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！
〃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 expression on his broad face； especially in the dark eyes。 His skin looked pasty； as if painted on。 And Leto spotted something different about the body； an odd lumpiness in the man's peculiar； jerky movements。 A disturbing； grayish tone to the skin on the hands； but not the face。。。
Reaching under his desk； Leto slid his fingers over the handle of a knife that Hawat had sneaked into the cell for him。 It hadn't been difficult for the warrior Mentat。 Leto felt the hilt； gripped it without shifting his position or changing the placid and expectant expression on his face。
Every lesson the weapons master had ever taught him simmered in his muscles； alert and ready。 Spring…coiled； Leto didn't speak； didn't challenge the intruder。 But he knew something was wrong； and his life was on the line。
In a heartbeat the tall man slipped out of the voluminous uniform； maneuvering the static…seals that held the cloth together…and when the fabric slid away； so did the dull； expressionless face。 A mask！ The hands and lower arms went； too； dropping in a pile on the floor of the cell。
Dizzy with confusion； Leto threw himself to one side； tumbled off the chair onto the floor； and crouched beside the slim shelter of the desk。 He held the knife ready； still out of the intruder's view； and considered his options。
The tall guard's body split at the waist； as if breaking in half and a pair of Tleilaxu men spun around to face him； each a leathery…faced dwarf。 One leaped down from the shoulders of the other and tumbled to the floor。 They were both dressed in tight black outfits that showed every rippling； thick muscle。
The Tleilaxu assassins moved away from one another； circling him。 Their tiny eyes glittered like buckshot。 Something gleamed in each of their hands four weapons； indistinct but assuredly deadly。 Leaping wildly at Leto； one of the Tleilaxu screeched； 〃Die； powindah devil！〃
In a flash； Leto considered crawling under the desk or the cart； but first he decided to even the odds by killing one of the attackers。。。to keep them from acting in a coordinated plan。 With well…practiced aim； he hurled Hawat's knife。 It found its mark； pierced the dwarf's jugular and knocked him backward。
A silvery dart whizzed by Leto's ear； and now he rolled behind the holo…cart； which continued to project images above the desk。 A second dart struck the wall beside his head； chipping the stone。
Then he heard the hum of a lasgun。 An arc of purple light filled the room。
The second Tleilaxu's body slammed into the holo…cart； knocking it over。 His face oozed onto the floor； liquefied by the hot beam of light。 His body collapsed near Leto's hiding place。
Thufir Hawat and a Landsraad guard captain strode into the cell and looked down at Leto。 Behind them； guards inspected the two black…clad bodies。 A burned…meat odor hung in the air。
〃Somehow they got past our security；〃 the captain said。
〃I wouldn't call that security；〃 Hawat snapped at him。
One of the guards said； 〃This one's got a knife in his throat。〃
〃Where'd the knife e from？〃 The captain helped Leto to his feet。 〃Did you throw it； sir？〃
Leto glanced at his Mentat； but left it for Hawat to answer。 〃With all your security； Captain；〃 Hawat said with a withering sneer； 〃how could anyone possibly smuggle a weapon in here？〃
〃I wrested it from one of the attackers；〃 Leto said； his expression confident。 〃Then I killed him with it。〃 He blinked his gray eyes。 His body trembled with the after…rush of adrenaline。 〃I guess the Bene Tleilax couldn't wait for the trial to be over。〃
〃Vermilion hells！〃 Rhombur said； stepping in and looking around at the mess。 〃On the； uh； bright side； this won't look good for the Tleilaxu in the trial。 If they were so sure of winning； why should they try to take justice into their own hands？〃
Flushing in embarrassment； the guard captain turned to his men and directed them in the removal of the bodies and in the cleanup。
〃The assassins fired two darts；〃 Leto said； pointing to where the needles had stuck。
〃Be careful handling them；〃 Hawat said。 〃They're probably poisoned。〃
When Leto； Rhombur； and Hawat were alone again； the Mentat slipped a smuggled maula pistol into a bottom drawer of the desk。
〃Just in case；〃 he said。 〃Next time a dagger might not be sufficient。〃
As seen from orbit； the world of Ix is pristine and placid。 But beneath its surface； immense projects are undertaken and great works are achieved。 In this way； our planet is a metaphor for the Imperium itself。
…DOMINIC VERNIUS；
The Secret Workings of Ix
Smug and very satisfied； Hasimir Fenring extended to Shaddam a sheaf of covert documents written in the private language he and the Crown Prince had developed during their childhood。 The grand audience hall echoed with every whisper and sound； but they could be confident in their own secrets。 Shaddam sat wearily on the heavy throne； and the Hagal…crystal dais shone with inner illumination like a firelit aquamarine。
Fenring twitched with enough nervous energy for both of them。 〃These are files for the Major Houses of the Landsraad who will be sitting at the Atreides Trial by Forfeiture。〃 His large eyes were like black holes into the labyrinth of his mind。 〃I believe I've found something either embarrassing or illegal about each one of concern。 All told； I believe we have the means of persuasion we need。〃
Lurching forward on the throne； Shaddam looked as if he'd been taken pletely by surprise。 His eyes became wild and concerned； red from lack of sleep and flashing with anger。
Fenring had seen him on the verge of panic before； just as when they had arranged for the death of his older brother Fafnir。 〃Calm yourself； Shaddam； hm…m…m…m…m？〃 he said quietly。 〃I've taken care of everything。〃
〃Damn you； Hasimir！ If word ever gets out about any bribery attempts； it would ruin House Corrino。 We can't allow anyone to see our connection to this！〃 Shaddam shook his head as if the Imperium was already crumbling around him； and he hadn't even been crowned yet。 〃They'll wonder why we would go to such lengths to save an insignificant Duke。〃
Fenring smiled； trying to steady Shaddam with his own confidence。 〃The Landsraad is posed of Great Houses； many of which are already your allies； Sire。 A few carefully phrased suggestions among the nobles； a bit of melange exchanged； some well…placed bribes and threats。。。〃
〃Ah； yes。 I've always gone along with you perhaps too often； as if I had no brain of my own。 Soon I will be Emperor of a Million Worlds； and I'll have to think for myself。 I'm doing that now。〃
〃Emperors have advisors； Shaddam。 Always。〃 Fenring suddenly realized he had to be more cautious。 Something had unsettled Shaddam； something recent。 What does he know that I don't？
〃For once we won't use your methods； Hasimir。〃 He was firm； insistent。 〃I forbid it。 We will find some other way。〃
Intense now； Fenring climbed the steps to stand beside the Crown Prince； like an equal。 For some reason； though； the atmosphere was unfor