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He walked up the ramp； looking straight ahead； not knowing where he was going。 Lost and parentless； without any idea of what he would do next； Duncan Idaho headed off。。。。
RENNO GAVE HIM no fort and little nourishment； but at least he left the boy in peace。 What Duncan Idaho needed most in the entire universe was time to recover； a few days to sort out his memories and learn to live with the ones he could not forget。
He slept alone like a rat in the cargo hold of the battered transport； surrounded by scrap metal and recyclables。 None of it was soft； but he still slept well enough on the rust…smelling floor； with his back against a cold bulkhead。 It was the most peaceful time he'd had in recent memory。
Finally； when the ship descended toward Caladan to deliver its load and dump him alone and friendless on a strange world； Duncan was ready for anything。 He had his drive and his energy； nothing would sway him from his chosen quest。
Now he just had to find Duke Paulus Atreides。
History allows us to see the obvious but unfortunately； not until it is too late。
…PRINCE RAPHAEL CORRINO
When he surveyed Leto's bedraggled black hair； his dust…smeared clothes； and the perspiration streaks down his cheeks； Rhombur actually chuckled。 He meant no insult by his response； but seemed incapable of believing the preposterous story Leto had told。 He stood back and assessed his friend。 〃Vermilion hells！ Don't you think you're； uh。。。overreacting a bit； Leto？〃
Rhombur strode over to one of the broad windows。 Alcoves all along the wall of the stocky Prince's room displayed handpicked geological oddities； his delight and pride。 Far beyond the amenities of his station as the Earl's son； Rhombur found joy in his collection of minerals； crystals； and gems。 He could have purchased more magnificent specimens many times over； but the Prince had personally found each rock in his own explorations of cave floors and small tunnels。
But in all his explorations； Rhombur indeed； the entire Vernius ruling family had been blind to the unrest among the workers。 Now Leto understood why the Old Duke had insisted that his son learn to read his subjects and know the mood of the populace。 〃At the heart of it all； lad； we rule at their sufferance；〃 Paulus had told him； 〃though thankfully most of the population doesn't realize it。 If you're a good enough ruler； none of your people will think to question it。〃
As if embarrassed by Leto's dramatic news and rumpled appearance； the tousle…haired young man peered down at the swirling masses of workers in the production yards below。 Everything seemed quiet； business as usual。 〃Leto； Leto。。。〃 He pointed a pudgy finger at the apparently content lower classes who labored like dutiful drones。 〃Suboids can't even decide for themselves what to eat for dinner； much less band together and start a rebellion。 That takes too much。。。initiative。〃
Leto shook his head； still panting。 His sweaty hair clung to his forehead。 He felt more shaky now that he was safe； sitting slumped in a fortable self…forming chair in Rhombur's private quarters。 When he'd been fleeing for his life； he had reacted on instinct alone。 Now； trying to relax； he couldn't keep his pulse from racing。 He took a long gulp of sour cidrit juice from a goblet on Rhombur's breakfast tray。
〃I'm only reporting what I saw； Rhombur； and I don't imagine threats。 I've seen enough real ones to know the difference。〃 He leaned forward； his gray eyes flashing at his friend。 〃I tell you； something's going on。 The suboids were talking about overthrowing House Vernius； tearing down what you've built； and taking Ix for themselves。 They were preparing for violence。〃
Rhombur hesitated； as if still waiting to hear the punch line。 〃Well； I'll tell my father。 You can give him your version of the events； and I'm； uh； sure he'll look into the matter。〃
Leto's shoulders sagged。 What if Earl Vernius ignored the problem until it was too late？
Rhombur brushed down his purple tunic and smiled； then scratched his head in perplexity。 It seemed to take great stamina for him to address the subject again； he appeared genuinely baffled。 〃But。。。if you've been down there； Leto； you see that we take care of the suboids。 They're given food； shelter； families； jobs。 Sure； maybe we take the lion's share of the profits。。。that's the way of things。 That's our society。 But we don't abuse our workers。 What can they possibly plain about？〃
〃Maybe they see it differently；〃 Leto said。 〃Physical oppression isn't the only kind of abuse。〃
Rhombur brightened； then extended his hand。 〃e； my friend。 This might just make an interesting twist for our political lectures today。 We can use it as a hypothetical case。〃
Leto followed； more saddened than distraught。 He was afraid the Ixians would never see this trouble as anything more than an interesting political discussion。
FROM THE TALLEST spire of the Grand Palais； Earl Dominic Vernius ruled an industrial empire hidden from outside view。 The big man paced back and forth on the transparent floor of his Orb Office that hung like a magnificent crystal ball from the cavern ceiling。
The office walls and floor were constructed of perfectly bonded Ixian glass with no seams or distortions； he seemed to be walking on air； floating over his domain。 At times； Dominic felt like a deity on high； gazing out upon his universe。 He ran a callused palm across his smooth； newly shaven head； the skin still tingled there from the invigorating lotions Shando used when she massaged his scalp。
His daughter Kailea sat in a suspensor chair and watched him。 He approved of her taking an interest in Ixian business； but today he felt too troubled to spend much time debating with her。 He brushed imaginary crumbs off his newly laundered sleeveless tunic； turned about； and circled his quicksilver desk again。
Kailea continued to study him； offering no advice； though his daughter understood the problem they faced。
Dominic didn't expect old 〃Roody〃 to roll over and meekly accept the loss of tax revenues caused by the new Ixian Heighliner design。 No； the Emperor would find some way to twist a simple business decision into a personal affront； but Dominic had no idea how the retaliation would e； or where it would strike。 Elrood had always been unpredictable。
〃You just have to stay one step ahead of him；〃 Kailea said。 〃You're good at that。〃 She thought of the wily way her father had stolen the Emperor's concubine right out from under his nose。。。and how Elrood had never forgotten the fact。 The slightest touch of resentment darkened her words。 She would rather have grown up on marvelous Kaitain； instead of here； under the ground。
〃I can't stay ahead of him if I don't know which direction he's moving；〃 Dominic replied。 The Ixian Earl seemed to be floating upside down； with the solid rock ceiling and the spires of the Grand Palais above his head； and only open air beneath his feet。
Kailea straightened the lace on her gown； adjusted the trim； and bent as she studied shipping records and pared manifests again； hoping to determine a better pattern for distributing Ixian technology。 Dominic didn't expect her to do better than his experts； but he let her have her fun。 Her idea to send out Ixian self…learning fighting meks to a few black market dealers had been a stroke of genius。
He paused a moment for a wistful smile that made his long mustache sink into the seams around his mouth。 His daughter was stunningly beautiful； a work of art in every way； made to be an ornament in some great lord's household。。。but she was sharp…witted； too。 Kailea was a strange mixture； all right： fascinated by court games and styles and everything to do with the grandeur of Kaitain； but also doggedly determined to prehend the workings of House Vernius。 Even at her age； she understood that behind…the…scenes business plexities were a woman's real key to power in the Imperium unless she joined the Bene Gesserit。
Dominic didn't think his daughter understood Shando's decision to leave the Imperial Court and e with him to Ix。 Why would the lover of the most powerful man in the universe leave all that splendor to marry a weather…beaten war hero who lived in a city underground？ At times； Dominic wondered the same thing； but his love for Shando knew no bounds； and his wife often told him she had never regretted her decision。
Kailea offered a stark contrast with her mother in all but appearance。 The young woman couldn't possibly be fortable in her extravagant clothes and finery； yet she wore her best at all times； as if afraid she might miss an opportunity。 Perhaps she resented the lost chances in her life； and would rather be warded off to a sponsor in the Imperial Palace。 He'd noticed that she toyed with the affections of the twin sons of Ambassador Pilru； as if marriage to one of them might tie her to the embassy on Kaitain。 But C'tair and D'murr Pilru were scheduled to test for positions in the Spacing Guild； and if they passed the examination they would be off…planet within a week。 At any rate； Dominic was sure he could arrange a much more profitable match for his only female child。
Perhaps even to Leto Atreides。。。
A eye blinked yellow on the wall； interrupting his thoughts。 A