Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
“Expensive,”theBaronsneered.“ThedamnableGuildmonopolyonspacewould’veruinedusifIhadn’tplannedforthisexpenselongago.Youshouldknow,Rabban,thatweboretheentirebruntofit.WeevenpaidfortransportoftheSardaukar.”
Andnotforthefirsttime,theBaronwonderedifthereeverwouldcomeadaywhentheGuildmightbecircumvented.Theywereinsidious—bleedingoffjustenoughtokeepthehostfromobjectinguntiltheyhadyouintheirfistwheretheycouldforceyoutopayandpayandpay.
Always,theexorbitantdemandsrodeuponmilitaryventures.“Hazardrates,”theoilyGuildagentsexplained.AndforeveryagentyoumanagedtoinsertasawatchdogintheGuildBankstructure,theyputtwoagentsintoyoursystem.
Insufferable!
“Incomethen,”Rabbansaid.
TheBaronloweredhisarm,madeafist.“Youmustsqueeze.”
“AndImaydoanythingIwishaslongasIsqueeze?”
“Anything.”
“Thecannonsyoubrought,”Rabbansaid.“CouldI—”
“I’mremovingthem,”theBaronsaid.
“Butyou—”
“Youwon’tneedsuchtoys.Theywereaspecialinnovationandarenowuseless.Weneedthemetal.Theycannotgoagainstashield,Rabban.Theyweremerelytheunexpected.ItwaspredictablethattheDuke’smenwouldretreatintocliffcavesonthisabominableplanet.Ourcannonmerelysealedthemin.”
“TheFremendon’tuseshields.”
“Youmaykeepsomelasgunsifyouwish.”
“Yes,m’Lord.AndIhaveafreehand.”
“Aslongasyousqueeze.”
Rabban’ssmilewasgloating.“Iunderstandperfectly,m’Lord.
