Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
Withouttheantidote,thepoisonistriggered—he’ddieinafewdays.”
“Withdrawtheantidote,”theCountsaid.
“Buthe’suseful!”
“Andheknowstoomanythingsnolivingmanshouldknow.”
“YousaidtheEmperordoesn’tfearexposure.”
“Don’tplaygameswithme,Baron!”
“WhenIseesuchanorderabovetheImperialsealI’llobeyit,”theBaronsaid.“ButI’llnotsubmittoyourwhim.”
“Youthinkitwhim?”
“Whatelsecanitbe?TheEmperorhasobligationstome,too,Fenring.IridhimofthetroublesomeDuke.”
“WiththehelpofafewSardaukar.”
“WhereelsewouldtheEmperorhavefoundaHousetoprovidethedisguisinguniformstohidehishandinthismatter?”
“Hehasaskedhimselfthesamequestion,Baron,butwithaslightlydifferentemphasis.”
TheBaronstudiedFenring,notingthestiffnessofjawmuscles,thecarefulcontrol.“Ah-h-h,now,”theBaronsaid.“IhopetheEmperordoesn’tbelievehecanmoveagainstmeintotalsecrecy.”
“Hehopesitwon’tbecomenecessary.”
“TheEmperorcannotbelieveIthreatenhim!”TheBaronpermittedangerandgrieftoedgehisvoice,thinking:Lethimwrongmeinthat!IcouldplacemyselfonthethronewhilestillbeatingmybreastoverhowI’dbeenwronged.
TheCount’svoicewentdryandremoteashesaid:“TheEmperorbelieveswhathissensestellhim.”
“DaretheEmperorchargemewithtreasonbeforeafullLandstraadCouncil?”AndtheBaronheldhisbreathwiththehopeofit.
“TheEmperorneeddarenothing.”
TheBaronwhirledawayinhissuspensorstohidehisexpression.
