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dared to kill the long…awaited messenger sent by God！
But he had accepted a mission from his sietch leader； and knew that the crysknife could never be put away without shedding blood。 In this case； the dilemma could not be resolved by a minor cut either； for the blade was poisoned； the merest scratch would kill。
Those facts could not be reconciled with each other。 Uliet's hands trembled on the hilt of the curved knife。
Without noticing that everyone had fallen silent around him； Kynes rambled on about windtrap placement； but his audience； knowing what must happen； watched their esteemed warrior。
Then Uliet's mouth watered。 He tried not to think of it； but as if in a dream he seemed to taste the sweet； sticky juice of portyguls； fresh fruit that one could simply pluck from a tree and eat。。。a mouthful of lush pulp washed down with pure water from an open pond。 Water for everyone。
Uliet took a step back； and another； holding the knife up in a ceremonial gesture。 He took a third step away； as Kynes spoke of wheat… and rye…covered plains and gentle rain showers in the spring。
The assassin turned； dizzy； thinking of the two words the messenger had said to him； 〃Remove yourself。〃
He turned away and stared down at the knife he held in front of him。 Then； Uliet swayed； stopped； then swayed forward again； deliberately and fell on his knife。 His knees did not bend； nor did he flinch or try to avoid his fate as he let himself fall facefirst onto the floor； onto the tip of the blade。 The poisoned crysknife plunged below his sternum and up into his heart。 Sprawled on the stone floor； his body trembled。 Within moments Uliet was dead。 There was very little blood。
The sietch audience cried out at the omen they had just witnessed and backed away。 Now； as the Fremen gazed at Kynes with religious awe； his words finally stuttered to a halt。 He turned and saw the sacrifice this Fremen had just made for him； the bloodletting。
〃What's going on here？〃 Kynes demanded。 〃Who was that man？〃
The watermen rushed forward to remove Uliet's body。 With a rustle of robes； a shrouding of blankets and towels and cloths； they whisked away the fallen assassin； taking him to the deathstills for processing。
The other Fremen now stared at Kynes with reverence。 〃Look！ God has shown us what to do；〃 one woman exclaimed。 〃He has guided Uliet。 He has spoken to Pardot Kynes。〃
〃Umma Kynes；〃 someone said。 Prophet Kynes。
One man stood up and glared at the others gathered around。 〃We would be fools not to listen to him now。〃
Runners departed and dashed through the sietch。 Not understanding the Fremen religion； Kynes couldn't grasp it all。
From that point on； however； he didn't think he would have trouble getting anyone to listen to him。
No outsider has ever seen a Tleilaxu female and lived to tell about it。 Considering the Tleilaxu penchant for genetic manipulation see； e。g。； related memos on clones and gholas this simple observation raises a wealth of additional questions。
…Bene Gesserit Analysis
A breathless Ixian woman with full Courier credentials arrived on Kaitain； bearing an important munique for the Emperor。 She marched into the Palace without pause； stopping to answer no questions。 Even Cammar Pilru； the official Ambassador from Ix； had not yet heard the message or the dire news of the underground suboid revolt。
Since instantaneous foldspace munication did not exist between planets； certified and bonded Couriers booked passage on express Heighliners； bearing flash…memorized munications for personal delivery to the intended recipients。 The net result was much faster than radio or other electronic signals that would take years to cross vast space。
Under the escort of two Guildsmen； Courier Yuta Brey arranged for an immediate appointment with the Emperor。 The woman staunchly refused to reveal anything to her planet's own Ambassador； who got wind of the excitement and rushed into the audience chamber。 The magnificent Golden Lion Throne sat empty； Elrood was again feeling tired and ill。
〃This is for the Emperor's ears only； an urgent private request from Earl Dominic Vernius；〃 Brey said to Ambassador Pilru； turning hard eyes toward him。 The Guild and CHOAM used various harsh techniques to indoctrinate official Couriers； ensuring accuracy and loyalty。 〃However； please remain at hand； Ambassador。 I also bear vital news regarding the possible downfall of Ix。 You must be apprised of the situation。〃
Gasping； Ambassador Pilru beseeched the Courier for more information； but the woman remained silent。 Leaving her Guild escorts and the Ixian diplomat behind in the audience chamber； Sardaukar elite guards examined her credentials and ushered her alone into an anteroom adjacent to Elrood's bedchamber。
The Emperor； looking aged and drawn； wore a robe bearing the Imperial crest on its lapel。 He sat slumped in a high…backed chair； with his feet on a heated ottoman。 Beside him stood a tall； fussy…looking man with drooping mustaches； Chamberlain Aken Hesban。
It surprised Brey to see the old man seated in this rather ordinary fashion instead of on the massive throne。 His blue…tinted eyes were filled with sickness； and he could hardly hold his head erect on its rail…thin； wattled neck。 Elrood seemed ready to pass out at any moment。
With a curt bow she announced； 〃I am Courier Yuta Brey from Ix； Sire； with an important request from Lord Dominic Vernius。〃
The Emperor scowled upon hearing his old rival's name； but said nothing； waiting and ready to pounce。 He coughed； hawking something onto a lacy handkerchief。 〃I am listening。〃
〃It is for the Emperor's ears only；〃 she said； staring insolently at Hesban。
〃Well？〃 Elrood said； with a terse smile。 〃I don't hear so well anymore； and this distinguished gentleman is my ears。 Or should I say； 'are my ears'？ Does one use the plural in a situation like this？〃
The Chamberlain bent over to whisper something to him。
〃I am informed that he is my ears；〃 Elrood said with a decisive nod。
〃As you wish；〃 Brey said。 She recited the memorized words； using even the intonations Dominic Vernius had used。
〃We are under attack from the Bene Tleilax under a false guise of internal unrest。 Through infiltration by Face Dancer mimics； the Tleilaxu have fomented an insurrection among our working class。 By these treacherous means； the rebels have gained the advantage of surprise。 Many of our defense installations have either been destroyed or are besieged。 Like madmen； they scream 'Jihad！ Jihad！' 〃
〃Holy war？〃 Hesban said。 〃Over what？ What has Ix done now？〃
〃We have no idea； Monsieur Chamberlain。 The Tleilaxu are known to be religious fanatics。 Our suboids are bred to follow instructions； and thus are easily manipulated。〃 Yuta Brey hesitated； with a slight trembling of her lips。 〃Earl Dominic Vernius respectfully requests the immediate intervention of the Emperor's Sardaukar against this illegal act。〃
She recited extensive details on Ixian and Tleilaxu military positions； including the extent of the uprising； the manufacturing facilities crippled； and the citizens murdered。 Prominent among the victims was the Ambassador's own wife； a Guild banker； who had died in an explosion at the Guild Embassy Building。
〃They've gone too far。〃 Indignant； Hesban appeared ready to issue the order himself for the defense of Ix。 The request of House Vernius was eminently reasonable。 Looking down at the Emperor； he said； 〃Sire； if the Tleilaxu wish to accuse Ix of violating any strictures of the Great Convention； let them do so in open Landsraad court。〃
Although incense burned in the air； and spicy hors d'oeuvres sat arrayed on mother…of…pearl serving trays； Brey could still smell a sour odor of sickness hanging in the stuffy air of the anteroom。 Elrood fidgeted under the weight of his heavy robe。 He narrowed his rheumy eyes。 〃We will take your request under advisement； Courier。 I feel as if I need to rest a bit now。 Doctor's orders； you know。 We will discuss the matter tomorrow。 Please take refreshment and select a chamber in our visiting dignitaries' quarters。 You may also wish to meet with the Ixian Ambassador。〃
A look of alarm electrified the woman's gaze。 〃This information is already several hours old； Sire。 We are in a most desperate situation。 I have been instructed to tell you that Earl Vernius believes any delay will be fatal。〃
Hesban responded loudly； still confused as to why Elrood would not take immediate action。 〃One does not tell the Emperor anything； young lady。 One makes requests of him； no more。〃
〃My deepest apologies； Sire。 Please forgive my agitation； but today I have seen my world struck a deadly blow。 What response may I give to Earl Vernius？〃
〃Be patient。 I will get back to him in due time； after I have considered my reply。〃
All color drained from Brey's face。 〃May I ask when？〃
〃You may not！〃 Elrood thundered。 〃Your audience is concluded。〃 He glared back at her。
Taking charge； Chamberlain Hesban stepped forward； placing a hand on Brey's shoulder and steering her toward the door as he looked curiously over his shoulder at the Emperor。
〃As you wish； Sire。〃 Brey bowed； and the elite guards escorted her from the room。
ELROOD HAD NOT failed to notic