Дюна
Book Three: The Prophet
Tellme,whyaren’tyouworriedabouthisabsence?”
“ButIamworried,Majesty!”
TheEmperorcontinuedtostareathim,waiting.TheReverendMotheremittedacacklinglaugh.
“WhatImean,Majesty,”theBaronsaid,“isthatHawatwillbedeadwithinanotherfewhours,anyway.”Andheexplainedaboutthelatentpoisonandneedforanantidote.
“Howcleverofyou,Baron,”theEmperorsaid.“Andwhereareyournephews,RabbanandtheyoungFeyd-Rautha?”
“Thestormcomes,Majesty.IsentthemtoinspectourperimeterlesttheFremenattackundercoverofthesand.”
“Perimeter,”theEmperorsaid.Thewordcameoutasthoughitpuckeredhismouth.“Thestormwon’tbemuchhereinthebasin,andthatFremenrabblewon’tattackwhileI’mherewithfivelegionsofSardaukar.”
“Surelynot,Majesty,”theBaronsaid,“Buterroronthesideofcautioncannotbecensured.”
“Ah-h-h-h,”theEmperorsaid.“Censure.ThenI’mnottospeakofhowmuchtimethisArrakisnonsensehastakenfromme?NortheCHOAM
Companyprofitspouringdownthisrathole?NorthecourtfunctionsandaffairsofstateI’vehadtodelay—evencancel—becauseofthisstupidaffair?”
TheBaronloweredhisgaze,frightenedbytheImperialanger.Thedelicacyofhispositionhere,aloneanddependentupontheConventionandthedictumfamiliaoftheGreatHouses,frettedhim.Doeshemeantokillme?theBaronaskedhimself.Hecouldn’t!NotwiththeotherGreatHouseswaitingupthere,achingforanyexcusetogainfromthisupsetonArrakis.
“Haveyoutakenhostages?”theEmperorasked.
