按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
t 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 controls。
Shaddam whispered to one of the attendants to have the doctor go with Chamberlain Hesban； who would arrange for the transfer of payment。 Hesban obviously wanted to stay in the bedchamber and discuss certain documents； treaties； and other state matters with the sick old man； but Shaddam feeling he could take care of such things himself wanted the dour advisor out of the way。
When the Suk was gone； old Elrood said to his son； 〃Perhaps the doctor is right； Shaddam。 There is a matter I wish to discuss with you and Hasimir。 A policy and project I wish to continue； regardless of my personal health。 Have I told you about our plans on Ix； and the eventual Tleilaxu takeover？〃
Shaddam rolled his eyes。 Of course； you old fool！ Fenring and I have already done most of the work。 It was our idea to send Tleilaxu Face Dancers to Ix； because they could disguise themselves and infiltrate the working classes。
〃Yes； Father。 We know of the plans。〃
Elrood waved a hand to beckon them closer； and the old man's features darkened。 Out of the corner of his eye； Shaddam saw Fenring chase the hovering concubines away； then approach to hear the Emperor's words。 〃This morning I received a cipher from our operatives on Ix。 You know about the enmity between myself and Earl Dominic Vernius？〃
〃Ah； yes we do； Father；〃 Shaddam said。 He cleared his throat。 〃An old affront； a stolen woman。。。〃
Elrood's rheumy eyes brightened。 〃It seems that our brash Dominic has been playing with fire； training his men with mobile fighting meks that scan opponents and process data； probably through a puter brain。 He has also been selling these 'intelligent machines' on the black market。〃
〃Sacrilege； Sire；〃 Fenring murmured。 〃That clearly goes against the strictures of the Great Convention。〃
〃Quite so；〃 Elrood agreed； 〃and this isn't the only infraction。 House Vernius has been developing sophisticated cyborg enhancements as well。 Mechanical body replacements。 We can use that to our advantage。〃
Shaddam frowned； leaning closer and smelling the sour spice beer on the old man's breath。 〃Cyborgs？ But they are human minds attached to robot bodies； and therefore not in violation of the Jihad。〃
Elrood smiled。 〃But we understand there have been certain。。promises。 True or not； it's exactly the sort of excuse our impostors need to finish the job the time to act is now。 House Vernius is poised on the brink of destruction； and a small nudge will topple them。〃
〃Hmm…m…ah； that is interesting；〃 Fenring said。 〃Then the Tleilaxu can take over the sophisticated Ixian facilities for their research。〃
〃This is very important； and you will watch how I handle this situation；〃 Elrood said with a sniff。 〃Watch； and learn。 Already I have set my plan in motion。 Ixian suboid workers are； shall we say； troubled by these developments； and we are。。。〃 the Emperor paused to finish his mug of spice beer with a smack of his lips； 〃。。。encouraging their discontent through our own representatives。〃
Setting down the empty mug； Elrood grew suddenly lethargic。 He adjusted his pillows； shifted onto his back； and fell into a fitful sleep。
Exchanging a knowing glance with Fenring； Shaddam thought of the conspiracy within the conspiracy their own secret participation in the events on Ix； and how he and Fenring had put the Tleilaxu Master in contact with Elrood in the first place。 Now the Bene Tleilax； employing their own genetically altered shape…shifters； were stirring up religious fervor and discontent among Ix's lower classes。 To the fanatical Tleilaxu； any hint of a thinking machine and the Ixians who created them was the work of Satan。
As the two young men left the Emperor's chamber； Fenring smiled with similar thoughts。 〃Watch； and learn；〃 the old fool had said。
Elrood； you condescending bastard； you have much to learn yourself and no time left in which to learn it。
The leaders of the Butlerian Jihad did not adequately define artificial intelligence； failing to foresee all possibilities of an imaginative society。 Therefore； we have substantial gray areas in which to maneuver。
…Confidential Ixian Legal Opinion
Though the explosion was distant； the concussion rocked the table where Leto and Rhombur sat studying sample resource ledgers。 Small chunks of decorative plascrete trickled from the ceiling above them； where a long crack had just appeared。 A jagged lightning bolt zigzagged across one of the broad plaz observation windows； fracturing it。
〃Vermilion hells！ What was that？〃 Rhombur said。
Leto had already surged to his feet； knocking the ledgers aside and looking for the source of the explosion。 He saw the farside of the underground grotto； where several badly damaged buildings crumbled into rubble。 The two young men exchanged blank looks。
〃Get ready；〃 Leto said； instantly on guard。
〃Uh； ready for what？〃
Leto didn't know。
They had gone together into one of the tutorial rooms of the Grand Palais； first studying Calculus Philosophy and the underpinnings of the Holtzman Effect； and then Ixian manufacturing and distribution systems。 On the walls around them； ancient paintings hung in hermetically sealed frames； including works of the Old Terran masters Claude Monet and Paul Gauguin； with interactive plates that allowed enhancements by Ixian depth artists。 Since Leto had reported his adventure down in the suboid tunnels； he had heard of no further discussions or investigations。 Perhaps the Earl hoped the problem would just go away。
Another concussion rocked the room； this one closer； stronger。 The Prince of Ix gripped the table to keep it from toppling。 Leto rushed over to the cracked window。 〃Rhombur； look out here！〃
From the crosswalk streets connecting the stalactite buildings； someone screamed。 Off to the left； an out…of…control transport capsule plummeted to smash into the ground far below with a spray of crystal shards and mutilated passengers。
The door to the tutorial room crashed open。 Captain Zhaz of the Palace Guard burst in； carrying one of the new pulsed assault lasguns。 Four subordinates followed him； all armed in