bh.houseatreides-第53章

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　As　Duncan　stared　with　hungry　eyes　at　the　passing　farmers；　one　kindly　old　man　gave　him　a　small；　overripe　paradan　melon；　which　the　boy　ate　voraciously。　Sweet　moisture　dripped　between　his　fingers。　It　was　the　most　delicious　meal　he'd　ever　had。
　Seeing　the　boy's　energy　as　well　as　his　desperation；　the　farmer　asked　him　if　he　would　like　to　return　and　work　in　the　rice　paddies　for　a　few　days。　The　old　fellow　offered　no　pay；　only　a　place　to　sleep　and　some　food。　Duncan　readily　agreed。
　On　the　long　walk　back；　the　boy　told　him　the　story　of　his　battles　with　the　Harkonnens；　how　his　parents　had　been　arrested　and　killed；　how　he　had　been　chosen　for　Rabban's　hunt；　and　how　he　had　eventually　escaped。　〃Now　I　must　present　myself　to　Duke　Atreides；〃　he　said　with　plete　faith。　〃But　I　don't　know　where　he　is；　or　how　to　find　him。〃
　The　old　farmer　listened　attentively；　then　gave　a　grave　nod。　Caladanians　knew　the　legends　of　their　Duke；　had　witnessed　the　greatest　of　his　bullfights　at　the　departure　of　his　son　Leto　to　Ix。　The　people　here　honored　their　leader；　and　to　them　it　seemed　fundamentally　reasonable　that　any　citizen　could　request　an　audience　with　the　Atreides。
　〃I　can　tell　you　the　city　where　the　Duke　lives；〃　the　old　man　said。　〃My　sister's　husband　even　has　a　map　of　the　whole　world；　and　I　can　show　you。　But　I　don't　know　how　you　could　get　there。　It's　very　far　away。〃
　〃I'm　young　and　strong。　I　can　make　it。〃
　The　farmer　nodded　and　led　his　visitor　back　to　the　rice　paddies。
　Duncan　stayed　four　days　with　the　man's　family；　working　up　to　his　waist　in　flooded　fields。　He　waded　through　the　water；　clearing　channels；　inserting　small　but　hardy　seedlings　into　the　loose　mud。　He　learned　the　songs　and　chants　of　the　pundi　rice　planters。
　One　afternoon　spotters　in　the　low…hanging　trees　banged　on　pans；　sounding　an　alarm。　Moments　later；　ripples　in　the　peaty　water　signaled　the　approach　of　a　school　of　panther…fish；　bog　dwellers　that　swam　in　packs　searching　for　prey。　They　could　strip　the　flesh　off　a　farmer's　bones　in　moments。
　Duncan　scrambled　up　one　of　the　tangled　tree　trunks　to　join　the　other　panicked　rice　farmers。　He　hung　in　the　low　branches；　pushing　Spanish　moss　aside　as　he　looked　down　and　watched　the　ripples　approach。　Beneath　the　water　he　could　see　large；　many…fanged　creatures　armored　with　broad　scales。　Several　of　the　panther…fish　circled　around　the　trunk　of　the　swamp　tree　in　which　Duncan　had　taken　refuge。
　Some　of　the　creatures　rose　up　on　scaled　elbows；　rudimentary　arms　with　front　fins　that　had　developed　into　clumsy　claws。　With　most　of　their　bodies　out　of　the　water；　the　carnivorous　fish　stretched　upward；　large　and　deadly。　They　blinked　wet；　slitted　eyes　at　the　young　man　who　hung　just　out　of　reach　in　the　branches　above。　After　a　long　moment　of　staring　them　down；　Duncan　climbed　one　branch　higher。　The　panther…fish　submerged　again；　swirling　away　out　of　sight　in　the　sprawling　rice　paddies。
　The　following　day　Duncan　took　a　spare　meal　the　farmer's　family　had　packed　for　him　and　trudged　off　toward　the　coast；　where　he　eventually　found　work　as　a　net…rigger　on　a　fishing　boat　that　plied　the　waters　of　the　warm　southern　seas。　At　least　the　boat　would　take　him　to　port　on　the　continent　where　Castle　Caladan　lay。
　For　weeks　he　worked　the　nets；　gutted　the　fish；　and　ate　his　fill　in　the　galley。　The　cook　used　a　lot　of　spices　that　were　unfamiliar　to　Duncan　　hot　Caladanian　peppers　and　mustards　that　made　his　eyes　water　and　his　nose　run。　The　men　laughed　at　his　disfiture；　and　told　him　he　would　never　be　a　man　until　he　could　eat　food　like　that。　To　their　surprise　young　Duncan　took　this　as　a　challenge；　and　soon　he　began　asking　for　extra　seasoning。　Before　long　he　could　endure　meals　hotter　than　any　other　crew　member。　The　fishermen　stopped　teasing　him　and　began　to　praise　him　instead。
　Before　the　end　of　the　voyage；　a　cabin　boy　in　the　next　bunk　did　a　calculation　for　Duncan　that　showed　him　that　he　was　nine　now；　by　almost　six　weeks。　〃I　feel　a　lot　older　than　that；〃　Duncan　responded。
　He　hadn't　expected　to　take　so　long　to　reach　his　destination；　but　his　life　was　better　now；　despite　the　incredibly　hard　work　he'd　taken　on。　He　felt　safe；　freer　in　a　way　than　he　had　ever　felt　before。　The　men　on　the　crew　were　his　new　family。
　Under　cloudy　skies　the　fishing　boat　finally　reached　port；　and　Duncan　left　the　sea　behind。　He　didn't　ask　for　pay；　didn't　take　his　leave　of　the　captain　　he　simply　departed。　The　oceangoing　sojourn　was　just　a　step　along　the　way。　Never　once　during　his　long　journey　did　he　ever　deviate　from　his　main　goal　of　reaching　the　Old　Duke。　He　took　advantage　of　no　one　and　worked　hard　for　the　hospitality　he　received。
　In　a　dockside　alley　a　sailor　from　another　ship　once　tried　to　molest　him；　but　Duncan　fought　back　with　iron…hard　muscles　and　whip…fast　reflexes。　The　bruised　and　battered　predator　retreated；　finding　this　wild　boy　too　much　for　him。
　Duncan　began　hitching　rides　on　groundtrucks　and　cars；　and　sneaked　aboard　tube　trains　and　short…haul　cargo　'thopters。　Inexorably；　he　moved　north　on　the　continent；　toward　Castle　Caladan；　getting　closer　and　closer　as　the　months　passed。
　During　the　frequent　rains；　he　found　trees　under　which　he　could　huddle。　But　even　wet　and　hungry；　he　didn't　feel　so　bad；　for　he　recalled　the　terrible　night　at　Forest　Guard　Station；　how　cold　he　had　been；　how　he　had　used　a　knife　to　cut　open　his　own　shoulder。　After　that；　he　could　certainly　handle　these　brief　disforts。
　Sometimes　he　struck　up　conversations　with　other　travelers　and　heard　stories　of　their　popular　Duke；　bits　of　Atreides　history。　Back　on　Giedi　Prime；　no　one　had　spoken　of　such　matters。　People　held　their　opinions　to　themselves　and　gave　up　no　information　except　under　duress。　Here；　however；　the　locals　were　happy　to　talk　about　their　situation。　Duncan　realized　with　a　shock　one　afternoon　as　he　traveled　with　three　entertainers　that　the　people　on　Caladan　actually　loved　their　leader。
　In　sharp　contrast；　Duncan　had　heard　only　terrible　stories　of　the　Harkonnens。　He　knew　the　fear　of　the　populace　and　the　brutal　consequences　of　any　real　or　imagined　defiance。　On　this　planet；　though；　the　people　respected　rather　than　feared　their　ruler。　The　Old　Duke；　Duncan　was　told；　walked　with　only　a　small　honor　guard　through　villages　and　markets；　visiting　the　people　without　wearing　any　armor；　without　shields　or　fear　of　attack。
　Baron　Harkonnen　or　Glossu　Rabban　would　never　dare　such　a　thing。
　I　may　like　this　Duke；　Duncan　thought　one　night；　curled　up　under　a　blanket　one　of　the　entertainers　had　loaned　him。。。。
　Finally；　after　months　of　travel；　he　stood　in　the　village　at　the　foot　of　the　promontory　that　held　Castle　Caladan。　The　magnificent　structure　stood　like　a　sentinel　gazing　out　across　the　calm　seas。　Somewhere　inside　it　lived　Duke　Paulus　Atreides；　by　now　a　legendary　figure　to　the　boy。
　Duncan　shivered　from　the　chill　of　morning　and　took　a　deep　breath。　The　fog　lifted　above　the　seacoast；　turning　the　rising　sun　into　a　deep　orange　ball。　He　marched　away　from　the　village　and　started　up　the　long；　steep　road　to　the　Castle。　This　was　where　he　must　go。
　As　he　walked；　he　did　what　he　could　to　make　himself　presentable；　brushing　the　dust　from　his　clothes　and　tucking　his　wrinkled　pullover　shirt　into　his　trousers。　But　he　felt　confident　about　himself；　regardless　of　his　appearance；　and　this　Duke　would　accept　him　or　throw　him　out。　Either　way；　Duncan　Idaho　would　survive。
　When　he　reached　the　gates　that　led　into　the　great　courtyard；　the　Atreides　guards　tried　to　bar　his　way；　thinking　him　a　panhandler。
　〃I'm　not　a　beggar；〃　Duncan　announced　with　his　head　held　high。　〃I　have　e　across　the　galaxy　to　see　the　Duke；　and　I　must　tell　him　my　story。〃
　The　guards　just　laughed。　〃We　can　find　you　some　scraps　from　the　kitchen；　but　no　more。〃
　〃That　would　be　very　kind　of　you；　sirs；〃　Duncan　agreed；　his　stomach　grumbling　with　hunger；　〃but　that　isn't　why　I'm　here。　Please　send　a　message　into　the　Castle　that〃　　he　tried　to　remember　the　phrasing　one　of　the　traveling　singers　had　taught　him　　〃that　Master　Duncan　Idaho　requests　an　audience　with　Duke　Paulus　Atreides。〃
　The　guards　laughed　again；　but　the　boy　saw　grudging　respect　seep　into　their　expressions。　One　went　away　and　came　back　with　some　breakfast；　tiny　roasted　eggs　for　Duncan。　After　thanking　the　guard；　he　wolfed　down　the　eggs；　licked　his　fingers；　and　sat　on　the　ground　to　wait。　Hours　passed。
　The　guards　kept　looking　at　him　and　shaking　their　heads。　One　asked　him　if　he　carried　any　weapons；　or　any　money；　both　of　which　Duncan　denied。　As　a　steady　stream　of　petitioners　came　and　went；　the　guards　chatted　with　each　other。　Duncan　heard　talk　about　a　revolt　that　had　occurred　on　Ix；　and　the　Duke's　concerns　over　House　Vernius；　especially　because　of　the　Emperor's　acceptance　of　a　bounty　on　Dominic　and　Shando　Vernius。　Apparently；　the　Duke's　son　Leto　had　just　returned　from　war…torn　Ix　to　Caladan　with　two　royal　refugees。　Everything　in　the　Castle　was　in　quite　a　turmoil。
　Nevertheless；　Duncan　waited。
　The　sun　passed　overhead　and　slipped　below　the　horizon　of　the　great　sea。　The　young　man　spent　the　night　curled　up　in　a　corner　of　the　courtyard；　and　with　the　next　morning　and　a　change　of　guards；　he　repeated　his　story　and　his　request　for　an　audience。　This　time；　he　mentioned　that　he　had　escaped　from　a　Harkonnen　world　and　wished　to　offer　his　services　to　House　Atreides。　The　Harkonnen　name　seemed　to　catch　their　attention。　Once　again　the　guards　checked　him　for　weapons；　but　more　thoroughly。
　By　early　afternoon；　after　being　frisked　and　probed　　first　by　an　electronic　scanner　to　root　out　hidden　lethal　devices；　then　by　a　poisonsnooper　　Duncan　was　finally　ushered　inside　the　Castle。　An　ancient　stone　structure　whose　interior　corridors　and　rooms　were　draped　with　rich　tapestries；　the　place　bore　a　patina　of　history　and　worn　elegance。　Wooden　floors　creaked　underfoot。
　At　a　wide　stone　archway；　two　Atreides　guards　passed　him　through　even　more　elaborate　scanning　devices；　which　again　found　nothing　suspicious。　He　was　just　a　boy；　with　nothing　to　hide；　but　they　wore　their　paranoia　as　if　it　were　a　strange　and　unfortable　garment；　as　if　new　procedures　had　just　been　instituted。　Satisfied；　they　waved　Duncan　into　a　large　room　with　vaulted　ceilings　supported　by　heavy；　dark　beams。
　At　the　center　of　the　room　the　Old　Duke　sat　back　and　surveyed　his　visitor。　A　strong；　bearlike　man　with　a　full　beard　and　bright　green　eyes；　Paulus　relaxed　in　a　fortable　wooden　chair；　not　an　ostentatious　throne。　It　was　a　place　where　he　could　be　at　ease　for　hours　as　he　conducted　the　business　of　state。　Atop　the　chairback；　just　above　the　old　patriarch's　head；　a　hawk　crest　had　been　carved　into　the　dark　Elaccan　wood。
　Beside　him　sat　his　olive…skinned　son　Leto；　thin　and　tired…looking；　as　if　he　hadn't　fully　recovered　from　his　ordeal。　Duncan　met　Leto's　gray　eyes；　and　sensed　that　both　of　them　had　much　to　tell；　much　to　share。
　〃We　have　here　a　very　persistent　boy；　Leto；〃　the　Old　Duke　said；　glancing　at　his　son。
　〃From　the　looks　of　him；　he　wants　something　different　from　all　the　other　petitioners　we've　heard　today。〃　Leto　raised　his　eyebrows。　He　was　only　five　or　six　years　older　than　Duncan　　a　large　gulf　at　their　ages　　but　it　seemed　they　had　both　been　thrust　headlong　into　adulthood。　〃He　doesn't　look　greedy。〃
　Paulus's　expression　softened　as　he　leaned　forward　in　his　great　chair。　〃How　long　have　you　been　waiting　out　there；　boy？〃