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n accusing finger and nodding in satisfaction。 Leto looked over at the charcoal…colored ovoid。 〃Are you saying that thing has a brain？〃
〃By all the saints and sinners； you mean in violation of the strictures after the Great Revolt？〃 Captain Zhaz replied in stern surprise。 〃 'Thou shalt not make a machine in the likeness of the human mind。'〃
〃We're； uh； very careful about that； Leto；〃 Rhombur said； using a purple towel to wipe sweat from the back of his neck。 〃Nothing to worry about。〃
Leto didn't back down。 〃Well； if the mek scans people； if it reads them as you said； how does it process the information？ If not through a puter brain； then how？ This isn't just a reactive device。 It learns and tailors its attack。〃
Kailea jotted notes down on her crystal pad and adjusted one of the gold bs in her copper…dark hair。 〃There are many gray areas； Leto； and if we tread very carefully House Vernius stands to make a tremendous profit。〃 She ran a fingertip along her curved lips。 〃Still； it might be best to test the waters by offering some unmarked models on the black market first。〃
〃Don't trouble yourself； Leto；〃 Rhombur said； avoiding the unfortable subject。 His tousled blond hair still dripped with sweat； and his skin showed a flush from his exertion。 〃House Vernius has teams of Mentats and legal advisors scrutinizing the letter of the law。〃 He looked over at his sister for reassurance。 She nodded absently。
In some of his instruction sessions in the Grand Palais； Leto had learned of interplanetary patent disputes； minor technicalities； subtle loopholes。 Had the Ixians e up with a substantially different way of using mechanical units to process data； one that did not raise the spectre of thinking machines like those that had enslaved mankind for so many centuries？ He didn't see how House Vernius could have created a self…learning； reactive； adaptable fighting mek without somehow going over the line into Jihad violation。
If his mother ever found out； she would haul him home from Ix； no matter what his father might say。
〃Let's see just how good this product is；〃 Leto said； taking up a weapon and turning his back on Kailea。 He could feel her eyes on his bare shoulders； the muscles of his neck。 Zhaz stood back casually to watch。
Leto shifted his pike from hand to hand and jogged onto the floor。 Taking a classic fighting stance； he called out a degree of difficulty to the charcoal oval shape。 〃Seven point two…four！〃 Eight notches higher than the time before。
The mek refused to move。
〃Too high；〃 the training master said； thrusting his bearded chin forward。 〃I disabled the dangerous higher levels。〃
Leto scowled。 The fight instructor did not want to challenge his students； or risk more than the slightest injury。 Thufir Hawat would have laughed out loud。
〃Are you trying to show off for the young lady； Master Atreides？ Could get you killed。〃
Looking at Kailea； he saw her watching him； a bemused； teasing expression on her face。 She quickly turned to the ridulian pad and scratched a few more ciphers。 He flushed； felt the hotness。 Zhaz reached over to grab a soft towel from a rack and tossed it to Leto。
〃The session's over。 Distractions of this sort are not good for your training； and can lead to serious injury。〃 He turned to the Princess。 〃Lady Kailea； I request that you avoid the training floor whenever Leto Atreides is fighting our meks。 Too many hormones in the way。〃 The guard captain could not cover his amusement。 〃Your presence could be more dangerous than any enemy。〃
We must do a thing on Arrakis never before attempted for an entire planet。 We must use man as a constructive ecological force inserting adapted terraform life： a plant here； an animal there； a man in that place to transform the water cycle； to build a new kind of landscape。
…Report from Imperial Planetologist PARDOT KYNES； directed to Padishah EMPEROR ELROOD IX （unsent）
When the blood…spattered Fremen youths asked Pardot Kynes to acpany them； he didn't know whether he was to be their guest or prisoner。 Either way； the prospect intrigued him。 Finally； he would have his chance to experience their mysterious culture firsthand。
One of the young men quickly and efficiently carried his injured panion over to Kynes's small groundcar。 The other Fremen reached into the back storage partments and tossed out Kynes's painstakingly collected geological samples to make more room。 The Planetologist was too astonished to object； besides； he didn't want to alienate these people he wanted to learn more about them。
In moments； they had stuffed the bodies of the dead Harkonnen bravos into the bins； no doubt for some Fremen purpose。 Perhaps a further ritual desecration of their enemies。 He ruled out the unlikely possibility that the youths simply wished to bury the dead。 Are they hiding the bodies for fear of reprisals？ That； too； seemed wrong somehow； not in keeping with what little he had heard about Fremen。 Or will these desert folk render them for resources； reclaiming the water in their tissues？
Then； without asking； without giving thanks or making any ment whatsoever； the first grim Fremen youth took the vehicle； its injured passenger； and the bodies； and drove off rapidly； spewing sand and dust in all directions。 Kynes watched it go； along with his desert…survival kit and maps； including many he had prepared himself。
He found himself alone with the third young man a guard； or a friend？ If these Fremen meant to strand him without his supplies； he would be dead before long。 Perhaps he could get his bearings and make it back to the village of Windsack on foot； but he had paid little attention to the locations of population centers during his recent wanderings。 An inauspicious end for an Imperial Planetologist； he thought。
Or perhaps the young men he'd rescued wanted something else from him。 Because of his own newly formed dreams for the future of Arrakis； Kynes desperately wanted to know the Fremen and their unorthodox ways。 Clearly； these people were a valuable secret hidden from Imperial eyes。 He thought they'd be sure to greet him with enthusiasm once he told them his ideas。
The remaining Fremen youth used a small patch…kit to repair a fabric rip on the leg of his stillsuit； then said； 〃e with me。〃 He turned toward a sheer rock wall a short distance away。 〃Follow； or you'll die out here。〃 He flashed an indigo…eyed glare over his shoulder。 His face held a hard humor； an impish smile as he said； 〃Do you think the Harkonnens will take long to seek vengeance for their dead？〃
Kynes hurried to him。 〃Wait！ You haven't told me your name。〃
The young man looked at him strangely； he had the blue…within…blue eyes of long spice addiction； and weathered skin that gave him an appearance of age far beyond his years。 〃Is it worthwhile to exchange names？ The Fremen already know who you are。〃
Kynes blinked。 〃Well； I did just save your life and the lives of your panions。 Doesn't that count for something among your people？ It does in most societies。〃
The young man seemed startled； then resigned。 〃You are right。 You have forged a water bond between us。 I am called Turok。 Now we must go。〃
Water bond？ Kynes suppressed his questions and trailed after his panion。
In his well…worn stillsuit； Turok scrambled over the rocks toward the vertical cliff。 Kynes trudged beside fallen boulders； slipping on loose footing。 Only as they approached did the Planetologist notice a discontinuity in the strata； a seam that split the old uplifted rock； forming a fissure camouflaged by dust and muted colors。
The Fremen slipped inside； penetrating the shadows with the speed of a desert lizard。 Curious and anxious not to bee lost； Kynes followed； moving quickly。 He hoped he would get a chance to meet more of the Fremen and learn about them。 He didn't waste time considering that Turok might be leading him into a trap。 What would be the point？ The young man could easily have killed him out in the open。
Turok stopped in the cool shade； giving Kynes a moment to catch up。 He pointed toward specific places on the wall near him。 〃There； there and there。〃 Without waiting to see if his charge understood； the youth stepped in each indicated spot； near…invisible handholds and footholds。 The young man slithered up the cliff； and Kynes did his best to climb after。 Turok seemed to be playing a game with him； testing him somehow。
But the Planetologist surprised him。 He was no water…fat bureaucrat； no mere bumbler into places where he didn't belong。 As a wanderer on some of the harshest worlds the Imperium had to offer； he was in good shape。
Kynes kept pace with the youth； climbing up behind him； using the tips of his fingers to haul his body higher。 Moments after the Fremen boy stopped and squatted on a narrow ledge； Kynes sat beside him； trying not to pant。
〃Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth；〃 Turok said。 〃Your filters are more efficient that way。〃 He nodded in faint admiration。 〃I think you might make it all the way to the sietch。〃
〃What's a sietch？〃 Kynes asked。 He vaguely recognized the ancient Chakobsa language； but had not studied archaeology or phonetics。 He had always found it irrelevant to his scientific study。
〃A secret pla