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Book Three: The Prophet
“Itwasasham,Uncle.Iarrangedittodiscredityourslavemaster.”
“Veryclever,”theBaronsaid.“Brave,too.Thatslave-gladiatoralmosttookyou,didn’the?”
“Yes.”
“Ifyouhadfinesseandsubtletytomatchsuchcourage,you’dbetrulyformidable.”TheBaronshookhisheadfromsidetoside.AndashehaddonemanytimessincethatterribledayonArrakis,hefoundhimselfregrettingthelossofPiter,theMentat.There’dbeenamanofdelicate,devilishsubtlety.Ithadn’tsavedhim,though.Again,theBaronshookhishead.Fatewassometimesinscrutable.
Feyd-Rauthaglancedaroundthebedchamber,studyingthesignsofthestruggle,wonderinghowhisunclehadovercometheslavethey’dpreparedsocarefully.
“HowdidIbesthim?”theBaronasked,“Ah-h-h,now,Feyd—letmekeepsomeweaponstopreservemeinmyoldage.It’sbetterweusethistimetostrikeabargain.”
Feyd-Rauthastaredathim.Abargain!Hemeanstokeepmeashisheirforcertain,then.Elsewhybargain.Onebargainswithequalsornearequals!
“Whatbargain,Uncle?”AndFeyd-Rauthafeltproudthathisvoiceremainedcalmandreasonable,betrayingnoneoftheelationthatfilledhim.
TheBaron,too,notedthecontrol.Henodded.“You’regoodmaterial,Feyd.
Idon’twastegoodmaterial.Youpersist,however,inrefusingtolearnmytruevaluetoyou.Youareobstinate.YoudonotseewhyIshouldbepreservedassomeoneoftheutmostvaluetoyou.This....”Hegesturedattheevidenceofthestruggleinthebedchamber.“Thiswasfoolishness.Idonotrewardfoolishness.
