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Shaddam growled deep in his throat。 〃Because somehow Leto knows about your artificial…spice activities on Ix。〃
Alarm finally registered on Ajidica's masked features。 〃Impossible！ We have maintained the utmost security。〃
〃Then why did he send me a message？〃 Shaddam demanded as he half stood from his seat。 〃Leto is using this knowledge as a bargaining chip； to blackmail me。 If he is found guilty at trial； he will expose all of your work； and our collusion in it。 I'll be faced with a rebellion in the Landsraad。 Think of it my father； with my help； allowed a Great House of the Landsraad to be overthrown。 Unprecedented！ And not just by any rival House； but by you。。。the Tleilaxu。〃
Now the researcher seemed to take offense； but still did not respond。
Shaddam groaned； then remembered appearances and glowered instead。 〃If it bees known that I did all this in order to have access to a private source of artificial spice； thereby cutting the Landsraad and the Bene Gesserit and the Guild out of their profits； my reign won't last a week。〃
〃Then we are at an impasse； m'Lord。〃
〃No； we are not！〃 Shaddam roared。 〃The pilot of the surviving Tleilaxu ship is your key witness。 Get him to change his story。 Perhaps he didn't see everything as clearly as he thought at first。 You will be well rewarded； both from my coffers and from those of House Atreides。〃
〃Not sufficient； Sire；〃 Ajidica said with a maddeningly impassive expression。 〃The Atreides must be humiliated for what they have done。 They must be embarrassed。 Leto must pay。〃
The Emperor looked down his nose in disdain at the Tleilaxu researcher。 His voice was cold and controlled。 〃Would you like me to send more Sardaukar to Ix？ I'm sure another few legions walking the streets would keep a very close eye on your activities there。〃
Ajidica still revealed no emotion。
Shaddam's gaze turned stony。 〃For month after month I've waited； and still you haven't produced what I needed。 Now you say it could take decades more。 Neither of us will last that long if Leto exposes us。〃
The Crown Prince finished eating the slig morsels and pushed the plate away。 Though the dish had been prepared perfectly； he had barely tasted it because his mind was elsewhere； distracted by the throbbing within his skull。 Why did being Emperor have to be so difficult？
〃Do what you will； Sire；〃 Ajidica said； his voice more strident than Shaddam had ever heard it。 〃Leto Atreides is not forgiven and must be punished。〃
Wrinkling his nose； Shaddam dismissed the little man； gesturing for the Sardaukar to haul him away。 Since he would soon be the Emperor of the Known Universe； he had many other things to do； important things。
If only he could get rid of this damned headache。
The worst sort of protection is confidence。 The best defense is suspicion。
…HASIMIR FENRING
Thufir Hawat and Rhombur Vernius could leave the cell at their leisure； while Leto was honor…bound to remain； in part for his own safety。 The Mentat and the Ixian Prince often went out to discuss testimony with various crew members from the Atreides frigate and anyone else who might help their cause in any way。
Leto； meanwhile； sat at the desk alone in his cell。 Although the old Mentat had always trained him never to sit with his back to a door； Leto felt that he should be safe enough inside a maximum…security cell。
For the moment he reveled in a few moments of silence and concentration as he pored over the copious evidence projections that had been prepared for him。 Even with Sardaukar guards as escorts； he would have been reluctant to walk through the Imperial Palace knowing that the shadow of accusation still hung over him。 He would face his peers soon enough and proclaim his innocence。
He heard a noise at the cell confinement field behind him； but delayed looking back。 With a humming scriber in his hand； he finished a paragraph about the plete destruction of the first Tleilaxu ship； noting a technical detail he hadn't considered before。
〃Thufir？〃 Leto asked。 〃Have you forgotten something？〃 Casually； he glanced over his shoulder。
A tall Landsraad guard stood there in a colorful； billowing uniform。 The man wore a strange expression on his broad face； especially in the dark eyes。 His skin looked pasty； as if painted on。 And Leto spotted something different about the body； an odd lumpiness in the man's peculiar； jerky movements。 A disturbing； grayish tone to the skin on the hands； but not the face。。。
Reaching under his desk； Leto slid his fingers over the handle of a knife that Hawat had sneaked into the cell for him。 It hadn't been difficult for the warrior Mentat。 Leto felt the hilt； gripped it without shifting his position or changing the placid and expectant expression on his face。
Every lesson the weapons master had ever taught him simmered in his muscles； alert and ready。 Spring…coiled； Leto didn't speak； didn't challenge the intruder。 But he knew something was wrong； and his life was on the line。
In a heartbeat the tall man slipped out of the voluminous uniform； maneuvering the static…seals that held the cloth together…and when the fabric slid away； so did the dull； expressionless face。 A mask！ The hands and lower arms went； too； dropping in a pile on the floor of the cell。
Dizzy with confusion； Leto threw himself to one side； tumbled off the chair onto the floor； and crouched beside the slim shelter of the desk。 He held the knife ready； still out of the intruder's view； and considered his options。
The tall guard's body split at the waist； as if breaking in half and a pair of Tleilaxu men spun around to face him； each a leathery…faced dwarf。 One leaped down from the shoulders of the other and tumbled to the floor。 They were both dressed in tight black outfits that showed every rippling； thick muscle。
The Tleilaxu assassins moved away from one another； circling him。 Their tiny eyes glittered like buckshot。 Something gleamed in each of their hands four weapons； indistinct but assuredly deadly。 Leaping wildly at Leto； one of the Tleilaxu screeched； 〃Die； powindah devil！〃
In a flash； Leto considered crawling under the desk or the cart； but first he decided to even the odds by killing one of the attackers。。。to keep them from acting in a coordinated plan。 With well…practiced aim； he hurled Hawat's knife。 It found its mark； pierced the dwarf's jugular and knocked him backward。
A silvery dart whizzed by Leto's ear； and now he rolled behind the holo…cart； which continued to project images above the desk。 A second dart struck the wall beside his head； chipping the stone。
Then he heard the hum of a lasgun。 An arc of purple light filled the room。
The second Tleilaxu's body slammed into the holo…cart； knocking it over。 His face oozed onto the floor； liquefied by the hot beam of light。 His body collapsed near Leto's hiding place。
Thufir Hawat and a Landsraad guard captain strode into the cell and looked down at Leto。 Behind them； guards inspected the two black…clad bodies。 A burned…meat odor hung in the air。
〃Somehow they got past our security；〃 the captain said。
〃I wouldn't call that security；〃 Hawat snapped at him。
One of the guards said； 〃This one's got a knife in his throat。〃
〃Where'd the knife e from？〃 The captain helped Leto to his feet。 〃Did you throw it； sir？〃
Leto glanced at his Mentat； but left it for Hawat to answer。 〃With all your security； Captain；〃 Hawat said with a withering sneer； 〃how could anyone possibly smuggle a weapon in here？〃
〃I wrested it from one of the attackers；〃 Leto said； his expression confident。 〃Then I killed him with it。〃 He blinked his gray eyes。 His body trembled with the after…rush of adrenaline。 〃I guess the Bene Tleilax couldn't wait for the trial to be over。〃
〃Vermilion hells！〃 Rhombur said； stepping in and looking around at the mess。 〃On the； uh； bright side； this won't look good for the Tleilaxu in the trial。 If they were so sure of winning； why should they try to take justice into their own hands？〃
Flushing in embarrassment； the guard captain turned to his men and directed them in the removal of the bodies and in the cleanup。
〃The assassins fired two darts；〃 Leto said； pointing to where the needles had stuck。
〃Be careful handling them；〃 Hawat said。 〃They're probably poisoned。〃
When Leto； Rhombur； and Hawat were alone again； the Mentat slipped a smuggled maula pistol into a bottom drawer of the desk。
〃Just in case；〃 he said。 〃Next time a dagger might not be sufficient。〃
As seen from orbit； the world of Ix is pristine and placid。 But beneath its surface； immense projects are undertaken and great works are achieved。 In this way； our planet is a metaphor for the Imperium itself。
…DOMINIC VERNIUS；
The Secret Workings of Ix
Smug and very satisfied； Hasimir Fenring extended to Shaddam a sheaf of covert documents written in the private language he and the Crown Prince had developed during their childhood。 The grand audience hall echoed with every whisper and sound； but they could be confident in their own secrets。 Shaddam sat wearily on the heavy throne； and the Hagal…crystal dais shone with inner illumination like a firelit aquamarine。
Fenring twitched with enough nervous energy for both of them。 〃These are