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！
The Lady considered fleeing the approaching 'thopters； but dismissed the idea。 If these intruders were whom she feared they might be； she had no chance of escape。 And if her intuition was wrong； she wouldn't need to run。
The clustered ornithopters arrived overhead； wings fluttering and engines roaring。 They set down roughly； indiscriminately； upon her planted fields； knocking her full…spectrum glowdisks out of alignment and crushing crops。
When the doors of the three ships slid open and troops emerged； she knew she was doomed。
In a dreamlike vision； she thought back to a happier time； the arrival of quite different troops。 It had been in her younger days at the Imperial Court； when the headiness of being a royal courtesan had begun to fade。 The Emperor had spent much time with her for a while； but after his interest waned he had moved on to other concubines。 It was to be expected。 She hadn't felt snubbed； since Elrood continued to provide for her。
But then one day； after the rebellion on Ecaz had been crushed； she had watched a victory parade of Imperial fighters marching down the streets of Kaitain。 The banners were so bright they made her eyes ache； the uniforms perfect and clean； the men so brave。 At the head of the column； she had caught her first glimpse of her future husband； a proud warrior with broad shoulders and a broad grin。 Even from a distance； his very presence had dazzled her； and she had felt her passions awaken； seeing him as the greatest among all of the returning soldiers。。。。
These soldiers arriving today on Bela Tegeuse were different； though much more frightening in the dress gray…and…black of Sardaukar uniforms。
A Burseg troop mander stepped forward； flashing his rank insignia。 With an upward chop of his hand； he signaled for his men to take up their positions。
Maintaining her pretense with only a shred of hope； the Lady strode forward to meet him； chin high。 〃I am Madame Lizett； the owner of this estate。〃 Her voice was hard as she scowled over at the destroyed crops。 〃Do you or your employers intend to make reparations for all the property damage your clumsiness just caused？〃
〃Shut your mouth！〃 one of the soldiers snapped； snatching up his lasgun。
Foolish； the Lady thought。 I could have been wearing a shield。 If so； and if he had fired； this section of Bela Tegeuse would have been obliterated in a pseudoatomic explosion。
The Burseg mander held up his hand to silence the soldier； and she recognized the planned gambit： a brash； uncontrolled soldier to intimidate her； a firm military leader showing the face of reason。 Good soldier； bad soldier。
〃We are here on Imperial orders；〃 said the Burseg。 〃We're investigating the whereabouts of surviving traitors of a certain renegade House。 Through the right of acquisition； we require your cooperation。〃
〃I am unfamiliar with the legalities；〃 the Lady said。 〃But I know nothing of renegades。 I'm just a widow trying to run a modest farm here。 Allow my attorneys to consult with you。 I'll be happy to cooperate in whatever manner I can； though I'm afraid you'll be disappointed。〃
〃We won't be disappointed；〃 the brash soldier growled。
Around them； her hired workers had ceased their activities； frozen in place。 The Burseg stepped forward and stood directly in front of the Lady； who did not flinch。 He studied her face； frowning。 She knew her holo…masked appearance did not match what the man expected to see。 She stared back at him； meeting his flat gaze。
Before she understood his intention； his hand snatched her Ixian necklace and yanked it away。 She felt no different； but she knew her disguise had dissolved。
〃That's more like it；〃 said the Burseg。 〃You know nothing of renegades； eh？〃 He laughed scornfully。
She glared at him。 Sardaukar troops continued to file out of the three 'thopters； taking up positions around her。 Some of them burst into her manor house； while others searched the barn； sun…silo； and other outbuildings。 Did they expect her to be harboring a major military force？ pared to her accustomed lifestyle； it seemed she could barely afford new clothes and hot food。
Another grim…faced Sardaukar grabbed her arm。 She tried to pull away； but he pushed up the sleeve of her cloak and； in a flash； scratched her with a small curette。 She gasped； thinking the soldier had poisoned her； but the Sardaukar stood back calmly to analyze the blood sample he had stolen。
〃Identity confirmed； sir；〃 he said； looking over at his Burseg mander。 〃Lady Shando Vernius of Ix。〃
The troops stepped back； but Shando did not move。 She knew what was ing。
For over a year； the old Emperor had grown increasingly irrational； his mind failing； his body trembling。 Elrood suffered under more delusions than usual； more hatred than one body should have contained。 But he remained the Emperor； and his decrees were followed explicitly。
The only question in her mind was whether they would torture her first to acquire information she didn't have about Dominic's whereabouts。 Or whether they would just finish the job。
Through a side door of the big house； Omer came running； shouting。 His black hair was in disarray。 He waved a crude hunting weapon he had found in a storage locker。 Such a fool； she thought。 Brave； dear； and loyal but nonetheless a fool。
〃My Lady！〃 Omer shouted。 〃Leave her alone！〃
A few of the Sardaukar aimed at him and at the shaggy workers in the field； but most kept their weapons trained on her。 She looked up to the sky and thought of her loving husband and children and hoped only that they wouldn't meet similar ends。 Even at this moment she had to admit that； given the choice； she would do it all again。 She did not regret the loss in prestige or riches that leaving the royal Court had cost her。 Shando had known a love that few members of the nobility had ever experienced。
Poor Roody； she thought with a flash of pity。 You never understood that kind of love。 As usual； Dominic had been right。 In her mind； she saw him again as he was when she had first met the Earl of House Vernius： a handsome young soldier； returned victorious from battle。
Shando raised one hand to touch the vision of Dominic's face one last time。。。
Then all the Sardaukar opened fire。
I must rule with eye and claw as the hawk among lesser birds。
…DUKE PAULUS ATREIDES；
The Atreides Assertion
Duke Leto Atreides。 Ruler of the planet Caladan； member of the Landsraad； head of a Great House。。。These titles meant nothing to him。 His father was dead。
Leto felt small。 Defeated and confused； he was not ready for the burdens that had been thrust upon him so cruelly at the age of fifteen。 As he sat in the unfortable； overlarge chair where the blustery Old Duke had so often held formal and informal court； Leto felt out of place； an imposter。
I am not ready to be Duke！
He had declared seven days of official mourning； during which he'd been able to sidestep most of the difficult business as head of House Atreides。 Simply dealing with the condolences from other Great Houses proved almost too much for him。。。especially the formal letter from Emperor Elrood IX； written no doubt by his Chamberlain but signed with the old man's palsied hand。 〃A great