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Fenring seized the chance to restore himself to the Crown Prince's good graces。 〃I always do； Sire。〃 He scuttled away across the long reception hall。
Shaddam paced the polished floor in front of the crystalline throne； trying to calm himself and put his thoughts in order。 Just as Fenring reached the archway； he called out； 〃This isn't over between us； Hasimir。 Things must change once I am crowned。〃
〃Yes； Sire。 You must。。。hm…m…m…m； do as you see fit。〃 Bowing deeply； Fenring backed out of the audience chamber； relieved to depart with his life。
When faced with necessary actions； there are always choices。 So long as the job gets done。
…COUNT HASIMIR FENRING；
Dispatches from Arrakis
The Tleilaxu pilot who had survived the Atreides attack inside the Heighliner was a material witness at the trial； and thus had been forced to remain on Kaitain。 He wasn't a prisoner； and his needs were taken care of； though no one sought out his pany。 The Bene Tleilax hadn't even made his name monly known。 He wanted to be back on his ship； back at work。
However； because of the huge influx of guests arriving for Shaddam's uping coronation ceremony and the Imperial wedding； acmodations were difficult to find。 Shaddam's protocol ministers had taken great pleasure in finding only an austere and unpleasant room for the man。
Much to the protocol ministers' annoyance； the Tleilaxu pilot didn't seem to mind。 He said nothing in plaint while he waited； and sulked and stewed until he could bring the foul criminal Leto Atreides to justice。。。。
Kaitain nights were perfect； clear and full of stars and moons。 Through shimmering curtains of auroras； plete darkness never fell。 Even so； most of the capital city slept during certain hours。
Hasimir Fenring easily crept into the sealed room that held the Tleilaxu man。 He moved stealthily； like a shadow on a suspensorlift； and made no sound； used no illumination。 He was accustomed to the night； it was his friend。
Fenring had never seen a Tleilaxu asleep before but as he stepped closer to the bed； he found the pilot already sitting up； totally awake。 The gray…skinned man stared at him through the darkness as if he could see better even than Shaddam's henchman。
〃I have a flechette pistol trained directly at your body core；〃 the Tleilaxu said。 〃Who are you？ Have you e to kill me？〃
〃Hm…m…m…m…ah； no。〃 Fenring recovered quickly and used his sweetest； silkiest voice to introduce himself。 〃I am Hasimir Fenring； boon panion to Crown Prince Shaddam； bearing a message and a request。〃
〃What is it？〃 the pilot said。
〃Crown Prince Shaddam beseeches you to reconsider the details of your testimony； hm…m…m…m？ He desires peace among the Houses of the Landsraad； and does not wish for such a shadow to fall upon House Atreides； whose members have served the Padishah Emperors since the time of the Great Revolt。〃
〃Nonsense；〃 the Tleilaxu snapped。 〃Leto Atreides fired upon our sovereign ships； destroying one； damaging mine。 Hundreds are dead。 He has created the largest political firestorm in recent decades。〃
〃Yes； yes！〃 Fenring said。 〃And you can prevent it from escalating further； hmmm？ Shaddam wishes to begin his reign with quiet and prosperity。 Can you not consider the larger picture？〃
〃I think only of my people；〃 the pilot said；〃 and how we have been wronged by one man。 Everyone knows the Atreides is guilty； and he must pay the price。 Only then will we be satisfied。〃 He smiled with thin lips。 The flechette pistol in his hand did not move a millimeter。 Fenring could see how this man could have risen to the rank of pilot； he clearly had the stomach to mand ships。 〃After that happens； Shaddam may have as quiet a reign as he chooses。〃
〃You make me sad；〃 Fenring said； sounding disappointed。 〃I will take your answer back to the Crown Prince。〃 He crossed his arms over his chest and bowed in farewell； extending his palms forward。 The motion triggered two needle guns mounted to his wrists。 In silence； they fired deadly paralytic darts into the pilot's throat。
The Tleilaxu clenched in a spasm； reflexively firing the flechette pistol。 Fenring easily ducked out of the way。 The long spikes hammered into the wall and hung there quivering。 A second later； an occupant in the adjacent room pounded on the wall for quiet。
Still in darkness； Fenring studied his work。 The evidence was all here； and the Bene Tleilax would understand what had happened。 After the outrageous assassination attempt on Leto Atreides despite Shaddam's specific orders for them to drop the matter Hidar Fen Ajidica had much to atone for。
The Tleilaxu prided themselves on their ability to keep secrets。 No doubt they would discreetly remove the pilot's name from the witness list and not mention him again。 Without his testimony； their case would be weaker。
Fenring hoped； though； that this murder wouldn't make the little men even more vengeful。 How would Hidar Fen Ajidica respond？
Departing from the locked room； Fenring slid through the shadows。 He left the body； just in case the Bene Tleilax wanted to resurrect him as a ghola。 After all； despite the little man's failings； he might have been a good pilot。
In plotting any course of revenge； one must savor the anticipation phase and all its moments； for the actual execution often differs widely from the original plan。
…HASIMIR FENRING；
Dispatches from Arrakis
The Baron Vladimir Harkonnen couldn't have been more delighted at the way events were turning out。 He might have taken deeper pleasure if the rest of the Imperium could appreciate the delicious plexities of what he had done but of course he could never reveal those。
As an important House； as well as the current stewards of spice production on Arrakis； the Harkonnens received fine acmodations in a distant wing of the Imperial Palace。 Tickets for reserved seats at the coronation and the wedding had already been delivered to their quarters。
And； of course； before all the pomp and ceremony； it would be the Baron's sad duty to watch the terrible trial of Leto Atreides。 He tapped his fingers against his leg and pursed his generous lips。 Ah； the burdens of nobility。
He lounged in a plush indigo chair； cradling a crystal sphere in his lap。 From the depths of the transparent ball shone holo…images of fireworks displays and light shows； previews for the spectacle that would shower Kaitain in a few days' time。 In a corner of the room a musical fireplace whispered quiet notes； making him yawn。 Lately； he felt tired so often； his body weak and shaky。
〃I want you to leave the planet；〃 the Baron told Glossu Rabban without looking up from the crystal sphere。 〃I don't want you here during the trial or the coronation。〃
The broad…shouldered； thick…lipped man bristled。 His brown hair had been hacked short； without finesse； for the public appearance； and he wore a padded dra…leather vest that made him look even more like a barrel than usual。 〃Why？ I did everything you asked； and our plans turned out beautifully。 Why send me away now？〃
〃Because I don't want you here；〃 the Baron said； running a hand along his widow's peak to smooth down his thick hair。 〃I can't have anyone taking a look at you and thinking you migh