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construction looked very much like that of his son Rhombur； except the fat he carried had set into ruddy folds and creases； and his dark bushy mustache made for a striking frame around white teeth。 Earl Dominic was several centimeters taller than his son。 The Earl's features were not narrow and hard like the Atreides and Corrino bloodlines； but came instead from a lineage that had been ancient at the time of the Battle of Corrin。
Behind him came his wife Shando； former concubine of the Emperor； dressed in a formal gown。 Her finely chiseled features； delicately pointed nose； and creamy skin suffused her appearance with a regal beauty that would have shone through even the most drab of garments。 She looked slight and delicate at first glance； but carried a toughness and resilience about her。
Beside her； their daughter Kailea seemed to be trying to outshine even her mother in a brocaded lavender dress that set off copper…dark hair。 Kailea looked a little younger than Leto； but she walked with a studied grace and concentration； as if she dared not let formality or appearances slip。 She had thin arched eyebrows； striking emerald eyes； and a generous； catlike mouth above a narrow chin。 With the faintest of smiles； Kailea executed an extravagant and perfect curtsy。
Leto nodded and responded to each introduction； trying to keep his eyes from the Vernius daughter。 Hurriedly going through the motions his mother had drilled into him； Leto snapped open the seal on one of his suitcases and removed a heavy jeweled box； one of the Atreides family treasures。 Holding it； he stood erect。 〃For you； Lord Vernius。 This contains unique items from our planet。 I also have a gift for Lady Vernius。〃
〃Excellent； excellent！〃 Then； as if impatient with overblown ceremony； Dominic accepted the gift and motioned for a servant to e and take it。 〃I'll enjoy its contents this evening； when there is more time。〃 He rubbed his broad hands together。 This man seemed to belong more in a smoky blacksmith's shop or on a battlefield than in a fancy palace。 〃So； did you have a good trip to Ix； Leto？〃
〃Uneventful； sir。〃
〃Ah； the best kind of trip。〃 Dominic laughed easily。
Leto smiled； not certain how best to make a good impression on this man。 He cleared his throat； embarrassed to confess his concerns and worries。 〃Yes； sir； except I thought I was abandoned when the Guild left me on your planet and I saw only wilderness。〃
〃Ah！ I asked your father not to mention that to you our little prank。 I did the same to him on his first visit here。 You must have imagined yourself good and lost。〃 Dominic beamed with pleasure。 〃You look rested enough； young man。 At your age； space lag isn't much of a factor。 You left Caladan； what； two days ago？〃
〃Less than that； sir。〃
〃Amazing how quickly Heighliners can span great distances。 Positively incredible。 And we're making improvements in Heighliner design； enabling each ship to carry a larger payload。〃 His booming voice made the acplishments seem even more grandiose。 〃Our second construction is to be pleted later today； another triumph for us。 We'll take you through all the modifications we've made； so you can learn them as part of your apprenticeship here。〃
Leto smiled； but already his head felt as if it might explode。 He didn't know how much more new input he could absorb。 By the time the year was up； he would be a different person entirely。
There are weapons you cannot hold in your hand。 You can only hold them in your mind。
…Bene Gesserit Teaching
The Bene Gesserit shuttle descended to the dark side of Giedi Prime； landing in the well…guarded Harko City spaceport just before midnight； local time。
Concerned about what the damned witches wanted from him now that he had e home from the desert hellhole of Arrakis； the Baron went to a shielded upper balcony of Harkonnen Keep to watch the lights of the arriving craft。
Around him； the monolithic blackplaz…and…steel towers shone garish lights into the smoke…smeared darkness。 Walkways and roads were covered by corrugated awnings and filtered enclosures to protect pedestrians from industrial waste and acid rain。 Given a little more imagination and attention to detail during its construction； Harko City could have been striking。 Instead； the place looked stricken。
〃I have the data for you； my Baron；〃 said a nasal but sharp voice behind him； as close as an assassin。
Startled； the Baron turned； flexing his well…muscled arms。 He scowled。 The gaunt…robed form of his personal Mentat； Piter de Vries； stood at the doorway to the balcony。
〃Don't ever sneak up on me； Piter。 You slither like a worm。〃 The parison brought to mind his nephew Rabban's desert hunting expedition and its embarrassing results。 〃Harkonnens kill worms； you know。〃
〃So I've heard；〃 de Vries answered dryly。 〃But sometimes moving silently is the best way to acquire information。〃 A wry smile formed on his lips； which were stained red from the cranberry…colored sapho juice Mentats drank in order to increase their abilities。 Always seeking physical pleasures； curious to experiment with additional addictions； the Baron had tried sapho himself； but found it to be bitter； vile stuff。
〃It's a Reverend Mother and her entourage；〃 de Vries said； nodding toward the lights of the shuttle。 〃Fifteen Sisters and acolytes； along with four male guards。 No weapons that we could detect。〃
De Vries had been trained as a Mentat by the Bene Tleilax； genetic wizards who produced some of the Imperium's best human puters。 But the Baron hadn't wanted a mere data…processing machine with a human brain…he'd wanted a calculating and clever man； someone who could not only prehend and pute the consequences of Harkonnen schemes； but who could also use his corrupt imagination to assist the Baron in achieving his aims。 Piter de Vries was a special creation； one of the infamous Tleilaxu 〃twisted Mentats。〃
〃But what do they want？〃 the Baron muttered； gazing at the landed shuttle。 〃Those witches seem damned confident ing here。〃 His own blue…uniformed troops marched out like a wolf pack before any of the passengers emerged from the ship。 〃We could erase them in an instant with our most trivial House defenses。〃
〃The Bene Gesserit are not without weapons； my Baron。 Some say they themselves are weapons。〃 De Vries raised a thin finger。 〃It's never wise to incur the wrath of the Sisterhood。〃
〃I know that； idiot！ So； what's the Reverend Mother's name and what does she want？〃
〃Gaius Helen Mohiam。 As to what she wants。。。her Sisterhood has refused to say。〃
〃Damn them and their secrets；〃 the Baron grumbled； as he spun about on the plaz…enclosed balcony。 He strode toward the corridor to go meet the shuttlecraft。
Piter de Vries smiled after him。 〃When a Bene Gesserit speaks； she often does so in riddles and innuendos； but her words also hold a great deal of truth。 One simply needs to excavate it。〃
The Baron responded with a deep grunt； kept going。 Intensely curious himself； Piter followed。
On the way； the Mentat reviewed his knowledge of these black…robed witches。 The Bene Gesserit occupied themselves with numerous breeding schemes； as if farming humanity for their own obscure purposes。 They also manded