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ody handlers whisked away the corpse to where its water could be recovered。 Kynes knew any moisture or fertilizer chemicals derived from this victim would be devoted to the Plaster Basin project； rather than to enriching any particular family unit。
〃But what could be so important up here？〃 Frieth asked。 〃What is it you are doing； husband？〃
He rewarded her with a sparkling smile。 〃You will see。 I wanted you to be our first visitor。〃
Frieth hurried back to retrieve their child from his sheltered hiding place。 She picked up the baby； checked him for injuries。 Young Liet had not even begun to cry。 〃He's a true Fremen；〃 she said proudly； holding him up for Kynes to see。
Below； organized teams began dismantling the ruined 'thopter； stripping away the metal； the engines； the stash of supplies。 Younger Fremen crawled up the dangerous cliff face to retrieve the fallen lasgun rifle。
Kynes led his wife past the remains of the butchered kulon。 He gave a sad sigh。 〃We'll have meat at least that's a rarity。 And I think there's good cause for celebration； once we get to the cave。〃
The Fremen worked furiously to scour away all traces of the crash； dragging the heavy ponents into hidden tunnels； repairing scars in the rock； even bing the sand on the desert floor。 Though Kynes had been with these people for some time； their hardened efficiency still astonished him。
Striding in the lead now； he led Frieth to the low； shielded opening shortly past noon。 The sun burned down； its line of yellow fire sharpening the jagged crest of the mountains。 Drifting out of the cave； the smell of cool； rock…moist air was like a refreshing breath。
Kynes plucked out his nose plugs and inhaled deeply； gesturing for his wife to do the same； though she seemed reluctant to shuck her desert survival instincts。 Then she grinned in amazement as she looked deep into the shadows。 〃I smell water； my husband。〃
He took her arm。 〃e with me。 This is something I want you to see。〃
As they rounded a sharp corner whose purpose was to block light and evaporation from the grotto； Kynes gestured magnanimously to indicate the Eden he had made in Plaster Basin。
Yellow glowglobes hovered at the ceiling。 The air was rich with humidity； redolent with the scents of flowers； shrubs； trees。 The sweet sound of running water chuckled from narrow grooved troughs。 In a carefully arranged appearance of randomness； flower beds burst with magenta and orange blossoms。
Irrigation systems trickled droplets into algae…packed tanks； while fans stirred the air to keep the moisture level constant。 The grotto was alive with flittering patches of color； butterflies； moths； and bees； heady with the treasure of pollen and nectar around them。
Frieth gasped； and for a moment Kynes saw through the porcelain mask of her face； saw much more than he had ever noticed before。 〃This is paradise； my love！〃
A hummingbird hovered in front of her with a tiny blur of wings； then darted off again。 In their own euphoria Fremen gardeners moved about； tending the plants。
〃One day gardens like this will grow all across Dune； out in the open air。 This is a showcase with growing crops and plants and open water； fruit trees； decorative flowers； green grasses。 We have here a symbol for all Fremen； to show them my vision。 Seeing this； they'll understand what they can acplish。〃
Moisture ran down the walls of the cavern； touching parched rock that had known nothing but thirst for uncounted eons。 〃Even I did not truly prehend；〃 Frieth said； 〃。 。 。 until now。〃
〃Do you see why all this is worth fighting for？ And dying for？〃
Kynes walked around； inhaling the scents of the leaves； sniffing the perfume of the flowers。 He found a tree from which dangled orange globes of ripening fruit。 He plucked one； large and golden。 None of the workers would question his right to the fresh produce。
〃A portygul；〃 he said； 〃one of the fruits I was talking about back at Red Wall Sietch。〃 He gave it to Frieth as a gift； and she held it reverently in her tanned hands as the greatest treasure she had ever been offered。
Kynes waved expansively at the enclosed grotto。 〃Remember this well； my wife。 All the Fremen must see this。 Dune； our Dune； can be like this in only a few centuries。〃
Even innocents carry within them their own guilt in their own way。 No one makes it through life without paying； in one fashion or another。
…LADY HELENA ATREIDES；
her personal journals
Immediately after hearing the announcement of the first Imperial coronation ceremony in almost a century and a half； House Atreides began work on their family preparations。 From dawn until the fall of darkness； the servants in Castle Caladan went from wardrobe to storeroom； gathering the clothing； trinkets； and gifts necessary for the formal journey to the Imperial Court。
Meanwhile； Leto wandered through his rooms； trying to refine his plan and decide the best way to obtain a dispensation for Rhombur and Kailea。 The new Emperor Shaddam must hear my plea。
His protocol advisors had bickered for hours over the proper colors of capes； armbands； and merh…silk tunics。。。whether the jewelry should be gaudy or understated； expensive imported Ecazi stones or something simpler。 Finally； because of his memorable times with Rhombur； Leto insisted on wearing a small coral gem suspended in a transparent sphere filled with water。
Kailea desperately wanted to go。 Visiting the Palace on Kaitain； where her mother had once served the Emperor； had been a lifelong dream of hers。 Leto could see the longing in her green eyes； the hope on her face； but still he had no choice but to forbid it。 Rhombur had to acpany the entourage； to make his family's case； but if they failed； the Vernius heir could be executed for having left his sanctuary。 Kailea's life would be forfeit as well。
If their mission succeeded； though； Leto vowed to take Kailea to the capital world himself； a glamorous vacation that would be all she imagined it to be。
Now； in the quiet hour before dawn； he paced back and forth on the wooden floors of his upper room； listening to the old beams creak。 It was the forting sound of home。 How many times had other Dukes paced the same floor pondering decisions of state？ Duke Paulus had undoubtedly done so time and again； troubled as he was by uprisings of the primitives in the southern continent or by requests from the Emperor to put out brushfire rebellions on outer worlds。 In those times； Paulus Atreides had first blooded his sword； and had bee a rade…in…arms with Dominic Vernius。
Throughout his years the Old Duke had served with talent and finesse； knowing when to be hard and when to be lenient。 He had employed the ingredients of dedication； ethics； and economic stability to create a population devoutly loyal to and proud of House Atreides。
How could Leto ever hope to do the same？
His voice filled the room。 〃Father； you left large shoes for me to fill。〃 He drew a deep breath； angrily forcing away his self…pity。 He could do no less than his very best； for Caladan and for the memory of the Old Duke。
On calmer dawns； he and Rhombur might have gone down to the practice courtyard to train with knives and shields under the watchfu