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Book Two: Muad‘dib
“Mankindhasahonlyonemm-m-mscience,”theCountsaidastheypickeduptheirparadeoffollowersandemergedfromthehallintothewaitingroom—anarrowspacewithhighwindowsandfloorofpatternedwhiteandpurpletile.
“Andwhatscienceisthat?”theBaronasked.
“It’stheum-m-m-ah-hscienceofah-h-hdiscontent,”theCountsaid.
TheHousesMinorbehindthem,sheep-facedandresponsive,laughedwithjusttherighttoneofappreciation,butthesoundcarriedanoteofdiscordasitcollidedwiththesuddenblastofmotorsthatcametothemwhenpagesthrewopentheouterdoors,revealingthelineofgroundcars,theirguidonpennantswhippinginabreeze.
TheBaronraisedhisvoicetosurmountthesuddennoise,said,“Ihopeyou’llnotbediscontentedwiththeperformanceofmynephewtoday,CountFenring.”
“Iah-h-hamfilledum-m-monlywithahm-m-msenseofanticipation,yes,”theCountsaid.“Alwaysintheah-h-hprocesverbal,oneum-m-mah-h-hmustconsidertheah-h-hofficeoforigin.”
TheBarondidhissuddenstiffeningofsurprisebystumblingonthefirststepdownfromtheexit.Procesverbal!ThatwasareportofacrimeagainsttheImperium!
ButtheCountchuckledtomakeitseemajoke,andpattedtheBaron’sarm.
Allthewaytothearena,though,theBaronsatbackamongthearmoredcushionsofhiscar,castingcovertglancesattheCountbesidehim,wonderingwhytheEmperor’serrandboyhadthoughtitnecessarytomakethatparticularkindofjokeinfrontoftheHousesMinor.
