor。　He　crouched　back　against　the　wall。
　〃You've　already　betrayed　me　to　the　Harkonnens！　You　were　the　one　who　made　those　men　take　my　parents　and　murder　them。　You're　the　reason　I　had　to　train　so　hard；　and　why　they're　hunting　me　now。　I　know　what　you　did！〃
　〃Yeah；　well；　things　have　changed。〃　She　raised　a　dusky　hand　in　a　meaningless　gesture；　turning　toward　the　piloting　controls。　〃I'm　not　helping　Harkonnens　anymore；　not　after　what　they　did　to　me。〃
　Indignant；　Duncan　clenched　his　fists　at　his　sides。　Blood　from　the　reopened　wound　seeped　onto　his　tattered　shirt。　〃What　did　they　do　to　you？〃　He　couldn't　imagine　anything　that　even　approached　the　anguish　he　and　his　family　had　endured。
　〃You　wouldn't　understand。　You're　just　a　youngster；　another　one　of　their　pawns。〃　Janess　smiled　as　she　raised　the　flitter　up　off　the　ground。　〃But　through　you；　I　can　get　back　at　them。〃
　Duncan　sneered。　〃Maybe　I'm　just　a　boy；　but　I　spent　all　night　beating　the　Harkonnens　at　their　hunting　game。　I　watched　Rabban　kill　my　mother　and　father。　Who　knows　what　else　they've　done　to　my　uncles；　aunts；　and　cousins？〃
　〃I　doubt　there's　anyone　left　alive　on　Giedi　Prime　with　the　name　of　Idaho　　especially　after　the　embarrassment　you　caused　them　tonight。　Tough　luck。〃
　〃If　they　did　that；　it　was　a　waste　of　effort；〃　he　said；　trying　to　hide　the　pain。　〃I　didn't　know　my　relatives　anyway。〃
　Janess　increased　the　flitter's　speed；　boosting　them　low　across　the　dark　trees　and　away　from　the　wilderness　preserve。　〃Right　now；　I'm　helping　you　get　away　from　the　hunters；　so　just　shut　up　and　be　glad。　You　don't　have　any　other　options。〃
　She　ran　the　craft　without　lights；　keeping　her　engines　masked；　though　Duncan　couldn't　imagine　how　they　could　ever　escape　from　prying　Harkonnen　eyes。　He　had　killed　several　of　the　hunters　　and　worse；　he　had　outwitted　and　humiliated　Rabban。
　Duncan　allowed　himself　the　slightest　satisfied　smile。　ing　forward；　he　slumped　exhausted　into　a　seat　beside　Janess；　who　had　strapped　herself　into　the　pilot's　chair。　〃Why　should　I　trust　you？〃
　〃Did　I　ask　you　to　trust　me？〃　She　flashed　a　dark…eyed　glance　at　him。　〃Just　take　advantage　of　the　situation。〃
　〃Are　you　going　to　tell　me　anything？〃
　Janess　flew　in　silence　for　a　long　moment；　racing　over　the　bunched　treetops　before　she　answered。　〃It's　true。　Yeah；　I　reported　your　parents　to　the　Harkonnens。　I'd　heard　rumors；　knew　your　mother　and　father　had　done　something　to　get　the　officials　angry　　and　the　Harkonnens　don't　like　people　who　make　them　angry。　I　was　looking　out　for　myself　and　saw　an　advantage。　By　turning　them　in；　I　thought　I　might　get　a　reward。　Besides；　your　parents　caused　the　problem　themselves　in　the　first　place。　They　made　the　mistakes。　I　was　just　trying　to　cash　in　on　it。　Nothing　personal。　Somebody　else　would　have　done　it；　if　I　hadn't。〃
　Duncan　scowled；　clenching　his　grimy　hands。　He　wished　he　had　the　nerve　to　use　his　knife　on　this　woman；　but　that　would　cause　the　flitter　to　crash。　She　was　his　only　way　out。　For　now。
　Her　face　contorted　into　an　angry　grimace。　〃But　what　did　the　Harkonnens　give　me　in　return？　A　reward；　a　promotion？　No　　nothing。　A　kick　in　the　teeth。　Not　even　a　'thank　you　very　much。'　〃　A　troubled　look　crossed　her　face；　disappearing　as　quickly　as　a　tiny　cloud　scudding　across　the　sun。　〃It's　not　easy　to　do　something　like　that；　you　know。　You　think　I　enjoyed　it？　But　on　Giedi　Prime　opportunities　arise　rarely　enough；　and　I'd　watched　too　many　of　them　pass　me　by。
　〃This　should　have　really　changed　things　for　me。　But　when　I　approached　them　to　ask　for　the　slightest　bit　of　consideration；　they　threw　me　out　and　ordered　me　not　to　e　back　again。　It　was　all　for　nothing；　and　that　makes　it　even　worse。〃　Her　nostrils　flared。　〃Nobody　does　that　to　Janess　Milam　without　risking　plenty。〃
　〃So　you're　not　doing　this　for　me　at　all；〃　Duncan　said。　〃Not　because　you　feel　guilty　about　what　you　did　and　all　the　pain　you　caused　people。　You　just　want　to　get　even　with　the　Harkonnens。〃
　〃Hey；　kid；　just　take　your　breaks　where　you　can　get　them。〃
　Duncan　rummaged　in　one　of　the　storage　partments　until　he　found　two　fruit…rice　bars　and　a　sealed　bubble　of　juice。　Without　asking；　he　tore　into　the　packets　and　began　stuffing　himself。　The　bars　tasted　only　faintly　of　cinnamon；　a　flavor…enhancer　to　simulate　melange。
　〃You're　wele；〃　Janess　said　sarcastically。
　He　didn't　reply；　chewed　loudly。
　All　night　long　the　flitter　soared　over　the　lowlands　toward　the　forbidding　city　of　Barony。　For　a　moment　Duncan　thought　she　intended　to　dump　him　back　into　prison；　where　he　would　have　to　go　through　everything　all　over　again。　He　slipped　his　hand　into　his　pocket；　felt　the　handle　of　his　dull　knife。　But　Janess　flew　the　unmarked　craft　beyond　the　prison　plex　and　headed　south；　past　a　dozen　cities　and　villages。
　They　had　stopped　for　a　day；　hiding　out　during　the　afternoon；　replenishing　their　supplies　at　a　small　way　station。　Janess　provided　him　with　a　blue　singlesuit；　cleaned　up　his　wound　as　best　she　could；　and　crudely　administered　medical　treatment。　She　tended　him　with　no　special　care；　but　merely　expressed　the　hope　that　he　would　not　draw　attention　to　himself。
　At　dusk　they　set　off　again；　heading　far　south　to　an　independent　spaceport。　Duncan　didn't　know　the　names　of　the　places　they　visited；　nor　did　he　ask。　No　one　had　ever　taught　him　geography。　Whenever　he　bothered　to　venture　a　question；　Janess　invariably　snapped　at　him　or　ignored　him　entirely。
　The　spaceport　plex　carried　a　flavor　of　rough　mercantile　personnel　and　the　Guild　rather　than　the　cumbersome　Harkonnen　style。　It　was　functional　and　efficient；　with　endurance　emphasized　over　luxury　or　eye　appeal。　Corridors　and　rooms　were　large　enough　for　the　movement　of　enclosed　tanks　holding　Guild　Navigators。
　Janess　parked　the　flitter…thopter　where　she　could　easily　retrieve　it；　then　set　her　own　hot…wired　security　systems　before　leaving　the　craft　behind。　〃Follow　me；〃　she　said。　With　young　Duncan　in　tow；　she　marched　out　into　the　bustle　and　chaos　of　the　spaceport。　〃I've　made　some　arrangements。　But　if　you　get　lost　here；　I'm　not　looking　for　you。〃
　Why　shouldn't　I　just　run？　I　don't　trust　you。〃
　I'm　going　to　put　you　on　a　ship　that'll　take　you　away　from　Giedi　Prime；　far　from　the　Harkonnens。〃　She　looked　down　at　him；　goading。　〃Your　choice；　kid。　I　don't　need　any　more　trouble　from　you。〃
　Duncan　clenched　his　teeth　and　followed　her　without　further　ment。
　Janess　tracked　down　a　battered　cargo　craft　swarming　with　workers　who　loaded　scuffed　cases　on　board。　Using　suspensor　pads；　they　dragged　heavy　pallets　into　the　holding　bay　and　stacked　them　haphazardly。
　〃Second　mate　of　this　ship　is　an　old　friend　of　mine；〃　Janess　said。　〃He　owes　me　a　favor。〃
　Duncan　did　not　ask　what　kind　of　people　a　woman　like　Janess　Milam　would　consider　friends。。。or　what　she　had　done　to　earn　herself　such　a　favor。
　〃I'm　not　going　to　pay　a　single　solari　for　your　passage；　Idaho　　your　family　has　already　cost　my　conscience　enough；　ruined　my　standing　with　the　Harkonnen　overlords；　and　got　me　nothing。　But　my　friend　Renno　says　you　can　ride　in　the　hold；　just　as　long