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Book Two: Muad‘dib
“Anytime.”
“You...ah...havenoobjections?”
“None.MyCHOAMCompanydirectorshipwillbeartheclosestscrutiny.”
Andhethought:Lethimbringafalseaccusationagainstmeandhaveitexposed.Ishallstandthere,promethean,saying:“Beholdme,Iamwronged.”
Thenlethimbringanyotheraccusationagainstme,evenatrueone.TheGreatHouseswillnotbelieveasecondattackfromanaccuseronceprovedwrong.
“Nodoubtyourbookswillbeartheclosestscrutiny,”theCountmuttered.
“WhyistheEmperorsointerestedinexterminatingtheFremen?”theBaronasked.
“Youwishthesubjecttobechanged,eh?”TheCountshrugged.“ItistheSardaukarwhowishit,nottheEmperor.Theyneededpracticeinkilling...andtheyhatetoseeataskleftundone.”
Doeshethinktofrightenmebyremindingmethatheissupportedbybloodthirstykillers?theBaronwondered.
“Acertainamountofkillinghasalwaysbeenanarmofbusiness,”theBaronsaid,“butalinehastobedrawnsomewhere.Someonemustbelefttoworkthespice.”
TheCountemittedashort,barkinglaugh.“YouthinkyoucanharnesstheFremen?”
“Thereneverwereenoughofthemforthat,”theBaronsaid.“Butthekillinghasmadetherestofmypopulationuneasy.It’sreachingthepointwhereI’mconsideringanothersolutiontotheArrakeenproblem,mydearFenring.AndImustconfesstheEmperordeservescreditfortheinspiration.”
“Ah-h-h?”
“Yousee,Count,IhavetheEmperor’sprisonplanet,SalusaSecundus,toinspireme.”
TheCountstaredathimwithglitteringintensity.
