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Book Three: The Prophet
Suchquestionsarenotencouraged.”
TheBaron’seyesglazedwiththought.“Yes,averycarefullykeptsecret.
They’duseeverydeviceof—”
“Besides,what’stheretoconceal?”Hawatasked.“ThatthePadishahEmperorhasaprisonplanet?Everyoneknowsthis.Thathehas—”
“CountFenring!”theBaronblurted.
Hawatbrokeoff,studiedtheBaronwithapuzzledfrown.“WhatofCountFenring?”
“Atmynephew’sbirthdayseveralyearsago,”theBaronsaid.“ThisImperialpopinjay,CountFenring,cameasofficialobserverandto...ah,concludeabusinessarrangementbetweentheEmperorandmyself.”
“So?”
“I...ah,duringoneofourconversations,IbelieveIsaidsomethingaboutmakingaprisonplanetofArrakis.Fenring—”
“Whatdidyousayexactly?”Hawatasked.
“Exactly?Thatwasquiteawhileagoand—”
“MyLordBaron,ifyouwishtomakethebestuseofmyservices,youmustgivemeadequateinformation.Wasn’tthisconversationrecorded?”
TheBaron’sfacedarkenedwithanger.“You’reasbadasPiter!Idon’tlikethese—”
“Piterisnolongerwithyou,myLord,”Hawatsaid.“Astothat,whateverdidhappentoPiter?”
“Hebecametoofamiliar,toodemandingofme,”theBaronsaid.
“Youassuremeyoudon’twasteausefulman,”Hawatsaid.“Willyouwastemebythreatsandquibbling?WewerediscussingwhatyousaidtoCountFenring.”
Slowly,theBaroncomposedhisfeatures.Whenthetimecomes,hethought,I’llrememberhismannerwithme.Yes.Iwillremember.
