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n。 It is already arranged。〃
They stood just inside the high…arched doorway of the Imperial audience chamber； beneath glorious ceiling frescoes of epic events from the history of the Corrino family： the blood of the Jihad； the desperate last stand on the Bridge of Hrethgir； the destruction of thinking machines。 Shaddam had always found ancient Imperial history ponderous and boring； with little relevance to his current goals。 Centuries and centuries ago didn't matter he just hoped it wouldn't take that long for a change in the Palace。
In the echoing hall； the Padishah Emperor's magnificent jeweled throne sat invitingly empty。 Court functionaries and a few dark…robed Bene Gesserit scuttled about in side passages and alcoves； trying to remain unseen。 A pair of heavily armed Sardaukar guards stood at the dais steps； attentive。 Shaddam wondered whether they would obey him right now； knowing his father lay sick in his chambers。 He decided not to test the idea。 Too soon。
〃We are all familiar with promises；〃 the doctor said。 〃Still； I wish to see the payment first。〃 Stubborn tone； an impertinent upward gaze that didn't move from Shaddam； even though the Crown Prince hadn't done much talking。 Yungar chose to play strange power games； but soon he would be out of his league。
〃Payment before even looking at the patient？〃 the Chamberlain gasped。 〃Where are your priorities； man？〃
Finally； Dr。 Yungar deigned to look over at Hesban。 〃You have dealt with us before； Chamberlain； and you know the costs of producing a Suk doctor； fully conditioned； fully trained。〃
As heir to the Golden Lion Throne； Shaddam was familiar with Suk Imperial Conditioning； which guaranteed absolute loyalty to a patient。 In centuries of medical history； no one had ever managed to subvert a graduate of the Inner School。
Some members of the royal Court had a hard time reconciling the legendary Suk loyalty with their incessant greed。 The doctors never wavered from the clear but unstated position that they would not minister to anyone not even to an Emperor on a mere promise of remuneration。 Suk doctors extended no credit。 Payment had to be tangible and immediate。
Yungar spoke in an irritating whine。 〃Though we are perhaps not as prominent as the Mentats or the Bene Gesserit； the Suk School is still one of the greatest in the Imperium。 My equipment alone costs more than most planets。〃 Yungar pointed to a suspensor pod at his side。 〃I do not receive your payment on my own behalf； of course。 I am only a custodian； holding it in a fiduciary capacity。 When I return； your credits go with me to the Suk School； for the benefit of mankind。〃
Hesban glared at him with unconcealed loathing； his face turning ruddy； his mustaches twitching。 〃Or at least to benefit that portion of mankind that can afford your services。〃
〃Correct； Chamberlain。〃
Seeing the doctor's staunch and misplaced self…importance； Shaddam shuddered。 When he sat on the throne himself； he wondered if he could initiate any changes to put these Suks in their place。。。。 He caught his rambling thoughts and quelled them。 All in due time。
He sighed。 His father Elrood had let too many threads of control slip right through his fingers。 Fenring was right。 As much as Shaddam despised dirtying his fingers with blood； removing the ancient Emperor was a necessary action。
〃If cost of treatment is your paramount concern；〃 the Suk doctor said； quietly goading the Chamberlain； 〃you are wele to hire a less expensive physician for the Emperor of the Known Universe。〃
〃Enough bickering。 e with me； Doctor；〃 Shaddam said； taking charge。 Dr。 Yungar nodded； then turned his back on the Chamberlain； as if he was of no consequence whatsoever。
〃Now I know why you people have the shape of a diamond tattooed on your foreheads；〃 Hesban growled as he followed behind them。 〃You always have treasure on your minds。〃
The Crown Prince led the way to a security…shielded antechamber and passed through a shimmering electrical curtain to the inner vault。 On a golden table at the center of the room lay opafire pendants； danikins of melange； and fold…pouches partially open to reveal glittering soostones。
〃This will be sufficient；〃 the Suk said。 〃Unless the treatment proves to be more involved than we expect。〃 With his floating equipment pod at his side like a dutiful pet dog； the doctor shuffled back the way they had e。 〃I already know the way to the Emperor's chamber。〃 Without explanation； Yungar hurried through a doorway and up the grand staircase that led to the guarded bedroom suites where the Emperor rested。
Sardaukar guards remained behind at the force field that protected the treasure vault； while Shaddam and Hesban marched after the doctor。 Fenring would already be waiting at the dying old man's side； making his annoying humming noises and making sure none of the treatment could potentially be successful。
THE WITHERED EMPEROR lay on an enormous four…poster bed beneath a canopy of the finest merh…silks embroidered in the ancient Terran method。 The bedposts were carved ucca； a fast…growing hardwood native to Elacca。 Soothing fountains； set into alcoves in the walls； trickled fresh water； bubbling and whispering。 Scented glowglobes tuned to the low range floated in the corners of the room。
As Shaddam and Fenring stood together and watched； the Suk doctor waved a liveried attendant away and mounted the two shallow steps to the bedside。 Three lovely Imperial concubines hovered behind the ailing man； as if their mere presence could revitalize him。 The old man's stink clung to the air； despite the ventilation and the incense。
Emperor Elrood wore slick royal satins and an old…fashioned sleeping cap that covered his liver…spotted scalp。 He lay atop the covers； since he had plained about being too warm。 The man looked haggard； could barely keep his eyes open。
Shaddam was pleased to see how markedly his father's health had declined since the Tleilaxu Ambassador's visit。 Still； Elrood had good days and bad days； and he had the annoying habit of recovering his vitality after a significant downslide like this one。
A tall mug of cool spice beer rested on a tray beside his clawed and ring…bedecked hand； next to a second empty mug。 And mounted on the bed canopy； Shaddam noted the waving insect arms of a poisonsnooper。
You must be thirsty； Father； Shaddam thought。 Drink more of the beer。
The doctor opened his suspensor pod to reveal shiny instruments； clicking scanners； and colored vials of testing liquids。 Reaching inside the kit； Yungar brought out a small white device； which he passed over Elrood。
After tugging off the satin sleeping cap to reveal the sweaty scalp； Dr。 Yungar scanned Elrood's skull； lifting the old man's head to check all around。 Looking small and weak and old； the Emperor grumbled at the disfort。
Shaddam wondered what he himself would look like after 150 years。。。preferably at the end of a long and glorious reign。 He fought back a smile and held his breath during the examination。 Beside him； Fenring remained calm and aloof。 Only the Chamberlain scowled。
The doctor withdrew his scanner； then studied the Imperial patient's case…history cube。 Presently he announced to the groggy old man； 〃Even melange can't keep you young forever； Sire。 At your age； health naturally begins to decline。 Sometimes rapidly。〃
Inaudibly； Shaddam released a sigh of relief。
With great difficulty Elrood sat up； and his concubines propped tasseled pillows behind him。 His cadaverous； parchment face creased in a deep frown。 〃But only a few months ago I felt so much better。〃
〃Aging is not a perfect downhill graph。 There are peaks and valleys； recoveries and slowdowns。〃 The doctor had the audacity to use a know…it…all tone that implied the Emperor could not understand such plex concepts。 〃The human body is a chemical and bioelectric soup； and changes are often triggered by seemingly inconsequential events。 You have been under stress lately？〃
〃I'm the Emperor！〃 Elrood snapped； this time responding as if the Suk were unbearably stupid。 〃I have many responsibilities。 Of course this causes stress。〃
〃Then start to delegate more to the Crown Prince and to your trusted aides； such as Fenring over there。 You're not going to live forever； you know。 Not even an Emperor can do that。 Plan for the future。〃 Smugly； the doctor snapped shut his case。 Shaddam wanted to embrace him。 〃I will leave you with a prescription and devices to make you feel better。〃
〃The only prescription I want is more spice in my beer。〃 Elrood took a deep drink from his mug； slurping loudly。
〃As you wish；〃 the scrawny Suk doctor said。 From the suspensor pod he removed a satchel； which he placed on a side table。 〃These are muscle…soothing devices； in case you need them。 Instructions are contained with each unit。 Have your concubines use them on your aches。〃
〃All right； all right；〃 Elrood said。 〃Now leave me。 I have work to do。〃
Dr。 Yungar backed down the steps from the bed platform with a bow。 〃With your permission； Sire。〃
Impatiently； the Emperor waved a gnarled hand in dismissal。 The concubines moved about； whispering to each other； watching with wide eyes。 Two of them picked up muscle…soothing devices and toyed with the c