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！
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 discontinued。
Despite the promises of the new masters； the suboids had been put back to work as they were bred to do but this time they followed only Tleilaxu designs and orders。 C'tair realized that； before long； the manufactories would begin pouring out merchandise again； and shiploads of solaris would flow back into the Bene Tleilax coffers to pay them for this costly military adventure。
Now； though； the secrecy and security developed by generations of House Vernius would work against them。 Ix had always shrouded itself in mystery； so who would notice the difference？ Once the paying customers were satisfied with the exports； no one in the Imperium would much care about internal Ixian politics。 Anyone on the outside would forget all that had happened here。 It would be cleanly swept under the rug。
That must be what the Tleilaxu were counting on； C'tair thought。 The entire world of Ix he would never refer to it； not even in his mind； as Xuttuh was walled off from the Imperium as an enigma。。。much as the homeworlds of the Bene Tleilax had been for centuries。
The new masters restricted travel off…planet and imposed curfews with deadly force。 Face Dancers rooted out 〃traitors〃 from hiding rooms similar to C'tair's and executed them without fanfare or ceremony。 He saw no end to the repression； but he vowed not to give up。 This was his own world； and he would fight for it； in any way he could。
C'tair told no one his name； called little attention to himself but he listened； absorbed every whispered story or rumor； and he planned。 Not knowing whom to trust； he assumed everyone was an informant； either a Face Dancer or simply a turncoat。 Sometimes an informant was easily recognizable by the directness of a line of inquiry： Where do you work？ Where do you live？ What are you doing on this street？
But others were not so easy to detect； such as the gnarled old woman with whom he had initiated a conversation。 He'd only meant to ask directions to a work site where he had been assigned。 She hadn't sought him out