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fh.childrenofdune-第54章

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out The Preacher all along!
 〃It's just that I've never seen a ghola;〃 he said。
 She accepted this; said: 〃We're saving Idaho for something important。〃 
 Farad'n chewed silently at his upper lip。
 Wensicia found herself reminded of his dead father。 Dalak had been like that at times; very inward and plex; difficult to read。 Dalak; she reminded herself; had been related to Count Hasimir Fenring; and there'd been something of the dandy and the fanatic in both of them。 Would Farad'n follow in that path? She began to regret having Tyek lead the lad into the Arrakeen religion。 Who knew where that might take him?
 〃What does Tyek call you now?〃 Farad'n asked。 
 〃What's that?〃 She was startled by this shift。
 〃I've noticed that he doesn't call you 'My Princess' anymore。〃
 How observant he is; she thought; wondering why this filled her with disquiet。 Does he think I've taken Tyek as a lover? Nonsense; it wouldn't matter one way or the other。 Then why this question?
 〃He calls me 'My Lady;' 〃 she said。 
 〃Why?〃 
 〃Because that's the custom in all of the Great Houses。〃 
 Including the Atreides; he thought。
 〃It's less suggestive if overheard;〃 she explained。 〃Some will think we've given up our legitimate aspirations。〃 
 〃Who would be that stupid?〃 he asked。
 She pursed her lips; decided to let it pass。 A small thing; but great campaigns were made up of many small things。 
 〃The Lady Jessica shouldn't have left Caladan;〃 he said。
 She shook her head sharply。 What was this? His mind was darting around like a crazy thing! She said: 〃What do you mean?〃
 〃She shouldn't have gone back to Arrakis;〃 he said。 〃That's bad strategy。 Makes one wonder。 Would've been better to have her grandchildren visit her on Caladan。〃
 He's right; she thought; dismayed that this had never occurred to her。 Tyek would have to explore this immediately。 Again she shook her head。 No! What was Farad'n doing? He must know that the Priesthood would never risk both twins in space。 
 She said this。
 〃Is it the Priesthood or the Lady Alia?〃 he asked; noting that her thoughts had gone where he had wanted。 He found exhilaration in his new importance; the mind…games available in political plotting。 It had been a long time since his mother's mind had interested him。 She was too easily maneuvered。
 〃You think Alia wants power for herself?〃 Wensicia asked。
 He looked away from her。 Of course Alia wanted the power for herself! All of the reports from that accursed planet agreed on this。 His thoughts took off on a new course。
 〃I've been reading about their Planetologist;〃 he said。 〃There has to be a clue to the sandworms and the haploids in there somewhere; if only。。。〃
 〃Leave that to others now!〃 she said; beginning to lose patience with him。 〃Is this all you have to say about the things we've done for you?〃 
 〃You didn't do them for me;〃 he said。 
 〃Wha…a…at?〃
 〃You did it for House Corrino;〃 he said; 〃and you're House Corrino right now。 I've not been invested。〃
 〃You have responsibilities!〃 she said。 〃What about all of the people who depend upon you?〃
 As if her words put the burden upon him; he felt the weight of all those hopes and dreams which followed House Corrino。
 〃Yes;〃 he said; 〃I understand about them; but I find some of the things done in my name distasteful。〃
 〃Dis。。。How can you say such a thing? We do what any Great House would do in promoting its own fortunes!〃 
 〃Do you? I think you've been a bit gross。 No! Don't interrupt me。 If I'm to be an Emperor; then you'd better learn how to listen to me。 Do you think I cannot read between the lines? How were those tigers trained?〃
 She remained speechless at this cutting demonstration of his perceptive abilities。
 〃I see。〃 he said。 〃Well; I'll keep Tyek because I know you led him into this。 He's a good officer under most circumstances; but he'll fight for his own principles only in a friendly arena。〃 
 〃His。。。principles?〃
 〃The difference between a good officer and a poor one is strength of character and about five heartbeats;〃 he said。 〃He has to stick by his principles wherever they're challenged。〃 
 〃The tigers were necessary;〃 she said。
 〃I'll believe that if they succeed;〃 he said。 〃But I will not condone what had to be done in training them。 Don't protest。 It's obvious。 They were conditioned。 You said it yourself。〃 
 〃What're you going to do?〃 she asked。
 〃I'm going to wait and see;〃 he said。 〃Perhaps I'll bee Emperor。〃
 She put a hand to her breast; sighed。 For a few moments there he'd terrified her。 She'd almost believed he would denounce her。 Principles! But he was mitted now; she could see that。
 Farad'n got up; went to the door and rang for his mother's attendants。 He looked back: 〃We are through; aren't we?〃 
 〃Yes。〃 She raised a hand as he started to leave。 〃Where're you going?〃
 〃To the library。 I've bee fascinated lately by Corrino history。〃 He left her then; sensing how he carried his new mitment with him。 
 Damn her!
 But he knew he was mitted。 And he recognized that there was a deep emotional difference between history as recorded on shigawire and read at leisure; a deep difference between that kind of history and the history which one lived。 This new living history which he felt gathering around him possessed a sense of plunging into an irreversible future。 Farad'n could feel himself driven now by the desires of all those whose fortunes rode with him。 He found it strange that he could not pin down his own desires in this。
 
 
 
 It is said of Muad'Dib that once when he saw a weed trying to grow between two rocks; he moved one of the rocks。 Later; when the weed was seen to be flourishing; he covered it with the remaining rock。 〃That was its fate;〃 he explained。
 …The mentaries
 
 〃Now!〃 Ghanima shouted。
 Leto; two steps ahead of her in reaching the narrow cut in the rocks; did not hesitate。 He dove into the slit; crawled forward until darkness enfolded him。 He heard Ghanima drop behind him; a sudden stillness; and her voice; not hurrying or fearful: 
 〃I'm stuck。〃
 He stood up; knowing this would bring his head within reach of questing claws; reversed himself in the narrow passage; crept back until he felt Ghanima's outstretched hand。 
 〃It's my robe;〃 she said。 〃It's caught。〃
 He heard rocks falling directly below them; pulled on her hand but felt only a small gain。
 There was panting below them; a growl。
 Leto tensed himself; wedging his hips against the rock; heaved on Ghanima's arm。 Cloth ripped and he felt her jerk toward him。 She hissed and he knew she felt pain; but he pulled once more; harder。 She came farther into the hole; then all the way; dropping beside him。 They were too close to the end of the cut; though。 He turned; dropped to all fours; scrambled deeper。 Ghanima pulled herself along behind him。 There was a panting intensity to her movements which told him she'd been hurt。 He came to the end of the opening; rolled over and peered upward out the narrow gap of their sanctuary。 The opening was about two meters above him; filled with stars。 Something large obscured the stars。
 A rumbling growl filled the air around the twins。 It was deep; menacing; an ancient sound: hunter sp
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