bh.houseatreides-第19部分
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Gesserit Order would not like what she had to say。 Though the voices of past lives might offer her fort and support； she was about to give her own assessment； and had to stand by it。 She also had to be pletely honest； Mother Superior was adept at sensing the slightest deceit。 Mother Superior noticed everything； and now her almond eyes flashed with expectation； as well as impatience。
Anirul cleared her throat and covered her mouth as she began her report in a directed…whisper that carried to the ears of everyone in the sealed room； but nowhere else。 Nothing escaped into the ambient air for any concealed listening device。 They all knew of her work； but she gave them the details anyway； adding to the import of her announcement。
〃Thousands of years of careful breeding have brought us closer than ever before to our goal。 For ninety generations； a plan begun even before the Butlerian warriors led us to freedom from the thinking machines； we of the Sisterhood have planned to create our own weapon。 Our own superbeing who will bridge space and time with his mind。〃
Her words droned on。 The other Bene Gesserit did not stir； though they appeared bored with her standard summary of the project。 Very well； I will give them something to awaken their hopes。
〃With the dance of DNA； I have determined we are； at most； only three generations removed from success。〃 Her pulse accelerated。 〃Soon； we will have our Kwisatz Haderach。〃
〃Take care when you speak of this secret of all secrets；〃 Mother Superior warned； but her delight could not be covered by her sternness。
〃I take care with every aspect of our program； Mother Superior；〃 Anirul countered； in too haughty a tone。 She caught herself； kept her narrow face expressionless； but others had already seen the slip。 There would be more murmurings about her brashness； her youth and unsuitability for such an important role。 〃That is why I am so certain of what we must do。 The gene samples have been analyzed； all possibilities projected。 The path is plainer now than ever before。〃
So many Sisters before her had worked toward this incredible goal； and now it was her duty to administer the final breeding decisions and supervise the birth and upbringing of a new girl…child； who would in all probability be the grandmother of the Kwisatz Haderach himself。
〃I have the names of the final genetic pairings；〃 Anirul announced。 〃Our mating index indicates that these will produce the highest likelihood of success。〃 She paused； savoring the absolute attention the others paid to her。
To any outsider； Anirul appeared to be no more than another Reverend Mother； indistinguishable from the rest of her Sisters and not terribly talented or gifted in any way。 The Bene Gesserit were good at keeping secrets； and the Kwisatz Mother was one of the greatest of these。
〃We need a particular bloodline from an ancient House。 This will produce a daughter our equivalent to the mother of the Virgin Mary who must then take the mate we choose。 These two will be the grandparents； and their offspring； also a daughter； will be trained here on Wallach IX。 This Bene Gesserit woman will bee the mother of our Kwisatz Haderach； a boy…child to be raised by us； under our plete control。〃 Anirul let out her last words with a slow sigh； and considered the immensity of what she had said。
Only a few decades more； and the astounding birth would occur potentially within Anirul's lifetime。 Thinking back through the tunnels of Other Memory； grasping the canvas of time that had spread out in preparation for this event； Anirul realized how lucky she was to be alive now； in this period of time。 Her predecessors stood in a spectral line inside her mind； eagerly watching and waiting。
When the unparalleled breeding program finally came to fruition； the Bene Gesserit would no longer need to remain a subtle； manipulative presence in the politics of the Imperium。 Everything would belong to them； and the archaic galactic feudal system would fall。
Though no one spoke； Anirul detected concern in the hawkish eyes of her Sisters； bordering on a doubt that none of them dared express。 〃And what is this bloodline？〃 Mother Superior asked。
Anirul did not hesitate； drew herself taller。 〃We must have a daughter by。。。the Baron Vladimir Harkonnen。〃
She read the surprise on their faces。 Harkonnens？ They had been part of the overall breeding programs； of course all Landsraad Houses were but no one would have imagined the Bene Gesserit savior springing from the seed of such a man。 What did such a lineage bode for the Kwisatz Haderach？ Given a Harkonnen…bred superman； could the Bene Gesserit hope to control him？
All of these questions…and many more…passed between the Sisters； without the utterance of a sound or even a directed…whisper。 Anirul saw it plainly。
〃As all of you know；〃 she said at last； 〃the Baron Harkonnen is a dangerously cunning and manipulative man。 Though we can be certain he is generally aware of the numerous Bene Gesserit breeding programs； our plan cannot be revealed。 Still； we must find a way for him to impregnate a chosen Sister without telling him why。〃
Mother Superior pursed her wrinkled lips。 〃The Baron's sexual appetites run exclusively to men and boys。 He will have no interest in accepting a female lover especially not one thrust upon him by us。〃
Anirul nodded soberly。 〃Our seductive abilities will be taxed as never before。〃 She gave a challenging look to the powerful Reverend Mothers in attendance。 〃But I have no doubt that with all the resources of the Bene Gesserit； we will find a way to coerce him。
In response to the strict Butlerian taboo against machines that perform mental functions； a number of schools developed enhanced human beings to subsume most of the functions formerly performed by puters。 Some of the key schools arising out of the Jihad include the Bene Gesserit； with their intense mental and physical training； the Spacing Guild； with the prescient ability to find a safe path through foldspace； and the Mentats； whose puterlike minds are capable of extraordinary acts of reasoning。
…Ikbhan's Treatise on the Mind； Volume I
As he made ready to depart from home for an entire year； Leto tried to hold on to his self…confidence。 He knew this was an important step for him； and understood why his father had chosen Ix as a place to study。 But he would still miss Caladan terribly。
It was not the young ducal heir's first trip to a different star system。 Leto and his father had explored the multiple worlds of Gaar and the fog…bound planet of Pilargo； where Caladanian primitives were thought to have originated。 Those had been mere outings； exciting sight…seeing trips。
However； the prospect of going away for so long； and all alone； made him worry more than he'd expected。 He didn't dare show it； though。 I will be Duke someday。
Dressed in Atreides finery； Leto stood with the Old Duke at the Cala Municipal Spaceport； awaiting a shuttle that would carry him to a Guild Heighliner。 Two suspensor…borne suitcases hovered near his feet。
His mother had suggested he take retainers； cargo cases full of garments and diversions； and supplies of good Caladanian food； Duke Paulus； on the other hand； had laughed and explained how when he was Leto's age he'd survived for months on the battlefield with only the few possessions in a pack on his back。 He did； however； insist that Leto take one of Caladan's traditional fishing knives in a sheath at his back。
Siding with his father； as usual； Leto chose to be minimal in his packing。 Besides； Ix was a rich industrial planet； not a wilderness； he wouldn't suffer many privations during his schooling。
When anyone could see her； the Lady Helena bore the decision with stoic good grace。 Now she stood beside the departure group dressed in fine robes and a shimmering cape。 Though he knew his mother genuinely feared for his well…being； Lady Atreides would never show anything but the most perfect public face。
Adjusting the oil lenses of his father's field glasses； Leto peered away from the shifting pastels of the dawn horizon； up into the vestiges of night。 A glinting speck moved against the stars。 When he touched the zoompad； the speck grew until Leto recognized a Heighliner in low orbit surrounded by the shimmering blur of a shield defensive system。
〃Do you see it？〃 Paulus asked； standing at his son's shoulder。
〃It's there with full shields activated。 Are they worried about military action？ Here？〃 With such severe political and economic consequences； Leto couldn't imagine anyone attacking a Guild craft。 Although the Spacing Guild had no military power of its own； it could through withdrawal of transportation services cripple any solar system。 And with elaborate surveillance mechanisms； the Guild could trace and identify rogue attackers and send messages off to the Emperor； who in turn would dispatch Imperial Sardaukar according to mutual treaty。
〃Never underestimate the tactics of desperation； lad；〃 Paulus said； but did not elaborate further。 From time to time he had told his son stories of trumped…up charges against particular people； situations fabricated in the past in order to wipe out enemies of the Emperor or the Guild。
Leto thought that of a
