bh.houseatreides-第124部分

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　But　Shaddam's　decree　could　not　be　questioned　or　denied。　Fenring　had　thirty　days　to　report　to　the　notorious　arid　planet。　He　wondered　if　he　would　ever　return。
　All　persons　are　contained　within　a　single　individual；　just　as　all　time　is　in　a　moment；　and　the　entire　universe　is　in　a　grain　of　sand。
　…Fremen　Saying
　On　the　day　of　Shaddam　IV's　coronation　and　wedding；　a　carnival　air　prevailed　on　all　the　worlds　of　the　Imperium。　Jubilant　crowds　immersed　themselves　in　drinking；　dancing；　sporting　events；　and　fireworks　exhibitions。　Old　Emperor　Elrood　had　held　his　throne　for　so　long　that　few　people　could　remember　the　last　time　a　new　ruler　had　been　crowned。
　In　Kaitain's　capital　city；　throngs　gathered　along　the　magnificent　boulevards；　lining　up　beside　the　route　the　royal　procession　would　take。　It　was　a　sunny　day　　as　usual　　and　vendors　did　a　brisk　business　hawking　souvenirs；　memorative　items；　and　refreshments。
　Royal　Corrino　flags　fluttered　in　the　breeze；　everyone　wore　their　scarlet　and　gold　to　mark　the　occasion。　Sardaukar　soldiers　guarded　the　convoluted　route；　wearing　ceremonial　gold　brocade　over　their　dress　gray…and…black　uniforms。　Standing　like　stone　guardians；　they　held　their　lasrifles　in　the　present…arms　position；　unmoved　by　the　blaring　fanfare　or　the　roar　of　the　crowd。　But　they　remained　ready　to　react　with　deadly　force　at　the　slightest　hint　of　threat　to　the　Imperial　presence。
　Boisterous　cheers　rose　from　thousands　of　throats　as　Crown　Prince　Shaddam　and　his　betrothed　Lady　Anirul　rolled　by　in　a　velvet…cushioned　coach　pulled　by　six　golden　lions　from　Harmonthep；　braided　with　jewels；　the　animals'　magnificent　manes　ruffled　in　the　gentle　breeze。　Royal　footmen　and　pikemen　jogged　alongside　the　carriage；　which　was　barely　obscured　by　the　gossamer　shimmer　of　a　protective　shield。
　Looking　intensely　regal；　Anirul　waved　and　smiled；　she　had　shed　her　black　Bene　Gesserit　robes　and　wore　a　waterfall　of　laces；　ruffles；　and　pearl　drops。　Her　tiara　dazzled　with　prisms　and　jewels；　catching　the　sunlight　from　the　ever…cloudless　sky。　Beside　her；　Shaddam　looked　magnificent　with　his　reddish　hair　perfectly　pomaded；　his　military…style　uniform　decked　with　braids　and　shoulder　boards　and　clanking　medals。
　Since　the　Crown　Prince's　marriage　displayed　no　favoritism　to　any　Great　or　Minor　House；　the　Landsraad　had　accepted　Anirul　as　the　Imperial　consort；　though　many　questioned　her　mysterious　background　and　〃hidden　rank〃　in　the　Bene　Gesserit。　After　the　death　of　Elrood；　though；　followed　by　this　grandiose　coronation　and　wedding；　the　Imperium　was　awash　in　a　sea　of　changes。　Shaddam　hoped　to　use　that　to　his　advantage。
　With　a　paternal　smile　fixed　on　his　face；　he　scattered　solari　coins　and　packets　of　gemdust　to　the　crowd；　following　a　tradition　of　Imperial　largesse　that　was　believed　to　bring　blessings　upon　a　new　reign。　The　people　loved　him；　he　was　surrounded　by　wealth；　with　the　snap　of　his　fingers　he　could　obliterate　entire　worlds。　This　was　exactly　how　he　had　imagined　the　role　of　Emperor　would　be。
　A　flourish　of　trumpets　made　joyful　clarion　sounds。
　WON'T　YOU　SIT　with　me；　Hasimir？〃　the　willowy　blonde　asked；　giving　him　a　coquettish　smile　during　the　pre…coronation　reception。　Fenring　couldn't　tell　if　Margot　Rashino…Zea　had　purposely　made　her　voice　sultry；　or　if　it　just　came　naturally　to　her。　He　held　a　plate　of　food　containing　exotic　hors　d'oeuvres。　Poison…snoopers　fluttered　like　hummingbirds　over　the　crowded　guests。　The　day's　ceremonies　would　last　for　hours　upon　hours；　and　the　guests　could　relax　and　partake　of　refreshments　at　their　leisure。
　Sister　Margot　Rashino…Zea　stood　taller　than　Fenring；　and　leaned　intimately　close　to　him　when　she　spoke。　Her　coral…and…jet　dress　shimmered　around　the　exquisite　perfection　of　her　form　and　features。　She　wore　a　Caladanian　pearl　necklace　and　a　brooch　encrusted　with　gold　and　precious　stones。　Her　skin　looked　like　rich；　honeyed　milk。
　Around　them　in　the　balcony　lobby　of　the　Grand　Theatre；　elegantly　dressed　noblemen　and　ladies　chatted　and　drank　grand　cru　wines　from　tall…stemmed　glasses。　The　octave…crystal　hummed　as　glasses　were　touched　together　in　repeated　toasts。　Within　the　hour；　the　assemblage　would　witness　the　climactic　double　event　that　would　be　held　on　center　stage：　the　coronation　of　Padishah　Emperor　Shaddam　Corrino　IV　and　his　wedding　to　the　Lady　Anirul　Sadow　Tonkin　of　the　Bene　Gesserit。
　Fenring　nodded　his　large　head　and　executed　a　brief　bow　to　her。　〃I　would　be　honored　to　sit　next　to　you；　lovely　Margot。〃　Balancing　his　plate；　Fenring　lowered　himself　onto　the　bench　beside　her。　She　inspected　the　hors　d'oeuvres　he　had　chosen　and；　without　asking；　reached　over　to　pluck　one　of　them　for　herself。
　It　was　a　cheerful　gathering；　Fenring　thought；　without　the　whisperings　of　discontent　that　had　so　poisoned　the　Palace　in　recent　months。　He　was　satisfied　with　his　own　efforts　in　this　regard。　Key　alliances　had　been　solidified；　and　the　Federated　Houses　no　longer　made　any　serious　talk　of　revolt　against　Shaddam。　The　Bene　Gesserit　had　thrown　their　public　support　behind　the　Corrino　reign；　and　no　doubt　the　witches　had　continued　their　machinations　behind　the　scenes　at　other　Great　Houses。　Fenring　found　it　curious　that　many　of　those　who'd　been　the　most　suspicious　and　outspoken　nobles　were　no　longer　counted　among　the　living　　and　even　more　curious　that　he'd　had　nothing　to　do　with　it。
　The　trial　of　Leto　Atreides　had　ended　by　fiat；　and　the　only　ones　openly　dissatisfied　with　the　verdict　were　the　Bene　Tleilax。　He　and　Shaddam　would　work　to　quiet　them　quickly；　though。　The　greatest　mystery　in　Fenring's　mind　was　that　no　one　seemed　to　know　exactly　what　had　happened　inside　the　Guild　Heighliner。
　The　more　he　observed　and　the　more　he　considered　the　strange　sequence　of　events；　the　more　he　began　to　believe　the　possibility　that　young　Leto　Atreides　had　been　framed　after　all　　but　how　and　by　whom？　No　other　House　had　e　forward　to　gloat；　and　since　virtually　everyone　had　believed　in　Atreides　culpability；　even　the　most　imaginative　and　loose　tongues　had　not　bothered　to　spread　additional　rumors。
　Fenring　would　dearly　love　to　know　what　had　happened；　if　only　to　add　the　technique　to　his　own　repertoire。　But；　once　he　went　off　to　his　new　assignment　on　Arrakis；　he　doubted　he　would　have　any　opportunity　to　unravel　the　secret。
　Before　he　could　advance　his　pleasant　conversation　with　Margot；　though；　he　heard　thunderous　crowds　outside　and　resonating　trumpets。　〃Shaddam　and　the　royal　entourage　are　ing；〃　Margot　said　with　a　toss　of　her　honey…blonde　hair。　〃We'd　best　go　find　our　seats。〃
　Fenring　knew　the　Crown　Prince's　carriage　would　now　be　entering　the　quadrangle　containing　the　theatre　and　Imperial　government　buildings。　He　tried　to　cover　his　disappointment。　〃But　you'll　be　in　the　Bene　Gesserit　section；　my　dear。〃　He　stared　at　her　with　glittering　dark　eyes　as　he　dipped　a　piece　of　pheasant　Kaitain　into　a　bowl　of　plum　sauce。　〃Would　you　like　me　to　dress　in　one　of　those　costumes　and　pretend　to　be　in　the　Sisterhood？〃　He　swallowed　the　morsel；　savored　its　sweetness。　〃I'd　do　it；　to　be　next　to　you；　hm…m…m…m？〃
　She　tapped　him　on　the　chest　playfully。　〃You　aren't　what　you　appear　to　be；　that's　for　certain；　Hasimir　Fenring。〃
　His　overlarge　eyes　narrowed。　〃Meaning？〃
　〃Meaning。。。we　have　much　in　mon；　you　and　I。〃　She　pressed　one　of　her　soft　breasts　against　his　arm。　〃Perhaps　it　would　be　wise　for　the　two　of　us　to　continue　　and　formalize　　this　alliance　we　seem　to　be　forming。〃
　Fenring　glanced　around　to　see　if　anyone　was　eavesdropping。　He　didn't　like　snoopers。　Leaning　close　to　her；　he　spoke　in　a　passionless　voice。　〃I　never　intended　to　take　a　wife。　I　am　a　genetic…eunuch　and　cannot　father　children。〃
　〃Then　we　may　be　required　to　make　certain　sacrifices；　each　in　our　own　ways。　That　need　be　nothing　personal。〃　She　arched　her　golden　eyebrows。　〃Besides；　I　imagine　you　have　your　ways　of　pleasing　a　woman？　I；　too；　have　had　extensive。。。training。〃
　A　cruel　smile　slashed　his　face。　〃Ah…um…m…m…m。　Is　that　so？　My　dear　Margot；　it　sounds　as　if　you're　presenting　me　with　a　business　plan。〃
　〃And　you；　Hasimir；　seem　to　be　a　man　who　prefers　practicality　over　romanticism。　I　think　we're　well　matched；〃　she　said。　〃Both　of　us　are　skilled　at　recognizing　layered　plans；　the　labyrinthine　ways　in　which　seemingly　unrelated　actions　are　actually　connected。〃
　〃The　results　are　often　quite　deadly；　aren't　they？〃
　She　reached　over　with　her　napkin　to　wipe　plum　sauce　from　the　side　of　his　mouth。　〃Mmm；　you　need　someone　to　take　care　of　you。〃
　He　studied　her；　the　finishing…school　way　she　held　her　chin　high；　the　perfection　and　steady　tempo　of　her　speech　　such　a　contrast　to　his　occasional　slurs　and　verbal　hesitations。　Her　gray…green　eyes　gazed　at　him　without　apparent　concealment。　But　he　could　see　the　sparkle　of　secrets　held　behind　those　lovely　pupils。。。so　many　secrets。
　And　he　could　spend　years　and　years　reveling　in　the　challenge　of　uncovering　them。
　Fenring　reminded　himself　how　clever　these　witches　were；　they　did　not　take　individual　action。　Nothing　was　as　it　seemed。　〃You　and　your　Sisterhood　have　a　larger　purpose　in　mind；　Margot；　my　dear。　I　know　something　of　the　ways　of　the　Bene　Gesserit。　You　are　a　group　organism。〃
　〃Well；　I've　informed　the　organism　of　what　I　wish　to　do。〃
　〃Informed　them；　or　asked　them？　Or　did　they　send　you　after　me　in　the　first　pl