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d your oath of fealty； when he formally ascends to the Golden Lion Throne。 Details of the coronation ceremony are being arranged。〃
Leto glanced briefly at Thufir Hawat and replied； 〃It shall be done。〃
With a curt nod； the messenger said； 〃When the protocol has been set and all schedules are made； proper word will be brought to Caladan。〃 He bowed； sweeping his scarlet…and…gold cape around his arms； and spun about with a neat click of his shoes。 He marched back out of the hall； bound for a flitter that would take him back to the spaceport for his trip to the next Imperial planet； where he would deliver his report again。
〃Well； uh。。。that was good news；〃 Rhombur said sourly。 His face was pale but hard。 He stood quietly in the doorway； absorbing the information。 〃If it hadn't been for the Emperor's petty jealousy and intervention； my family could have recovered from the crisis on Ix。 The Landsraad would have sent help。〃
〃Elrood didn't want us to recover；〃 Kailea said； glancing up from her accounting records。 〃I'm just sorry my mother couldn't have lived to hear those tidings。〃
Leto's lips turned upward in a smile of guarded optimism。 〃Wait； this gives us an unexpected opportunity。 Think about it。 Elrood alone bore personal animosity against House Vernius。 He and your mother had their painful past； which we know to be the true reason behind his refusal to erase the blood price on your family。 It was personal。〃
Standing under the bull's…head； Hawat looked closely at Leto。 He listened in silence； waiting to see what his new Duke would suggest。
〃I've tried speaking to the Landsraad Council；〃 Leto said； 〃but they're useless； nonmittal。 They won't do anything to help us。 But my distaff cousin Shaddam。。。〃 He passed his tongue over the inside of his lower lip。 〃I've only met him three times； but my maternal grandmother was also a child of Elrood's。 I can claim blood ties。 When Shaddam bees the new Emperor； I will petition him to offer you amnesty as a gesture of forgiveness。 When I swear the eternal loyalty of House Atreides； I will ask him to remember the great history of House Vernius。〃
〃Why would he assent to that？〃 Kailea wanted to know。 〃What's the advantage for him？〃
〃It would be the right thing to do；〃 Rhombur said。 〃The fair thing。〃 His sister looked at him as if he had lost his mind。
〃He'll do it to establish the tenor of his reign；〃 Leto said。 〃Any new Emperor wants to create an identity； show how he's different from his predecessor； not locked into old ways and old decisions。 Shaddam just might be in a forgiving mood。 Word has it that he was not on the best of terms with his father anyway； and he'll certainly want to show his own colors after more than a century under Elrood。〃
Kailea threw herself into Leto's arms； and he hugged her awkwardly。 〃It would be so wonderful to have our freedom back； Leto and our family holdings！ Maybe there's something we can salvage from Ix after all。〃
〃Let's all keep our hopes up； Kailea；〃 Rhombur said with cautious optimism。 〃Try to envision it； and it just might happen。〃
〃We must not be afraid to ask；〃 Leto said。
〃All right；〃 Rhombur said。 〃If anyone can acplish this； it's you； my friend。〃
Fiery with determination and optimism； Leto began to develop plans for his formal procession to Kaitain。 〃We'll do something they won't expect；〃 he said。 〃Rhombur and I will show up for the coronation； together。〃
He met the Mentat advisor's alarmed gaze。 〃It is dangerous to bring the son of Vernius； m'Lord。〃
〃And precisely what they will not expect。〃
What senses do we lack that we cannot see or hear another world all around us？
…The Orange Catholic Bible
Some considered the rocky wilderness of Forest Guard Station to be beautiful； a pristine and natural wonderland。 But Baron Vladimir Harkonnen disliked being so far from enclosed buildings； sharp angles； metal； and plaz。 The cold air smelled harsh and unpleasant without the familiar fumes of industry； lubricants； and machinery。 Too raw； too hostile。
The Baron knew the importance of their destination； though； and entertained himself by watching the even greater disfort exhibited by his twisted Mentat。 With a dirty robe and mussed hair； Piter de Vries struggled to keep up。 Though his mind operated like a powerful machine； his body was pampered； scrawny； and weak。
〃Everything is so primitive out here； my Baron； so filthy and cold；〃 de Vries said； his eyes feral。 〃Are you certain we have to go this far？ Have we no alternative； other than jaunting out into the forest？〃
〃Some people pay dearly to visit places like this；〃 the Baron said。 〃They call them resorts。〃
〃Piter； shut your mouth and keep up with us；〃 Rabban said。 They trudged up a steep hillside toward an ice…glazed and cave…pocked wall of sandstone。
Scowling； the Mentat returned the jab with his own barbed words。 〃Isn't this the place where that little boy bested you and all your hunting team； Rabban？〃
The Baron's nephew turned back； his thick…lidded eyes staring at de Vries； and growled； 〃I'll hunt you next time if you don't watch your tongue。〃
〃Your uncle's priceless Mentat？〃 de Vries said in a carefree tone。 〃But how would he possibly replace me？〃
〃He has a point；〃 the Baron agreed； with a chuckle。
Rabban muttered something to himself。
Earlier； the Baron's guards and hunting experts had bed the isolated hunting preserve； a security check so that the three men could walk alone； without their usual entourage。 Carrying a maula pistol on his hip and a heat…scattering rifle slung over his shoulder； Rabban insisted that he could take care of any gaze hounds or other predators that might attack。 The Baron didn't share such plete confidence in his nephew； considering the fact that a small boy had indeed outwitted him but at least out here they could stay away from prying eyes。
At the top of a bluff the three of them rested on a ledge； then ascended another slope。 Rabban led the way； clawing aside thick scrub brush until they reached more exposed sandstone。 There； a low crack yielded a black space between crumbling stone and the ground。
〃It's down here；〃 Rabban said。 〃e on。〃
The Baron knelt and shined a ring…light into the opening of a cave。 〃Follow me； Piter。〃
〃I'm not a spelunker；〃 the Mentat replied。 〃Besides； I'm tired。〃
〃You're just not physically fit enough；〃 the Baron countered as he took a deep breath to feel his own muscles。 〃You need more exercise。 Keep yourself in shape。〃
〃But this isn't what you purchased me for； my Baron。〃
〃I purchased you to do anything I tell you to do。〃 He bent and crawled through the opening； the tiny but powerful beam of light on his finger probed the darkness ahead。
Though the Baron tried to maintain his physique in a perfect condition； he had been plagued with body aches and unexpected weakness over the past year。 No one had noticed or perhaps no one had dared mention the fact that he'd also begun to gain weight； through no change in his diet。 His skin had a thicker； pastier appearance。 He had considered discussing his problem with medical experts； maybe even a Suk doctor； no matter the incredible expense of consulting one。 Life； it seemed； was an endless string of problems。
〃It smells like bear piss in here；〃 de Vries plained as he squirmed through the hole。
〃How would you know what bear piss smells like？〃 Rabban said； pushing the Mentat deeper inside to make room for himself。
〃I've smelled you。 A wild animal can't be any more rank than that。〃
The three men stood up inside； and the Baron illuminated a small glowglobe； which floated up to shine against the near wall in the back of the low cave。 The place was rough and moss…covered； smudged with dust； showing no sign of human habitation。
〃Quite a good mimetic projection； isn't it？〃 the Baron said。 〃The best work our people have done。〃 He reached forward with a ring…studded hand； and the image of the wall blurred； became indistinct。
Rabban located a slight protrusion of rock and pushed； the entire rear wall rumbled back and fell away to reveal an access tube。
〃A very special hiding place；〃 the Baron said。
Lights flared on； illuminating a passage that led into the heart of the bluff。 After they stepped inside and sealed the false…wall projection behind them； de Vries looked around in amazement。 〃You kept this a secret even from me； my Baron？〃
〃Rabban found this cave on one of his hunts。 We've。。。made some modifications using a new technology； an exciting technique。 I think you'll see the possibilities； once I explain it all to you。〃
〃Quite an elaborate hiding place；〃 the Mentat agreed。 〃One can't be too careful about spies。〃
The Baron raised his hands toward the ceiling and shouted at the top of his lungs； 〃Damn Crown Prince Shaddam to the cesspits！ No make that to the lowest depths of a filth…encrusted； lava…blasted hell…grotto！〃
The treasonous outburst shocked even de Vries； and the Baron chuckled。 〃Here； Piter and nowhere else on Giedi Prime I'm not in the least worried about eavesdroppers。〃
He led them into a main chamber。 〃We three could hide here and resist an attack even from contraband atomics。 No one would find us。 Nullentropy bins hold supplies and weapons to last forever。 I hav