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pons control a stilo bar with multicolored panels and blasted shots in all directions； most of which missed entirely； although he did remove one drone with a spray of multiphase projectiles。 They all knew the bull's…eye was a mere accident； and Rhombur took no pride in it。
〃Patience and control； Prince；〃 Hawat said。 〃You must use each shot as if it were your last。 Make it count。 Once you've learned to hit things； then you can be more liberal with your expenditures。〃
Leto chased after the drones as Rhombur fired with the full array of weapons available to him。 When Rhombur had finally succeeded in eliminating all the targets； he and Leto switched positions and went through more practice maneuvers。
Two hours passed swiftly； and finally the Mentat instructed them to return to the Guild Heighliner so they could make themselves fortable before the navigator folded space and guided the ship to Kaitain。
SETTLED IN； LOUNGING on his plush hawk…crested chair； Leto stared out the window into the crowded cluster of ships inside the Heighliner bay。 He sipped a mug of mulled wine that reminded him of Kailea and the stormy night when they had rummaged through the Old Duke's Possessions。 He longed for peaceful interludes and warm panionship； though he knew it would be a long time before his life became settled again。
〃The ships are so close together here；〃 he said。 〃It makes me uneasy。〃 He watched two Tleilaxu transports take positions near the Atreides frigate。 Beyond the transports a Harkonnen frigate hung in its Guild…assigned place。
〃Nothing to worry about； my Duke；〃 Hawat said。 〃By the rules of warfare dictated by the Great Convention； no one can fire a weapon inside a Heighliner。 Any house breaking that rule faces permanent forfeiture of its access to Guild ships。 No one would risk that。〃
〃Are our shields up anyway？〃 Leto asked。
〃Vermillion hells； no shields； Leto！〃 Rhombur said； with alarm in his voice。 He laughed。 〃You should have learned more about Heighliners on Ix or were you looking at my sister the whole time？〃
Leto flushed crimson； but Rhombur explained quickly。 〃Aboard a Heighliner； shields interfere with the ship's Holtzman propulsion system； preventing it from folding space。 An active shield disrupts a Navigator's ability to hold his navigation trance。 We'd be dead in space。〃
〃It is also forbidden under our Guild transport contract；〃 Hawat said； as if the legal reason might somehow carry more weight。
〃So we're all here unprotected； naked； and trusting；〃 Leto grumbled； still seeing the Harkonnen ship through the plaz ports。
Rhombur said with a defeated smile； 〃You're making me remember how many people wish me dead。〃
〃All ships inside this Heighliner are equally vulnerable； Prince；〃 Hawat said。 〃But you should not concern yourself just yet。 Your greatest peril lies ahead； on Kaitain。 For now； even I intend to rest a bit。 Here on board our frigate； we are as safe as we can be。〃
Leto looked out and up at the distant roof of the Heighliner hold。 High above in a miniscule navigation chamber； a single Navigator in a tank of orange spice gas controlled the enormous bulk of the ship。
Despite Hawat's assurances； he remained uneasy。 Beside him； Rhombur fidgeted as well； but struggled to cover his anxiety。 With an agitated breath the young Duke sat back； trying to let his tension drain away and prepare for the political crisis he was about to initiate on Kaitain。
Storms beget storms。 Rage begets rage。 Revenge begets revenge。 Wars beget wars。
…Bene Gesserit Conundrum
The Guild Heighliner's external hull hatches were sealed； the cavernous openings closed； and the vessel made ready to depart。 Soon the Navigator would go into his trance； and the ship would be under way。 The next and final destination on this route would be Kaitain； where representatives of the Great and Minor Houses of the Landsraad had begun arriving for the coronation of Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV。
The Navigator maneuvered the enormous vessel away from the gravity well of Caladan and out into open space； preparing to engage the huge Holtzman engines that would carry it in wild leaps across foldspace。
The passengers aboard family frigates within the liner's holding bay discerned no movement whatsoever； no motion from the engines； no change in position； no sound。 The packed ships hung in their isolated spaces like data bricks in a secure library plex。 All Houses followed the same rules； putting their faith in the ability of a single mutated creature to find a safe course。
Like giedi…cattle in a slaughter pen； thought Rabban as he climbed into his invisible attack ship。
He could have wiped out a dozen frigates before anyone figured out what was going on。 Given free rein； Rabban would have enjoyed causing such mayhem； the exhilarating sensation of extravagant violence。。。。
But that was not in the plan； at least not for now。
His uncle had developed a scheme of beautiful finesse。 〃Pay attention and learn from this；〃 he'd said。 Good advice； Rabban admitted to himself。 He had been discovering the benefits of subtlety and the enjoyment of a revenge long savored。
This didn't mean Rabban would forsake the more blunt forms of violence at which he excelled； on the contrary； he would simply add the Baron's methods to his homicidal repertoire。 He'd be a well…rounded person by the time he took over the leadership of House Harkonnen。
In an unobtrusive movement； the hatches of the Harkonnen family frigate slid open； and the containment field faded just long enough to let Rabban's sleek warship descend into the sealed vacuum within the Heighliner hold。
Slowly； quietly； patiently。
Before anyone could see his fighter craft； he engaged the no…field； working the controls the way Piter de Vries had shown him。 He felt no different； saw no change in the view transmitted from his monitors。 But now he was a killer ghost： invisible； invincible。
From anyone else's viewpoint； and from external sensors； all electromagnetic signals impinging on the no…field would reflect off and bend around； transforming his ship into an empty spot。 The attack craft's engines； more silent than the softest whisper； made no detectable sound or vibration。
No one would suspect a thing。 No one could even imagine an invisible ship。
Rabban activated the no…ship's attitude jets； silently coaxing the deadly craft away from the innocent…looking Harkonnen frigate； toward the Atreides vessel。 This attack ship was too big for his liking； not very maneuverable and rather bulky for a quick fighter； but its invisibility and stone…silence made all the difference。
His thick fingers danced over the control panels； and he felt a measure of glee； of power； glory； and satisfaction yet to e。 Soon a ship full of nasty； brutish Tleilaxu would be destroyed。 Hundreds of them would die。
Always before； Rabban had used his position in House Harkonnen to get what he wanted without question； to manipulate other people and kill those few who were unfortunate enough to stand in his way。 But that had been mere play for his personal amusement。 Now he was performing a vital function； an act upon which the future of House Harkonnen depended。 The Baron had picked