bh.houseatreides-第83章
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at large with a price on his head； while Shando Vernius has just been killed； based on her renegade status。 House Atreides has offered sanctuary to the two children of Vernius。 They're in thick with the victims of the Tleilaxu。〃
De Vries raised a finger to assemble the points。 〃Now； brash young Leto is a close friend of the exiled Prince of Ix。 Duke Leto blames the Tleilaxu for the takeover of Ix； for the bounty on the mother； and for the ruined situation of their family。 'House Atreides values loyalty and honor far above politics；' Leto said to the Landsraad。 He may see it as his duty to help Rhombur Vernius regain his position on Ix。 Who better to strike a blow for us？〃
The Baron now smiled as he followed the implications。 〃So。。。start a war between House Atreides and the Tleilaxu！ Let them tear each other apart。 That way House Atreides and the synthetic…spice research will both be destroyed。〃
Rabban was clearly having trouble envisioning this。 From the intense look on his face； the Baron could see that his nephew was thinking as hard as he could； just trying to keep up。
The Mentat nodded。 〃If played properly； we could acplish this in such a manner that House Harkonnen remains pletely apart from the hostilities。 We get what we want； and our hands stay entirely clean。〃
〃Brilliant； Piter！ I'm glad I didn't execute you all those times when you were so annoying。〃
〃So am I；〃 de Vries said。
The Baron opened one of the nullentropy chambers to remove a flagon of expensive kirana brandy。 〃We must have a toast。〃 Then he smiled slyly。 〃Because I've just realized when and how we can make all this happen。〃 His two listeners couldn't have been more attentive。
〃The new Duke is overwhelmed with the plexities of running his holdings。 Naturally； he will attend the coronation of Shaddam IV。 No Great House could risk offending the new Padishah Emperor by scorning him on his greatest day。〃
De Vries caught on immediately。 〃When Duke Leto travels to the coronation。。。that will be our chance to strike。〃
〃On Kaitain？〃 Rabban said。
〃Something more interesting than that； I suspect；〃 de Vries said。
The Baron sipped the warm sweetness of the aged brandy。 〃Ahhh； it will be delicious revenge。 And Leto won't even see it ing； won't know which direction it came from。〃
Rabban's eyes lit up。 〃We'll make him squirm； Uncle？〃
The Baron handed crystal snifters to his nephew and his Mentat。 Rabban drained his brandy in a single gulp； while de Vries simply stared at it as if performing a chemical analysis with his eyes。
〃Yes； Rabban； he'll squirm and squirm until a big Imperial boot steps on him。
No one but a Tleilaxu may set foot in Bandalong； holiest city of the Bene Tleilax； for it is fanatically guarded hallowed ground； purified by their God。
…Diplomacy in the Imperium；
a Landsraad publication
The burn…scarred building had once been an Ixian fighting…mek factory。。。one of the sacrilegious industries that defied the holy mandments of the Butlerian Jihad。 But not anymore。 Hidar Fen Ajidica gazed at the rows of tanks and attendants； satisfied now to see that the place had been fully cleansed and put to good use。 God will approve。
Following the Tleilaxu victory； the facility had been emptied of its poisonous machinery and blessed by fully robed Masters； so that it could be used for the exalted purposes of the Bene Tleilax。 Despite the mandment and support from old Emperor Elrood； now dead； Ajidica had never considered this an Imperial project。 The Tleilaxu did not act for the benefit of anyone but themselves and their God。 They had their own purposes； which would never be understood by the unclean outsiders。
〃Tleilaxu strategy is always woven within a web of strategies； any one of which may be the real strategy；〃 he intoned the axiom of his people。 〃The magic of our God is our salvation。〃
Every axlotl tank contained the ingredients of a different experiment； each representing an alternate avenue for solving the artificial melange problem。 No outsider had ever seen a Tleilaxu axlotl tank； and none understood their true function。 To produce the precious spice； Ajidica knew he would have to use unsettling means。 Others would be horrified； but God will approve； he repeated in his secret soul。 Eventually； they would mass…produce the spice。
Realizing the plexity of his challenge； the Master Researcher had brought in technological adepts from Tleilax One learned men who had widely divergent views on how that goal might be attained。 At this early point in the process； all options must be considered； all evidence studied for clues to be inserted directly into the DNA code of organic molecules； which the Tleilaxu called the Language of God。
All of the technological adepts agreed that artificial spice must be grown as an organic substance in an axlotl tank； because the tanks were holy sources of life and energy。 Master Researchers had nurtured countless previous programs with astonishing results； from digs to clones and gholas。。。though there had been many unfortunate failures； as well。
These exotic vessels were the most sacred of Tleilaxu discoveries； with their workings shielded even from Crown Prince Shaddam； his aides； and his Sardaukar。 Such secrecy and security here on Ix now Xuttah had been a requirement of the original bargain with Emperor Elrood。 The old man had agreed with deprecating amusement； must have assumed he could take those secrets whenever he wished。
Many people made such ridiculous assumptions about the Tleilaxu。 Ajidica was accustomed to being dismissed by fools。
No one other than a Tleilaxu Master or a full…blooded Tleilaxu Researcher would ever have access to this knowledge。 Ajidica drew a deep breath of the rank chemicals； the unpleasant humid stink that was an inevitable consequence of the functioning tanks。 Natural odors。 I feel the presence of my God； he thought； forming the words in Islamiyat the arcane language that was never spoken aloud outside of kehls； the secret councils of his race。 God is merciful。 He alone can guide me。
A glowglobe floated in front of his eyes； blinking red。。。long； long； short； pause。。。long； short； color change to blue。。。five rapid blinks and back to red。 The Crown Prince's emissary was anxious to see him。 Hidar Fen Ajidica knew not to keep Hasimir Fenring waiting。 Though he had no noble title of his own； the impatient Fenring was the Imperial heir's closest friend； and Fenring understood the manipulations of personal power better than most great leaders in the Landsraad。 Ajidica even bore a certain amount of respect for the man。
With resignation Ajidica turned and passed easily through an identity zone that would have been deadly to anyone not properly sanctioned。 Even the Crown Prince himself would be unable to pass through safely。 Ajidica smiled at the superiority of his people's ways。 Ixians had used machinery and force fields for security； as the ruthless and clumsy suboid rebels had discovered。。。causing messy detonations and collateral damage。 Tleilaxu； on the other hand； used biological agents； unleashed through ingenious interactions toxins and nerve mists that rendered powindah infidels lifeless the moment they set foot where they didn't belong。
Outside in the secure waiting area； a smiling Hasimir Fenring greeted Ajidica as the researcher exited the identity zone。 From some angles the weak…chinned man looked like a weasel and from others a rabbit； innocuous in appearance； but oh so dangerous。 The two faced each other in what had once been an Ixian lobby connected through an intricate network of clear…plaz lift tubes。 This deadly Imperial killer stood more than a head taller than the Master Researcher。
〃Ah； my dear Fen Ajidica；〃 Fenring purred； 〃your experiments go well； hm…m…m…m…ah？ Crown Prince Shaddam is eager to receive an update as he begins the work of his Imperium。〃
〃We make good progress； sir。 Our uncrowned Emperor has received my gift； I presume？〃
〃Yes； very nice； and he sends his appreciation。〃 He smiled tightly as he thought of it： a silver…furred hermafox； capable of self…replication； an unusual living bauble that served no useful purpose whatsoever。 〃Wherever did you e up with such an interesting creature？〃
〃We are adepts with the forces of life； sir。〃 The eyes； Ajidica thought。 Watch his eyes。 They reveal dangerous emotions。 Vicious now。
〃So you enjoy playing God？〃 Fenring said。
With controlled indignation； Ajidica retorted； 〃There is but one God All High。 I would not presume to take His place。〃
〃Of course not。〃 Fenring's eyes narrowed。 〃Our new Emperor sends his gratitude； but points out one gift he would have greatly preferred a sample of artificial spice。〃
〃We are working hard on the problem； sir； but we told Emperor Elrood from the outset that it would take many years； possibly even decades； to develop a pleted product。 Much of our labor heretofore has simply been consolidating our control on Xuttah and adapting the existing facilities。〃
〃You've made no tangible progress； then？〃 Fenring's scorn was so extreme that he couldn't conceal it。
〃There are many promising signs。〃
〃Good； then may I tell Shaddam when he should expect his gift？ He would like to receive it prior to his coronation； in six weeks' time。〃
〃I don't think that is possible； sir。 You brought us a supply of melange as a catalyst less than a Standard Month ago。〃
〃I gave you enough of the stuff to buy several planets。〃
〃Of course； of course； and we are moving as quickly as possible。 But the axlotl tanks must be grown and modified； probably through several generations。 Shaddam must be patient。〃
Fenring studied the little Tleilaxu； looking for signs of deception。 〃Patient？ Remember； Ajidica； an Emperor does not have unlimited patience。〃
The dwarf…sized man did not like this Imperial predator。 Something in Fenring's overlarge dark eyes and his speech carried a threatening undertone； even when discussing mundane subjects。 Make no mistake。 This man will be our new Emperor's enforcer the one who will murder me if I fail。
Ajidica took a deep breath； but concealed it in a yawn to avoid showing fear。 When he spoke； it was in the calmest of tones。 〃When God wills our success； it will happen。 We move according to His schedule； not our own； and not Prince Shaddam's。 That is the way of the universe。〃
Fenring's huge eyes flashed dangerously。 〃You realize how important this is？ Not only to the future of House Corrino and the economy of the Imperium。。。but to your personal survival； as well？〃
〃Most certainly。〃 Ajidica did not react to the threat。 〃My people have learned the value of waiting。 An apple plucked too soon may be green and sour； but if one merely waits until it is ripe； then the fruit is sweet and delicious。 When perfected； the artificial spice will alter the entire power structure of the Imperium。 It is not possible to engineer such a substance overnight。〃
Fenring glowered。 〃We have been patient； but that cannot continue。〃
With a generous smile； Ajidica said； 〃If you wish； we can convene regular meetings to display our work and progress。 Such distractions； however； would only slow our experiments； our substance analyses； our settings。〃
〃No； keep on；〃 Fenring growled。
I've got the bastard where I want
