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〃Something odd about this case； though；〃 Yungar said。 〃For days now I've had a feeling of unease。。。something more here than an old man dying of natural causes。 We must be exceedingly cautious with our analysis； since it is the Emperor 〃
〃Was the Emperor；〃 Shaddam said； too quickly。 Fenring made a subtle warning gesture to get his attention。
〃My point exactly。〃 The Suk doctor brushed a hand across the black…diamond tattoo on his forehead。 Shaddam wondered if he was just distressed that he would no longer receive extravagant fees for continuing treatment。
〃My good Doctor； Emperor Elrood was ancient and under a great deal of stress。〃 In an odd benediction； Fenring bent down and placed his fingertips on the old man's cold brow； which reminded Shaddam of a parchment…covered rock。 〃We who were closest to him saw visible changes in his health and mental capacity in； say； the past two years。 It would be best if you do not voice innuendos and unfounded suspicions that could only damage the stability of the Imperium； especially in this difficult time； hm…m…m…m？ Padishah Emperor Elrood IX was more than a hundred and fifty years old； with one of the longest reigns in the history of the Corrinos。 Let us leave it at that。〃
Shaddam cleared his throat。 〃What else could it be； Doctor？ The security around my father is impenetrable； guards and poison…snoopers everywhere。 No one could possibly have harmed him。〃
Yungar looked uneasily past the Crown Prince to the ferretlike man behind him。 〃Identity； motive； and opportunity。 Those are the questions； and though I'm not a police investigator； I'm certain a Mentat could provide answers to all three。 I will pile my data and provide it to a review board。 It is strictly a formality； but it must be done。〃
〃Who would do such a thing to my father？〃 Shaddam demanded； stepping closer。 The doctor's abruptness made him stiffen； but this Suk had already demonstrated his pompous nature。 The dead man on the bed seemed to be watching them； his clawed fingers pointing in accusation。
〃More evidence needs to be gathered first； Sire。〃
〃Evidence？ Of what sort？〃 He calmed himself。 Sweat broke out on his brow； and he ran a hand across his carefully styled reddish hair。 Perhaps he was carrying the act too far。
Fenring seemed entirely calm and moved to the other side of the bed； near where the remains of the Emperor's last glass of spice beer sat。
In a whisper that only Shaddam could hear； the doctor said； 〃It is my duty as a loyal Suk to warn you； Prince Shaddam； that you； too； may be in extreme danger。 Certain forces。。。according to reports I've seen。。。do not want House Corrino to remain in power。〃
〃Since when does the Suk School obtain reports about Imperial alliances and intrigues？〃 Fenring asked； slithering closer。 He had not heard the specific words； but years ago he had taught himself the valuable skill of reading lips。 It helped greatly with his spying activities。 He had tried to teach Shaddam the trick； but the Crown Prince had not caught the knack of it yet。
〃We have our sources；〃 the Suk doctor said。 〃Regrettably； such connections are necessary even for a school such as ours dedicated to healing。〃 Recalling the doctor's insistence on full payment before even looking at a patient； Shaddam frowned at this irony。 〃We live in perilous times。〃
〃Do you suspect anyone in particular？〃 Shaddam husked； following the direction of the doctor's gaze。 Perhaps they could set up Chamberlain Hesban to take the fall plant evidence； start rumors。
〃In your position it would be safest to suspect everyone； Sire。 I would like to conduct an autopsy on Emperor Elrood。 Working with a partner from the Inner School； we can scanalyze every organ； every tissue； every cell。。。just to be safe。〃
Shaddam frowned。 〃It seems a terrible disrespect to my father； slicing him up into little pieces。 He had quite a。。。a horror of surgery。 Ah； yes。 Better to let him lie in peace。 We must prepare immediately for the funeral of state。 And my coronation ceremony。〃
〃On the contrary；〃 Yungar persisted； 〃we show respect for Elrood's memory by trying to determine what happened to him。 Perhaps something was implanted in his body some time ago； when his behavior began to change something that caused his slow death。 A Suk doctor could find the subtlest traces； even after two years。〃
〃The very thought of an autopsy sickens me；〃 Shaddam said。 〃I am the heir to the Imperium； and I forbid it。〃 He looked down at the dead old man； and his arms broke out in gooseflesh； as if the ancient creature's ghost hovered over his head。 He glanced warily at shadows in the corners and in the cold fireplace。
He had expected to experience elation when his father finally passed the Golden Lion Throne to him but now； knowing that his own chaumurky had been the cause of the Emperor's death； Shaddam's skin crawled。
〃According to Imperial Law； I could formally insist upon it； Sire；〃 the Suk doctor explained； his voice still low and calm。 〃And for your own good I must do exactly that。 I see that you are inexperienced in the ways of intrigue； since you have grown up protected in the Court。 You undoubtedly think I'm being foolish； but I assure you I am not wrong about this。 I feel it in the pit of my stomach。〃
〃Perhaps the good doctor is right；〃 Fenring said。
〃How can you。。。〃 Seeing a peculiar gleam in Fenring's eyes； Shaddam cut himself short； then glanced at the doctor and said to him； 〃I must confer with my advisor。〃
〃Of course。〃 Yungar watched them move off to one side； by the door。
〃Are you mad？〃 Shaddam whispered； when he and Fenring were a distance away。
〃Go along with him for the moment。 Then through a。。。〃 Fenring smiled； selected just the right word。 〃。。。misunderstanding。。。old Elrood will be cremated before they can cut him open。〃
〃I see；〃 Shaddam said； with sudden understanding。 Then； to Yungar； he said； 〃Send for your associate and plete your autopsy。 My father will be moved to the infirmary； where you may plete the procedure。〃
〃A day will be needed to bring in the other doctor；〃 the Suk said。 〃You can arrange to keep the body chilled？〃
Shaddam smiled politely。 〃It shall be done。〃
〃By your leave then； Sire；〃 the Suk said； bowing and retreating hastily。 The doctor hurried away with a rustling of medical robes。 His long steel…gray hair dangled in its ponytail； clasped by a silver ring。
When they were alone； Fenring said with a crafty smile； 〃It was either that or kill the bastard； and we didn't dare risk that。〃
An hour later； through an unfortunate series of events； Emperor Elrood IX was reduced to ashes in the Imperial crematorium； and his remains were misplaced。 A Court orderly and two medical attendants paid for the mistake with their lives。
Memory and History are two sides of the same coin。 In time； however； History tends to slant itself toward a favorable impression of events； while Memory is doomed to preserve the worst aspects。
…LADY HELENA ATREIDES；
her personal journals
Father； I was not ready。
The nighttime seas on Caladan were rough； and wind…driven rain pelted the windows of the Castle's east tower。 Another sort of storm raged within Duke Leto； though： concern for the future of his troubled House。
He had avoided this duty for too long。。。for months； in fact。 On this isolated evening； he wanted nothing more than to sit in a fire…warmed room in the pany of Rhombur and Kailea。 Instead； he had decided at last to go through some of the Old Duke's personal items。
Storage chests containing his father's things were brought in and lined up along one wall。 Servants had stoked up the flaming logs in the fireplace to a fine blaze； and a crock of mulled wine filled the room with the spicy scents of terrameg and a bit of expensive melange。 Four small glowglobes provided enough light to see by。
Kailea had found a fur cloak in storage； taken it as her own； and wrapped herself just to keep warm but it also made her look stunning。 Despite the radical changes in her life； how far she had fallen from her dreams of sparkling at the Imperial Court； the Vernius daughter was a survivor。 Through sheer force of will Kailea seemed to bend the environment around herself； making the best of things。
Despite the political drawbacks of any romance with the renegade family； Duke Leto now ruler of his Great House found himself even more attracted to her。 But he remembered his father's primary admonition： Never marry for love； or it will bring our House down。 Paulus Atreides had hammered that into his son as much as any other leadership training。 Leto knew he could never shrug off the Old Duke's mand； it was too much a part of him。
Still； he was drawn to Kailea； though thus far he hadn't found the courage to express his feelings to her。 He thought she knew； even so； Kailea had a strong； logical mind。 He saw it in her emerald eyes； in the curve of her catlike mouth； in the contemplative looks she gave him when she thought he wouldn't notice。
With Leto's permission； Rhombur searched curiously through some of the massive storage chests； looking for old wartime mementos of the friendship between Duke Paulus and Dominic Vernius。 Reaching deep into one chest； he brought out an embroidered cape and unfolded it。 〃What's this？ I never saw your father wear it。〃
Leto studied the design and knew instantly what it was the hawk of House Atreides embracing the Richesian lamp of knowledge。 〃I believe that's his wedding cloak； from when he and my mother were married。〃
〃Oh；〃 Rhombur said； his voice trailing off in embarrassment。 〃Sorry。〃 He folded the cape and stuffed it back into the box。
Shaking his head； Leto took a deep breath。 He'd known they would encounter many such memory land mines； and he would just have to endure them。 〃My father didn't choose to die and leave me in this position； Rhombur。 My mother made her own choices。 She could have been a valued advisor to me。 Under other circumstances I would have weled her assistance and wise counsel。 But instead。。。〃 He sighed and looked bitterly over at Kailea。 〃As I said； she made her own choices。〃
Only Leto and the warrior Mentat knew the truth about Helena's plicity in the murder； and it was a secret Leto vowed to carry with him to his grave。 With the death of the stablemaster during interrogation； Duke Leto Atreides had fresh； bright blood on his hands his first； but certainly not his last。 Not even Rhombur or Kailea suspected the truth。
He had sent his mother out of Castle Caladan with two of her servants； chosen by him。 For her 〃rest and well…being；〃 Lady Helena had been taken to the Eastern Continent where she would live under primitive conditions with the Sisters in Isolation； a retrogressive religious mune。 Haughtily； but without bothering to demand explanations for her son's behavior； Helena had accepted her banishment。
Though he put up a strong front； Leto privately mourned the loss of his mother； and was astounded to find himself without both parents in the space of a few months。 But Helena had mitted the most abhorrent act of betrayal against her own family； her own House； and he knew he could never forgive her； could never see her again。 Killing her was out of the question； the thought had barely crossed his mind。 She was； after all； his mother； and he was not like her。 Besides； getting her out of his sight was a practical matter； for he'd been left with vast holdings to manage； and the welfare of the citizens of Caladan had priority。 He needed to get down to the business of running House Atreides。
From a chest of items； Rhombur brought out a set of old…fashioned handmade playing cards and some of the Old Duke's awards； including military badges of honor； a chipped knife； and a small bloodstained banner。 Leto discovered seashells； a colored scarf； an unsigned love poem； a lock of auburn hair （not Helena's color）； then a lock of blonde hair； and enameled brass armbands designed for a woman； but he had no idea how to explain the items。
He knew his father had taken mistresses； though Paulus had brought none of them into the Castle as bound concubines。 He'd merely enjoyed himself； and had no doubt showered the women with trinkets or fabrics or sweetmeats。
Leto ignored those items and closed the heavy lid of the box。 Duke Paulus was e