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ed 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