bh.houseatreides-第83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！
nial cloth to shreds。
The Duke narrowed his eyes and released his hold。 This was going to be a greater challenge than he had expected。 The audience cried out in dismay； and he couldn't stop himself from offering them a brave smile。 Yes； the difficult fights are the best； and the people of Caladan will remember this one for a long； long time。
Paulus held up his second banderilla； slashing it in the air like a thin fencing sword； and turned to face the heavily muscled oning bull。 He had no cape to distract the animal now； so it would see his body core as its main target。 He had only one short； barbed spear as his weapon； and a partial shield for protection。
He saw Atreides guards； even Thufir Hawat； standing at the ringside； ready to race out and assist him。 But the Duke raised his hand； forcing them back。 He must do this himself。 It simply would not do to have a mob of other fighters rushing to his rescue the moment things got a little sticky。
The Salusan bull pawed the ground； glaring at him with its multifaceted eyes； and the Duke thought he saw a flash of understanding there。 This creature knew exactly who he was and it intended to kill him。 But the Duke had similar thoughts in his own mind。
The bull charged directly toward him and picked up speed。 Paulus wondered why the neurotoxin hadn't yet slowed it down。 Deadly questions occurred to him： How can this be？ I dipped the banderillas in poison myself。 But was it really poison？
Wondering if there had been sabotage； the Duke held out the banderilla； its sharp barb glinting in the cloudy sunlight。 The bull approached； steaming； frothing。 Foam from its nostrils and mouth flew up to fleck its black scaly face。
As they closed to within meters of each other； the bull feinted to the right。 Duke Paulus jabbed with his short spear； but the beast instantly swerved and attacked from a different direction。 This time the barb caught on a knob of the bull's horny skin； but did not sink in。 The small weapon tore out of the Duke's grasp and dropped to the sand as the bull dashed past。
For a moment Paulus was weaponless。 He scrambled backward and snatched for the banderilla on the ground。 Turning his back on the bull； he listened for it to grind to a stop； spin around； and e back but as he bent over to retrieve his weapon； the huge bull was suddenly there with impossible speed； horns lowered。
The Duke scrambled to one side； trying to get out of the way； but the bull was already within his safety zone； ducking under the partial shield and ramming home。 Its long； curved horns gouged deep into the Duke's back； breaking through his ribs and into his lungs and heart。
The bull roared with triumph。 To the horror of the crowd； it lifted Paulus up； thrashing him from side to side。 Blood sprayed on the sand； red droplets slowed by the concave surface of the small shield。 The doomed Duke flailed and twitched； impaled on the forest of horns。
The audience fell deathly silent。
Within seconds； Thufir Hawat and the Atreides guards surged out onto the field； their lasguns cutting the rampaging Salusan bull into piles of smoking meat。 The creature's own momentum caused pieces of the carcass to fly apart in different directions。 The decapitated but otherwise intact head thumped onto the ground。
The Duke's body pirouetted in the air and landed on its back in the trampled sand。
Up in the ducal box； Rhombur cried out in disbelief。 Kailea sobbed。 The Lady Helena let her chin sink against her chest and wept。
Leto rose to his feet； all color draining from his skin。 His mouth opened and closed； but he could find no words to express his utter shock。 He wanted to run down into the arena； but saw from the mangled condition of his father that he would never reach him in time。 There would be no gasping and whispering of last words。
Duke Paulus Atreides； this magnificent man of his people； was dead。
Deafening wails erupted from the spectator stands。 Leto could feel the vibration rumbling through the ducal box。 He couldn't tear his eyes from his father； lying broken and bloodied on the ground； and he knew it was a nightmare vision that would remain with him for the rest of his life。
Thufir Hawat stood next to the fallen Old Duke； but even a warrior Mentat could do nothing for him now。
Oddly； his mother's quiet voice cut through the surrounding din； and Leto heard the words clearly； like ice picks。 〃Leto； my son；〃 Helena said； 〃you are Duke Atreides now。〃
Machine…vaccine principle： Every technological device contains within it the tools of its opposite； and of its own destruction。
…GIAN KANA；
Imperial Patent Czar
It didn't take the invaders long to make permanent changes in the prosperous underground cities。 Many innocent Ixians died and many disappeared； while C'tair waited for someone to find and kill him。
During brief sojourns from his shielded hiding room； C'tair learned that Vernii； the former capital city of Ix； had been renamed Hilacia by the Tleilaxu。 The fanatical usurpers had even changed Imperial records to refer to the ninth planet in the Alkaurops system as Xuttuh； rather than Ix。
C'tair wanted to strangle any Tleilaxu he found； but instead he developed a subtler plan。
He dressed like a low…level worker and doctored forms to show that he had once been a minor line supervisor； one step above a suboid； who had watched over a labor crew of twelve men。 He'd read enough about hull…plate welding and sealing so that he could claim it had been his job。 No one would expect much from him。
All around him； the Bene Tleilax were gutting his city and rebuilding it into a dark hell。
He abhorred the changes； loathed the Tleilaxu gall。 And from what he could see； Imperial Sardaukar had actually assisted in this abomination。
C'tair could do nothing about it at the moment； he had to bide his time。 He was alone here： his father exiled to Kaitain and afraid to return； his mother murdered； his twin brother taken away by the Guild。 Only he remained on Ix； like a rat hiding within the walls。
But even rats could cause significant damage。
Over the months； C'tair learned to blend in； to appear to be an insignificant and cowed citizen。 He kept his eyes averted； his hands dirty； his clothes and hair unkempt。 He could not let it be known that he was the son of the former Ambassador to Kaitain； that he had faithfully served House Vernius and still would； if he could find a way to do it。 He had walked freely through the Grand Palais； had escorted the Earl's own daughter。 Acts that； if known； would mean a death sentence for him。
Above all； he could not let the rabid antitechnology invaders discover his shielded hiding place or the devices he had hoarded there。 His stockpile might just be the last hope for the future of Ix。
Throughout the grottoes of the city； C'tair watched signs being torn down； streets and districts being renamed； and the little gnomes all men； no women occupying huge research facilities for their secret； nefarious operations。 The streets； walkways； and facilities were guarded by diligent； thinly disguised Imperial Sardaukar or the invaders' own shape…shifting Face Dancers。
Shortly after their victory was secured； the Tleilaxu Masters had showed themselves and encouraged the suboid rebels to vent their anger on carefully selected and approved targets。 Standing back； clothed in a simple workman's jumpsuit； C'tair had watched the smooth…skinned laborers cluster around the facility that had manufactured the new self…learning fighting meks。
〃House Vernius has brought this upon themselves！〃 screamed a charismatic suboid agitator； almost certainly a Face Dancer infiltrator。 〃They would bring back the thinking machines。 Destroy this place！〃
While the helpless Ixian survivors had watched in horror； the suboids smashed the plaz windows and used thermal bombs to ignite the small manufactory。 Filled with religious fervor； they howled and threw rocks。
A Tleilaxu Master on a hastily erected podium had bellowed into speakers and amplifiers。 〃We are your new masters； and we will make certain the manufacturing abilities of Ix are fully in accord with the strictures of the Great Convention。〃 The flames continued to crackle； and some of the suboids had cheered； but most didn't seem to be listening。 〃As soon as possible； we must repair this damage and return this world to normal operations with better conditions for the suboids； of course。〃
C'tair had looked around； watched the building burn； and felt sick inside。
〃All Ixian technology must henceforth be scrutinized by a strict religious review board； to assure its suitability。 Any questionable technology will be scrapped。 No one will ask you to endanger your souls by working on heretical machines。〃 More cheering； more smashed plaz； a few screams。
C'tair had realized； though； that the cost of this takeover would be enormous for the Tleilaxu； even with Imperial support。 Since Ix was one of the major powerhouse economies in the Imperium； the new rulers could not afford to let the production lines remain idle。 The Tleilaxu would make a show of destroying some of the questionable products； such as the reactive meks； but he doubted any of the truly profitable Ixian devices would be discon
