bh.houseatreides-第66章

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　Had　it　only　been　a　nightmare。。。or　something　more？
　More　rationalization。　She　knew　she　must　not　make　excuses；　but　she　had　to　heed　what　the　premonition　had　shown　her。　Other　Memory　knew　the　truth。
　Mohiam　remained　under　close　observation　by　the　Sisters　　possibly　even　now。　A　purple　light　in　the　corner　of　her　room　was　attached　to　a　night…vision　eye；　with　watchdogs　on　the　other　end　who　reported　to　Reverend　Mother　Anirul　Sadow　Tonkin；　the　young　woman　who　seemed　to　carry　an　importance　beyond　her　years。　Finally；　though；　in　Mohiam's　dream　the　secretive　Other　Memory　Voices　had　hinted　at　Anirul's　place　in　the　project。　The　nightmare　had　jarred　them　loose；　shocked　the　reticent　recollections　into　veiled　explanations。
　Kwisatz　Haderach。　The　Shortening　of　the　Way。　The　Bene　Gesserit's　long…sought…after　messiah　and　superbeing。
　The　Sisterhood　had　numerous　breeding　programs；　building　upon　various　characteristics　of　humanity。　Many　of　them　were　unimportant；　some　even　served　as　diversions　or　shams。　None　held　such　prominence　as　the　Kwisatz　Haderach　program；　though。
　As　an　ancient　security　measure　at　the　beginning　of　the　hundred…generation　plan；　the　Reverend　Mothers　with　knowledge　of　the　scheme　had　sworn　themselves　to　silence；　even　in　Other　Memory；　vowing　to　divulge　the　full　details　to　none　but　a　rare　few　each　generation。
　Anirul　was　one　such；　the　Kwisatz　Mother。　She　knew　everything　about　the　program。　That　is　why　even　Mother　Superior　must　listen　to　her！
　Mohiam　herself　had　been　kept　in　the　dark；　though　the　daughter　growing　in　her　womb　was　to　be　only　three　steps　away　from　the　culmination。　By　now　the　real　genetic　plan　had　been　set　in　stone；　the　end　of　thousands　of　years　of　tinkering　and　planning。　The　future　would　ride　on　this　new　child。　Her　first　daughter；　the　flawed　one；　had　been　a　misstep；　a　mistake。
　And　any　mistake　could　bring　about　the　terrible　future　she　had　foreseen。
　Mohiam's　nightmare　had　shown　her　what　could　happen　to　humanity's　destiny　if　the　plan　went　astray。　The　premonition　had　been　like　a　gift；　and　difficult　as　the　decision　was；　she　could　not　fail　to　act　on　it。　She　didn't　dare。
　Does　Anirul　know　my　thoughts；　too；　the　terrible　act　foretold　in　my　dream？　A　warning；　a　promise　　or　a　mand？
　Thoughts。。。Other　Memory。。。the　multitude　of　ancient　ones　within　offered　their　advice；　their　fears；　their　warnings。　They　could　no　longer　keep　their　knowledge　of　the　Kwisatz　Haderach　silent；　as　they　had　always　done　before。　Mohiam　could　call　to　them　now；　and　at　their　discretion　they　would　e　forth；　individually　or　in　multitudes。　She　might　ask　them　for　collective　guidance；　but　she　didn't　want　that。　They　had　already　revealed　enough　to　awaken　her　with　a　scream　on　her　lips。
　Mistakes　must　not　be　allowed　to　happen。
　Mohiam　had　to　make　her　own　decision；　choose　her　own　path　into　the　future　and　determine　how　best　to　prevent　the　hideous　blood…filled　fate　she　had　foreseen。
　Rising　from　her　bed；　straightening　her　nightclothes；　Mohiam　moved　ponderously　through　darkness　into　the　next　room；　the　creche　where　the　babies　were　kept。　Her　swollen　belly　made　it　more　difficult　to　walk。　Mohiam　wondered　if　the　Sisterhood's　watchdogs　would　stop　her。
　Her　own　churning　thoughts　made　her　pause。　Inside　the　dim；　warm　nursery；　she　detected　the　irregular；　imperfect　breathing　of　her　first　Harkonnen　daughter；　now　nine　months　old。　And　in　her　womb　the　unborn　sister　kicked　and　twisted　　was　this　one　driving　her　forward？　Had　the　baby　inside　triggered　the　premonition？
　The　Sisterhood　needed　a　perfect　daughter；　healthy　and　strong。　Flawed　offspring　were　irrelevant。　In　any　other　circumstance；　the　Bene　Gesserit　could　have　found　a　use　even　for　a　sickly　and　crippled　child。　But　Mohiam　had　seen　her　vital　place　in　the　Kwisatz　Haderach　program　　and　seen　what　would　happen　if　the　program　went　down　the　wrong　path。
　The　dream　was　bright　in　her　mind；　like　a　holo…schematic。　She　simply　had　to　follow　it；　without　thinking。　Do　it。　Heavy　consumption　of　melange　often　offered　prescient　visions；　and　Mohiam　had　no　doubt　of　what　she　had　seen。　The　vision　was　clear　as　Hagal　crystal　　billions　murdered；　the　Imperium　toppled；　the　Bene　Gesserit　nearly　destroyed；　another　jihad　raging　across　the　galaxy；　sweeping　away　all　in　its　path。
　All　of　that　would　happen　if　the　breeding　plan　went　wrong。　What　did　one　unwanted　life　matter　in　the　face　of　such　epochal　threats？
　Her　sickly　first　daughter　by　the　Baron　Harkonnen　was　in　the　way；　a　risk。　That　girl…child　had　the　potential　to　ruin　the　orderly　progression　along　the　genetic　ladder。　Mohiam　had　to　remove　any　possibility　of　that　mistake；　or　she　could　find　the　blood　of　billions　on　her　hands。
　But　my　own　child？
　She　reminded　herself　that　this　was　not　really　her　child；　it　was　a　product　of　the　Bene　Gesserit　mating　index　and　the　property　of　every　Sister　who　had　mitted　herself　　knowingly　or　unknowingly　　to　the　overall　breeding　program。　She'd　borne　other　offspring　in　her　service　to　the　Sisterhood；　but　only　two　would　carry　such　a　dangerous　bination　of　genes。
　Two。　But　there　could　be　only　one。　Otherwise；　the　risk　was　too　great。
　This　weak　baby　would　never　suit　the　master　plan。　The　Sisterhood　had　already　discarded　her。　Perhaps　someday　the　child　could　be　raised　as　a　servant　or　cook　at　the　Mother　School；　but　she　would　never　achieve　anything　of　significance。　Anirul　rarely　looked　at　the　disappointing　infant　anyway；　and　it　received　little　attention　from　anyone。
　I　care　about　you；　Mohiam　thought；　then　chastised　herself　for　the　emotion。　Difficult　decisions　had　to　be　made；　prices　had　to　be　paid。　In　a　cold　wave；　memories　of　the　nightmare　vision　washed　over　her　again；　strengthening　her　resolve。
　Standing　over　the　child　in　the　nursery；　she　gently　massaged　its　neck　and　temple。。。then　drew　back。　A　Bene　Gesserit　did　not　feel　or　show　love　　not　romantic　love；　not　familial　love；　emotions　were　considered　dangerous　and　unseemly。
　Once　again　blaming　the　chemical　changes　in　her　pregnant　body；　Mohiam　tried　to　make　sense　of　her　feelings；　to　reconcile　them　with　what　she　had　been　taught　all　her　life。　If　she　didn't　love　the　child。。。because　love　was　forbidden。。。then　why　not。。。She　swallowed　hard；　unable　to　form　the　horrible　thought　into　words。　And　if　she　did　love　this　baby　　against　all　dictates　　then　that　was　even　more　reason　to　do　what　she　was　about　to　do。
　Eliminate　the　temptation。
　Was　she　feeling　love　for　the　child；　or　just　pity？　She　didn't　want　to　share　these　thoughts　with　any　of　her　Sisters。　She　felt　shame　for　experiencing　them；　but　not　for　what　she　was　about　to　do。
　Move　quickly。　Get　it　over　with！
　The　future　demanded　that　Mohiam　do　this。　If　she　did　not　act　on　the　prescient　warning；　whole　planets　would　die。　This　new　child　would　be　a　daughter　with　an　immense　destiny；　and　to　ensure　that　destiny；　the　other　had　to　be　sacrificed。
　But　still　Mohiam　hesitated；　as　if　a　great　maternal　weight　restrained　her；　trying　to　hold　back　whatever　vision　had　driven　her。
　She　stroked　the　child's　throat。　Skin　warm。。。breathing　slow　and　regular。　In　the　shadows　Mohiam　couldn't　see　the　misshapen　facial　bones　and　sloping　shoulder。　The　skin　was　pale。。。the　baby　seemed　so　weak。　She　stirred　and　whimpered。
　Mohiam　felt　her　daughter's　breath　hot　against　her　hand。　Clenching　her　fist；　the　Reverend　Mother　worked　hard　to　control　herself　and　whispered；　〃I　must　not　fear。　Fear　is　the　mind…killer。　。　。〃　But　she　was　shaking。
　Out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye　she　saw　another　eye；　glowing　purple　to　pierce　the　darkness　of　the　nursery　room。　She　positioned　her　body　between　the　eye　and　the　child；　with　her　back　to　the　watchers。　She　looked　into　the　future；　not　at　what　she　was　doing。　Even　a　Reverend　Mother　sometimes　had　a　conscience。。。。
　Mohiam　did　what　the　dream　had　manded　her　to　do；　holding　a　small　pillow　over　the　child's　face　until　sound　and　movement　stopped。
　Finished；　still　shaking；　she　arranged　the　bedding　around　the　little　body；　then　positioned　the　dead　child's　head　on　the　pillow　and　covered　her　tiny　arms　and　deformed　shoulder　with　a　blanket。　Suddenly　she　felt　very；　very　old。　Ancient　beyond　her　years。
　It　is　done。　Mohiam　rested　the　palm　of　her　right　hand　on　her　swollen　belly。　Now　you　must　not　fail　us；　daughter。
　One　who　rules　assumes　irrevocable　responsibility　for　the　ruled。　You　are　a　husbandman。　This　demands；　at　times；　a　selfless　act　of　love　which　may　be　amusing　only　to　those　you　rule。
　…DUKE　PAULUS　ATREIDES
　In　the　Plaza　de　Toros；　up　in　the　spectacular　box　seats　reserved　for　House　Atreides；　Leto　chose　a　green…cushioned　chair　beside　Rhombur　and　Kailea。　The　Lady　Helena　Atreides；　who　had　no　fondness　for　such　public　displays；　was　late　arriving。　For　the　occasion　Kailea　Vernius　wore　silks　and　ribbons；　colorful　veils；　and　a　lush；　flowing　gown　that　Atreides　seamstresses　had　made　specially　for　her。　Leto　thought　she　was　breathtaking。
　The　gloomy　skies　did　not　threaten　rain；　but　the　temperature　remained　cool　and　the　air　damp。　Even　from　up　here　he　could　smell　the　dust　and　old　blood　in　the　bullring；　the　packed　bodies　of　the　populace；　the　stone　of　the　pillars　and　benches。
　In　a　grand　pronouncement　carried　by　the　news　crier　network　all　over　Caladan；　Duke　Paulus　Atreides　had　dedicated　this　bullfight　to　the　exiled　children　of　House　Vernius。　He　would　fight　in　their　honor；　symbolizing　their　struggle　against　the　illegal　takeover　of　Ix　and　the　blood　price　that　had　been　placed　on　their　parents；　Earl　Dominic　and　Lady　Shando。
　Beside　Leto；　Rhombur　leaned　forward　eagerly；　his　square　chin　on　his　hands　as　he　gazed　down　at　the　packed　sand　of　the　bullring。　His　blond　hair　had　been　bed　and　cut；　but　somehow　it　still　looked　mussed。　With　tremendous　anticipation　and　some　concern　for　the　safety　of　the　Old　Duke；　they　waited　for　the　paseo；　the　introductory　parade　that　would　precede　the　fight　itself。
　Colorful　banners　hung　in　the　humid　air；　along　with　Atreides　hawk　pennants　over　the　royal　box。　In　this　case；　however；　the　leader　of　House　Atreides　was　not　in　his　prime　seat；　he　was　out　in　the　arena；　as　performer　rather　than　spectator。
　All　around　them；　the　Plaza　de　Toros　was　filled　with　the　humming；　chattering　sounds　of　thousands　of　spectators。　People　waved　and　cheered。　A　local　band　played　balisets；　bone　flutes；　and　brassy　wind　instruments　　energetic　music　that　heightened　the　mood　of　excitement。
　Leto　looked　around　the　guarded　stands；　listening　to　the　music　and　the　happy　noises　of　the　crowd。　He　wondered　what　could　be　taking　his　mother　so　long。　Soon；　people　would　notice　her　absence。
　Finally；　with　a　flurry　of　female　attendants；　the　Lady　Helena　arrived；　moving　through　the　throng。　She　walked　smoothly；　head　held　high；　though　her　face　carried　shadows。　The　ladies…in…waiting　left　her　at　the　doorway　to　the　ducal　box　and　returned　to　their　assigned　seats　in　the　lower　level。
　Without　speaking　a　word　to　her　son　or　even　looking　at　his　guests；　Helena　settled　herself　in　the　tall　carved　chair　beside　the　empty　post　where　the　Duke　sat　on　those　occasions　when　he　watched　the　matadors。　She　had　gone　to　the　chapel　an　hour　beforehand　to　mune　with　her　God。　Traditionally；　the　matador　was　supposed　to　spend　time　in　religious　contemplation　before　his　fight；　but　Duke　Paulus　was　more　concerned　with　testing　his　equipment　and　exercising。
　〃I　had　to　pray　for　your　father　to　be　saved　from　his　stupidity；〃　she　murmured；　looking　at　Leto。　〃I　had　to　pray　for　all　of　us。　Someone　ha