Дюна
Book One: Dune
TherearethingstosuggestthisLietmaybealocaldiety.”
Anothermandownthetableclearedhisthroat,asked:“Isitcertaintheydealwiththesmugglers?”
“AsmugglercaravanleftthissietchwhileIdahowasthere,carryingaheavyloadofspice.Theyusedpackbeastsandindicatedtheyfacedaneighteen-dayjourney.”
“Itappears,”theDukesaid,“thatthesmugglershaveredoubledtheiroperationsduringthisperiodofunrest.Thisdeservessomecarefulthought.Weshouldn’tworrytoomuchaboutunlicensedfrigatesworkingoffourplanet—it’salwaysdone.Buttohavethemcompletelyoutsideourobservation—that’snotgood.”
“Youhaveaplan,Sire,”Hawatasked.
TheDukelookedatHalleck.“Gurney,Iwantyoutoheadadelegation,anembassyifyouwill,tocontacttheseromanticbusinessmen.TellthemI’llignoretheiroperationsaslongastheygivemeaducaltithe.Hawathereestimatesthatgraftandextrafightingmenheretoforerequiredintheiroperationshavebeencostingthemfourtimesthatamount.”
“WhatiftheEmperorgetswindofthis?”Halleckasked.“He’sveryjealousofhisCHOAMprofits,m’Lord.”
Letosmiled.“We’llbanktheentiretitheopenlyinthenameofShaddamIV
anddeductitlegallyfromourlevysupportcosts.LettheHarkonnensfightthat!
Andwe’llberuiningafewmoreofthelocalswhogrewfatundertheHarkonnensystem.Nomoregraft!”
AgrintwistedHalleck’sface.“Ahh,m’Lord,abeautifullowblow.WouldthatIcouldseetheBaron’sfacewhenhelearnsofthis.”
TheDuketurnedtoHawat.
