bh.houseatreides-第69部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
For hours back in the caves； other Fremen wives had braided Frieth's hair with her metal water rings； together with those belonging to her future husband； to symbolize the mingling of their existence。 Many months ago； the sietch had taken all of the supplies from Kynes's groundcar and added his containers of water to the main stores。 Once he had been accepted among them； he received payment in water rings for what he had contributed； and Kynes thus entered the munity as a relatively wealthy man。
As Frieth looked at her betrothed； Kynes realized for the first time how beautiful and desirable she was and then chastised himself for not having noticed before。 Now the unmarried Fremen women rushed out onto the dunefield； their long； unbound hair flying in the night breeze。 Kynes watched as they began the traditional wedding dance and chant。
Rarely did members of the sietch explain their customs to him； where the rituals had e from； or what they signified。 To the Fremen； everything simply was。 Long in the past； ways of life had been developed out of necessity during the Zensunni wanderings from planet to planet； and the ways had remained unchanged ever since。 No one here bothered to question them； so why should Kynes？ Besides； if he truly was the prophet they considered him to be； then he should understand such things intuitively。
He could easily decipher the custom of binding water rings into the braid of the woman to be married； while the unbetrothed daughters kept their hair loose and free。 The troupe of unmarried women flitted across the sands in their bare feet； their footsteps floating。 Some were mere girls； while others had ripened to full marriageable age。 The dancers whipped and whirled； spinning about so that their hair streamed in all directions like halos around their heads。
Symbolic of a desert sandstorm； he thought。 Coriolis whirlwinds。 From his studies he knew that such winds could exceed eight hundred kilometers per hour； bearing dust and sand particles with enough force to scour the flesh off a man's bones。
With sudden concern Kynes looked up。 To his relief； the sky of the desert night was clear and scattered with stars； a precursor fog of dust would be carried up in advance of any storm。 The Fremen spotters would see impending weather with sufficient warning to take immediate precautions。
The young girls' dancing and chanting continued。 Kynes stood beside his wife…to…be； but he looked up at the twin moons； thinking of their tidal effects； how the gentle flexings of gravity might have affected the geology and climate of this world。 Perhaps deep core soundings would tell him more of what he needed to know。。。。
In future months； he wished to take extensive samples from the ice cap at the northern pole。 By measuring the strata and analyzing isotopic content； Kynes would be able to draw a precise weather history of Arrakis。 He could map the heating and melting cycles； as well as ancient precipitation patterns； using this information to determine where all the water must have gone。
So far this planet's aridity made no sense。 Could a world's supply of water somehow be hydrated into rock layers beneath the sands； locking it into the planetary crust itself？ An astronomical impact？ Volcanic explosions？ None of the options seemed viable。
The plex marriage dance finished； and the one…eyed Naib came forward with the old Sayyadina。 The holy woman looked at the wedding couple and fixed Kynes with the gaze of her eyes； so dark in the moonlight that they resembled the predatory orbs of a raven： the total blue…within…blue of spice addiction。
After eating Fremen food for months； each taste laced with the richness of melange； Kynes had looked in a reflecting glass one morning and noticed that the whites of his own eyes had begun to take on a sky…blue tinge。 The change startled him。
Still； he did feel more alive； his mind sharper and his body suffused with energy。 Some of this could be a consequence of the enthusiasm for his research activities； but he knew the spice must also have something to do with it。
Here the spice was everywhere： in the air； food； garments； wall hangings； and rugs。 Melange was intertwined with sietch life as much as water。
That day Turok； who still came to take him out on daily explorations； had noticed Kynes's eyes； the new blue tint。 〃You are being one of us； Planetologist。 That blue we call the Eyes of Ibad。 You are part of Dune now。 Our world has changed you forever。〃
Kynes had offered a smile； but it was only tentative； because he felt some fear。 〃That it has；〃 he said。
And now he was about to be married another important change。
Standing before him； the mysterious Sayyadina uttered a series of words in Chakobsa； a language Kynes did not understand； but he gave the appropriate responses he had memorized。 The sietch elders had taken extreme care to prepare him。 Perhaps one day； with more research； he would understand the rituals surrounding him； the ancient language； the mysterious traditions。 But for now he could only make reasoned guesses。
During the ceremony he remained preoccupied； devising various tests he could run in sandy and rocky areas of the planet； dreaming of new experimental stations he would erect； considering which test gardens to plant。 He had vast plans to implement and； at last； all the manpower he could possibly desire。 It would take an incredible amount of work to reawaken this world but now that the Fremen shared his dream； Pardot Kynes knew it could be done。
It could be done！
He smiled； and Frieth gazed up at him； smiling in her own right； though almost certainly her thoughts diverged widely from his。 Nearly oblivious to the activities around him and paying little mind to their import； Kynes found himself married in the Fremen way； almost before he realized it。
The haughty do but build castle walls behind which they seek to hide their doubts and fears。
…Bene Gesserit Axiom
The dawn mists carried an iodine tang from the sea； rising from the wet black cliffs that supported the spires of Castle Caladan。 Normally； Paulus Atreides found it peaceful and refreshing； but today it made him uneasy。
The Old Duke stood out on one of the tower balconies； drawing a deep breath of fresh air。 He loved his planet； especially the early mornings； the fresh； pure kind of silence gave him more energy than a good night's sleep ever could。
Even in troubled times such as these。
To ward off the chill he wrapped himself in a thick robe trimmed with green Canidar wool。 His wife paused behind him in the bedchamber； hanging on every breath as she always did after they had been fighting。 It was a matter of form。 When Paulus didn't object； she came closer to stand next to him to gaze out upon their world。 Her eyes were tired； and she looked hurt； but unconvinced； he would hold her； and she would warm to him； and then she would try to press the issue again。 She still insisted that House Atreides was in grave danger because of what he had done。
From below； shouts and muted laughter and the sounds of exercise drifted upward。 The Duke looked down to the sheltered courtyard； pleased to see his son Leto already out doing his training routines with the exiled Prince of Ix。 Both wore body…shields that hummed and flickered in the orange early…morning light。 The young men carried blunted stun…daggers in their left hands and training swords in their right。
In the weeks they had lived on Caladan； Rhombur had recovered quickly and pletely from the concussion he'd received during their escape from Ix。 The exercise and fresh air had improved his health； his muscle tone； his plexion。 But the stocky young man's heart and his mood would take much longer to heal。 He seemed all at sea yet from what had happened to him。
The two circled and parried； slashing down； trying to judge just how fast they could move their blades without having them deflected by the protective fields。 They challenged and pounced； striking with a flurry of attacks that had no hope of penetrating the other's defenses。 Blades sang and ricocheted from the shimmering shields。
〃The boys have so much energy for such an hour；〃 Helena said； rubbing her red…rimmed eyes。 A safe ment； not likely to raise any objections。 She took half a step closer。 〃Rhombur's even lost weight。〃
The Old Duke looked over at her； noting the age…sharpened porcelain of her features； a few strands of gray in her dark hair。 〃This is the best time for training。 Gets the blood flowing for the entire day。 I taught Leto that when he was just a boy。〃
From far out at sea he heard the clang of a reef…marking buoy and the putter of a fishing coracle； one of the local wickerwood boats with waterproofed hulls。 He saw the hazy fog lights of a trawler farther out； cutting through the low…lying banks of sea mist as it harvested melon…kelp。
〃Yes。。。the boys are exercising；〃 Helena said； 〃but have you noticed Kailea sitting there？ Why do you think she's up so early？〃 The lilt at the end of her question made him think twice。
The Duke looked down； for the first time marking the lovely daughter of House Vernius。 Kailea lounged on a polished…coral bench in the sunshine； daintily eating from a plate of assorted fruits。 She had h
