bh.houseatreides-第120部分

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　Fenring　seized　the　chance　to　restore　himself　to　the　Crown　Prince's　good　graces。　〃I　always　do；　Sire。〃　He　scuttled　away　across　the　long　reception　hall。
　Shaddam　paced　the　polished　floor　in　front　of　the　crystalline　throne；　trying　to　calm　himself　and　put　his　thoughts　in　order。　Just　as　Fenring　reached　the　archway；　he　called　out；　〃This　isn't　over　between　us；　Hasimir。　Things　must　change　once　I　am　crowned。〃
　〃Yes；　Sire。　You　must。。。hm…m…m…m；　do　as　you　see　fit。〃　Bowing　deeply；　Fenring　backed　out　of　the　audience　chamber；　relieved　to　depart　with　his　life。
　When　faced　with　necessary　actions；　there　are　always　choices。　So　long　as　the　job　gets　done。
　…COUNT　HASIMIR　FENRING；
　Dispatches　from　Arrakis
　The　Tleilaxu　pilot　who　had　survived　the　Atreides　attack　inside　the　Heighliner　was　a　material　witness　at　the　trial；　and　thus　had　been　forced　to　remain　on　Kaitain。　He　wasn't　a　prisoner；　and　his　needs　were　taken　care　of；　though　no　one　sought　out　his　pany。　The　Bene　Tleilax　hadn't　even　made　his　name　monly　known。　He　wanted　to　be　back　on　his　ship；　back　at　work。
　However；　because　of　the　huge　influx　of　guests　arriving　for　Shaddam's　uping　coronation　ceremony　and　the　Imperial　wedding；　acmodations　were　difficult　to　find。　Shaddam's　protocol　ministers　had　taken　great　pleasure　in　finding　only　an　austere　and　unpleasant　room　for　the　man。
　Much　to　the　protocol　ministers'　annoyance；　the　Tleilaxu　pilot　didn't　seem　to　mind。　He　said　nothing　in　plaint　while　he　waited；　and　sulked　and　stewed　until　he　could　bring　the　foul　criminal　Leto　Atreides　to　justice。。。。
　Kaitain　nights　were　perfect；　clear　and　full　of　stars　and　moons。　Through　shimmering　curtains　of　auroras；　plete　darkness　never　fell。　Even　so；　most　of　the　capital　city　slept　during　certain　hours。
　Hasimir　Fenring　easily　crept　into　the　sealed　room　that　held　the　Tleilaxu　man。　He　moved　stealthily；　like　a　shadow　on　a　suspensorlift；　and　made　no　sound；　used　no　illumination。　He　was　accustomed　to　the　night；　it　was　his　friend。
　Fenring　had　never　seen　a　Tleilaxu　asleep　before　　but　as　he　stepped　closer　to　the　bed；　he　found　the　pilot　already　sitting　up；　totally　awake。　The　gray…skinned　man　stared　at　him　through　the　darkness　as　if　he　could　see　better　even　than　Shaddam's　henchman。
　〃I　have　a　flechette　pistol　trained　directly　at　your　body　core；〃　the　Tleilaxu　said。　〃Who　are　you？　Have　you　e　to　kill　me？〃
　〃Hm…m…m…m…ah；　no。〃　Fenring　recovered　quickly　and　used　his　sweetest；　silkiest　voice　to　introduce　himself。　〃I　am　Hasimir　Fenring；　boon　panion　to　Crown　Prince　Shaddam；　bearing　a　message　and　a　request。〃
　〃What　is　it？〃　the　pilot　said。
　〃Crown　Prince　Shaddam　beseeches　you　to　reconsider　the　details　of　your　testimony；　hm…m…m…m？　He　desires　peace　among　the　Houses　of　the　Landsraad；　and　does　not　wish　for　such　a　shadow　to　fall　upon　House　Atreides；　whose　members　have　served　the　Padishah　Emperors　since　the　time　of　the　Great　Revolt。〃
　〃Nonsense；〃　the　Tleilaxu　snapped。　〃Leto　Atreides　fired　upon　our　sovereign　ships；　destroying　one；　damaging　mine。　Hundreds　are　dead。　He　has　created　the　largest　political　firestorm　in　recent　decades。〃
　〃Yes；　yes！〃　Fenring　said。　〃And　you　can　prevent　it　from　escalating　further；　hmmm？　Shaddam　wishes　to　begin　his　reign　with　quiet　and　prosperity。　Can　you　not　consider　the　larger　picture？〃
　〃I　think　only　of　my　people；〃　the　pilot　said；〃　and　how　we　have　been　wronged　by　one　man。　Everyone　knows　the　Atreides　is　guilty；　and　he　must　pay　the　price。　Only　then　will　we　be　satisfied。〃　He　smiled　with　thin　lips。　The　flechette　pistol　in　his　hand　did　not　move　a　millimeter。　Fenring　could　see　how　this　man　could　have　risen　to　the　rank　of　pilot；　he　clearly　had　the　stomach　to　mand　ships。　〃After　that　happens；　Shaddam　may　have　as　quiet　a　reign　as　he　chooses。〃
　〃You　make　me　sad；〃　Fenring　said；　sounding　disappointed。　〃I　will　take　your　answer　back　to　the　Crown　Prince。〃　He　crossed　his　arms　over　his　chest　and　bowed　in　farewell；　extending　his　palms　forward。　The　motion　triggered　two　needle　guns　mounted　to　his　wrists。　In　silence；　they　fired　deadly　paralytic　darts　into　the　pilot's　throat。
　The　Tleilaxu　clenched　in　a　spasm；　reflexively　firing　the　flechette　pistol。　Fenring　easily　ducked　out　of　the　way。　The　long　spikes　hammered　into　the　wall　and　hung　there　quivering。　A　second　later；　an　occupant　in　the　adjacent　room　pounded　on　the　wall　for　quiet。
　Still　in　darkness；　Fenring　studied　his　work。　The　evidence　was　all　here；　and　the　Bene　Tleilax　would　understand　what　had　happened。　After　the　outrageous　assassination　attempt　on　Leto　Atreides　　despite　Shaddam's　specific　orders　for　them　to　drop　the　matter　　Hidar　Fen　Ajidica　had　much　to　atone　for。
　The　Tleilaxu　prided　themselves　on　their　ability　to　keep　secrets。　No　doubt　they　would　discreetly　remove　the　pilot's　name　from　the　witness　list　and　not　mention　him　again。　Without　his　testimony；　their　case　would　be　weaker。
　Fenring　hoped；　though；　that　this　murder　wouldn't　make　the　little　men　even　more　vengeful。　How　would　Hidar　Fen　Ajidica　respond？
　Departing　from　the　locked　room；　Fenring　slid　through　the　shadows。　He　left　the　body；　just　in　case　the　Bene　Tleilax　wanted　to　resurrect　him　as　a　ghola。　After　all；　despite　the　little　man's　failings；　he　might　have　been　a　good　pilot。
　In　plotting　any　course　of　revenge；　one　must　savor　the　anticipation　phase　and　all　its　moments；　for　the　actual　execution　often　differs　widely　from　the　original　plan。
　…HASIMIR　FENRING；
　Dispatches　from　Arrakis
　The　Baron　Vladimir　Harkonnen　couldn't　have　been　more　delighted　at　the　way　events　were　turning　out。　He　might　have　taken　deeper　pleasure　if　the　rest　of　the　Imperium　could　appreciate　the　delicious　plexities　of　what　he　had　done　　but　of　course　he　could　never　reveal　those。
　As　an　important　House；　as　well　as　the　current　stewards　of　spice　production　on　Arrakis；　the　Harkonnens　received　fine　acmodations　in　a　distant　wing　of　the　Imperial　Palace。　Tickets　for　reserved　seats　at　the　coronation　and　the　wedding　had　already　been　delivered　to　their　quarters。
　And；　of　course；　before　all　the　pomp　and　ceremony；　it　would　be　the　Baron's　sad　duty　to　watch　the　terrible　trial　of　Leto　Atreides。　He　tapped　his　fingers　against　his　leg　and　pursed　his　generous　lips。　Ah；　the　burdens　of　nobility。
　He　lounged　in　a　plush　indigo　chair；　cradling　a　crystal　sphere　in　his　lap。　From　the　depths　of　the　transparent　ball　shone　holo…images　of　fireworks　displays　and　light　shows；　previews　for　the　spectacle　that　would　shower　Kaitain　in　a　few　days'　time。　In　a　corner　of　the　room　a　musical　fireplace　whispered　quiet　notes；　making　him　yawn。　Lately；　he　felt　tired　so　often；　his　body　weak　and　shaky。
　〃I　want　you　to　leave　the　planet；〃　the　Baron　told　Glossu　Rabban　without　looking　up　from　the　crystal　sphere。　〃I　don't　want　you　here　during　the　trial　or　the　coronation。〃
　The　broad…shouldered；　thick…lipped　man　bristled。　His　brown　hair　had　been　hacked　short；　without　finesse；　for　the　public　appearance；　and　he　wore　a　padded　dra…leather　vest　that　made　him　look　even　more　like　a　barrel　than　usual。　〃Why？　I　did　everything　you　asked；　and　our　plans　turned　out　beautifully。　Why　send　me　away　now？〃
　〃Because　I　don't　want　you　here；〃　the　Baron　said；　running　a　hand　along　his　widow's　peak　to　smooth　down　his　thick　hair。　〃I　can't　have　anyone　taking　a　look　at　you　and　thinking　you　might　have　had　something　to　do　with　poor；　dear　Leto's　plight。　You　have　that。。。gloating　manner　about　you。〃
　The　Baron's　nephew　frowned　and　drew　a　deep　breath；　still　defiant。　〃But　I　want　to　be　there　so　I　can　look　in　his　eyes　when　he　receives　his　sentence。〃
　〃That　is　exactly　why　you　must　be　gone。　Can't　you　understand？　You'll　give　something　away。〃
　With　a　deep　breath　and　a　grunt；　Rabban　finally　backed　down。　〃May　I　e　to　the　execution　at　least？〃　He　sounded　dangerously　close　to　pouting。
　〃It　depends　on　the　timing。〃　The　Baron　stared　at　his　ring…studded　fingers　and　tinkled　their　metal　against　the　smooth　surface　of　the　sphere　in　his　lap　in　his　habitual　rhythm。　〃At　the　very　least　I'll　make　sure　the　event　is　recorded　for　your　enjoyment。〃
　The　Baron　got　out　of　his　chair　with　an　effort　and　cinched　the　sash　around　his　tighter…than…usual　lounge　robe。　With　a　sigh　he　circled　the　elaborate　room　on　bare　feet；　saw　the　ornate　bathtub　with　its　plicated　temperature　and　massage　controls。　Since　his　body　continued　to　be　plagued　by　mysterious　pains；　he　decided　to　take　a　long　and　luxurious　bath　　if　he　could　find　someone　to　serve　him　properly　here　on　Kaitain。
　Rabban；　still　displeased；　stood　on　the　threshold　of　the　Baron's　opulent　guest　quarters。　〃What　shall　I　do；　then；　Uncle？〃
　〃Take　a　lighter　and　board　the　first　available　Heighliner。　I　want　you　to　go　to　Arrakis　and　watch　over　the　spice　production　there。　Keep　adding　to　our　profits。〃　The　Baron　smiled　at　him；　then　waggled　his　fingers　to　shoo　the　nephew　away。　〃Oh；　don't　look　so　gloomy。　Go　hunt　a　few　more　Fremen　if　you　like；　just　to　amuse　yourself。　You've　already　done　your　part　in　this　plot；　and　done　it　well。〃　He　made　his　voice　sound　soothing。　〃But　we　have　to　be　very　careful。　Especially　now。　just　pay　attention　to　what　I　do　and　try　to　learn　from　it。〃
　Grabbing　something　to　eat　from　a　sampling　tray　that　hovered　by　the　archway；　Rabban　departed。　Alone　at　last；　the　Baron　began　to　contemplate　how　best　to　find　a　young；　soft…skinned　boy　to　tend　him　in　his　bath。　He　wanted　to　be　pletely　relaxe