Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
”
“DoestheEmperorknowyousubornedaSukdoctor?”
Thiswasapenetratingquestion,theBaronthought.HaveImisjudgedthisnephew?
“TheEmperordoesn’tknowityet,”theBaronsaid.“ButhisSardaukararesuretoreportittohim.Beforethathappens,though,I’llhavemyownreportinhishandsthroughCHOAMCompanychannels.IwillexplainthatIluckilydiscoveredadoctorwhopretendedtotheconditioning.Afalsedoctor,youunderstand?SinceeveryoneknowsyoucannotcountertheconditioningofaSukSchool,thiswillbeaccepted.”
“Ah-h-h,Isee,”Rabbanmurmured.
AndtheBaronthought:Indeed,Ihopeyoudosee.Ihopeyoudoseehowvitalitisthatthisremainsecret.TheBaronsuddenlywonderedathimself.WhydidIdothat?WhydidIboasttothisfoolnephewofmine—thenephewImustuseanddiscard?TheBaronfeltangerathimself.Hefeltbetrayed.
“Itmustbekeptsecret,”Rabbansaid.“Iunderstand.”
TheBaronsighed.“IgiveyoudifferentinstructionsaboutArrakisthistime,Nephew.Whenlastyouruledthisplace,Iheldyouinstrongrein.Thistime,Ihaveonlyonerequirement.”
“M’Lord?”
“Income.”
“Income?”
“Haveyouanyidea,Rabban,howmuchwespenttobringsuchmilitaryforcetobearontheAtreides?DoyouhaveeventhefirstinklingofhowmuchtheGuildchargesformilitarytransport?”
“Expensive,eh?”
“Expensive!”
TheBaronshotafatarmtowardRabban.“IfyousqueezeArrakisforeverycentitcangiveusforsixtyyears,you’lljustbarelyrepayus!”
Rabbanopenedhismouth,closeditwithoutspeaking.
