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nudged the platter toward Ajidica to offer his guest a morsel。
The diminutive man drew back and refused to touch the food。 Shaddam frowned。 〃Slig meat is of your own manufacture。 Don't you Tleilaxu eat your own delicacies？〃
Ajidica shook his head。 〃Though we breed those creatures； we do not consume them ourselves。 Please forgive me； Sire。 You need offer me no amenities。 Let us discuss what we must。 I am anxious to return to Xuttah and my laboratories。〃
Shaddam sniffed； relieved that he didn't have to make any further attempts to be polite。 He had no interest in displaying proper etiquette to this man。 Instead； he rubbed his temples； where his long…standing headache threatened to grow even worse within the hour。 〃I must make a request no； a demand as your Emperor。〃
〃Forgive me； my Lord Prince；〃 Ajidica interrupted； 〃but you have not yet been crowned。〃
The guards at the door stiffened。 Shaddam's eyes flew open wide in astonishment。 〃Does any man's mand bear more weight than mine？ In all the Imperium？〃
〃No； m'Lord。 I was merely correcting a matter of semantics。〃
Shaddam pushed the food platter to one side and leaned over the table like a predator； so close that he could smell the man's unpleasant odors。 〃Listen to me； Hidar Fen Ajidica。 Your people must withdraw your charges in the trial of Leto Atreides。 I don't want this matter to e to open court。〃 He sat back again； took another bite of slig meat； and continued with his mouth full。 〃So； just drop your accusations； I'll send some treasure your way； and everything will settle down。〃
He made the solution sound so simple。 When the Tleilaxu man did not respond immediately； Shaddam rambled on； trying to be gracious。 〃After discussing this with my advisors； I have decided that the Tleilaxu can be pensated； paid blood money for their losses。〃 Shaddam brought his reddish eyebrows together in a stern expression。 〃Real losses only； though。 Gholas don't count。〃
〃I understand； Sire； but I am sorry to say that what you ask is impossible。〃 Ajidica's voice remained low and smooth。 〃We cannot ignore such a crime mitted against the Tleilaxu people。 It strikes to the heart of our honor。〃
Shaddam nearly choked on another bite of his food。 〃 'Tleilaxu' and 'honor' aren't words usually used in the same conversation。〃
Ajidica brushed the insult aside。 〃Nevertheless； all of the Landsraad is aware of this horrible event。 If we withdraw our objections； then House Atreides will have attacked us openly destroyed our ships and people with impunity。〃 The pointed tip of his nose twitched。 〃Surely you have enough statecraft； Sire； to know that we cannot back down on this matter。〃
Shaddam fumed。 His headache was getting worse。 〃I'm not asking you。 I'm telling you。〃
The little man considered this for some time； his dark eyes glittering。 〃Might I inquire as to why the fate of Leto Atreides is so important to you； Sire？ The Duke represents a relatively unimportant House。 Why not throw him to the wolves and give us our satisfaction？〃
Shaddam growled deep in his throat。 〃Because somehow Leto knows about your artificial…spice activities on Ix。〃
Alarm finally registered on Ajidica's masked features。 〃Impossible！ We have maintained the utmost security。〃
〃Then why did he send me a message？〃 Shaddam demanded as he half stood from his seat。 〃Leto is using this knowledge as a bargaining chip； to blackmail me。 If he is found guilty at trial； he will expose all of your work； and our collusion in it。 I'll be faced with a rebellion in the Landsraad。 Think of it my father； with my help； allowed a Great House of the Landsraad to be overthrown。 Unprecedented！ And not just by any rival House； but by you。。。the Tleilaxu。〃
Now the researcher seemed to take offense； but still did not respond。
Shaddam groaned； then remembered appearances and glowered instead。 〃If it bees known that I did all this in order to have access to a private source of artificial spice； thereby cutting the Landsraad and the Bene Gesserit and the Guild out of their profits； my reign won't last a week。〃
〃Then we are at an impasse； m'Lord。〃
〃No； we are not！〃 Shaddam roared。 〃The pilot of the surviving Tleilaxu ship is your key witness。 Get him to change his story。 Perhaps he didn't see everything as clearly as he thought at first。 You will be well rewarded； both from my coffers and from those of House Atreides。〃
〃Not sufficient； Sire；〃 Ajidica said with a maddeningly impassive expression。 〃The Atreides must be humiliated for what they have done。 They must be embarrassed。 Leto must pay。〃
The Emperor looked down his nose in disdain at the Tleilaxu researcher。 His voice was cold and controlled。 〃Would you like me to send more Sardaukar to Ix？ I'm sure another few legions walking the streets would keep a very close eye on your activities there。〃
Ajidica still revealed no emotion。
Shaddam's gaze turned stony。 〃For month after month I've waited； and still you haven't produced what I needed。 Now you say it could take decades more。 Neither of us will last that long if Leto exposes us。〃
The Crown Prince finished eating the slig morsels and pushed the plate away。 Though the dish had been prepared perfectly； he had barely tasted it because his mind was elsewhere； distracted by the throbbing within his skull。 Why did being Emperor have to be so difficult？
〃Do what you will； Sire；〃 Ajidica said； his voice more strident than Shaddam had ever heard it。 〃Leto Atreides is not forgiven and must be punished。〃
Wrinkling his nose； Shaddam dismissed the little man； gesturing for the Sardaukar to haul him away。 Since he would soon be the Emperor of the Known Universe； he had many other things to do； important things。
If only he could get rid of this damned headache。
The worst sort of protection is confidence。 The best defense is suspicion。
…HASIMIR FENRING
Thufir Hawat and Rhombur Vernius could leave the cell at their leisure； while Leto was honor…bound to remain； in part for his own safety。 The Mentat and the Ixian Prince often went out to discuss testimony with various crew members from the Atreides frigate and anyone else who might help their cause in any way。
Leto； meanwhile； sat at the desk alone in his cell。 Although the old Mentat had always trained him never to sit with his back to a door； Leto felt that he should be safe enough inside a maximum…security cell。
For the moment he reveled in a few moments of silence and concentration as he pored over the copious evidence projections that had been prepared for him。 Even with Sardaukar guards as escorts； he would have been reluctant to walk through the Imperial Palace knowing that the shadow of accusation still hung over him。 He would face his peers soon enough and proclaim his innocence。
He heard a noise at the cell confinement field behind him； but delayed looking back。 With a humming scriber in his hand； he finished a paragraph about the plete destruction of the first Tleilaxu ship； noting a technical detail he hadn't considered before。
〃Thufir？〃 Leto asked。 〃Have you forgotten something？〃 Casually； he glanced over his shoulder。
A tall Landsraad guard stood there in a colorful； billowing uniform。 The man wore a strange exp