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as they pushed past Vernius guards and assembled spectators。 The Prince's face was flushed； and he turned quickly to the others there。 〃What time is it？ Has it happened yet？〃
〃Not yet。 Another ten minutes。〃
〃The Navigator's on his way。 His chamber's being escorted across the field right now。〃
Muttering thanks and pardons； Rhombur led his confused panion to a broad metaglass window in the sloping wall of the observation gallery。
At the far end of the room another door glided open； and the crowd parted for two dark…haired young men identical twins； from the looks of them。 Small in stature； they flanked Rhombur's sister Kailea as proud escorts。 In the brief time since Leto had last seen her； Kailea had somehow managed to change into a different dress； less frilly but no less beautiful。 The twins seemed drunk with her presence； and Kailea seemed to enjoy their fawning attention。 She smiled at both of them and guided them toward a good spot at the observation window。
Rhombur took Leto to stand beside them； far more interested in the view than in the members of the crowd。 Glancing around； Leto assumed that all the people there must be important officials of some sort。 He peered down； still at a loss as to what was going on。
An immense enclosure funneled into the distance where the grotto ceiling and the horizon came together。 Down below he saw a full…scale Heighliner； an asteroid…sized ship like the one that had carried him from Caladan to Ix。
〃This is the largest； uh； manufacturing facility on all of Ix；〃 Rhombur said。 〃It's the only surface hold in the Imperium large enough to acmodate an entire Heighliner。 Everyone else uses dry docks in space。 Here； in a terrestrial environment； the safety and efficiency for even large…scale construction is very cost…effective。〃
The shining new ship crowded the subterranean canyon。 A fan of decorative dorsal arrays shone from the nearer side。 On the fuselage； a gleaming purple…and…copper Ixian helix interlocked into the larger white analemma of the Spacing Guild； symbolizing infinity inside a rounded convex cartouche。
Constructed in place deep underground； the spaceship rested on a suspensor…jack mechanism； which elevated the craft so that large groundtrucks could drive underneath the hull。 Suboid workers in silver…and…white uniforms scanned the fuselage with handheld devices； performing rote duties。 As the teams of underclass workers checked the Guild craft； readying it for space； lines of light danced around the manufacturing center energy barriers to repel intruders。
Cranes and suspensor supports looked like tiny parasites crawling over the Heighliner's hull； but most of the machinery was clustered against the sloping walls of the chamber； moved out of the way。。。for a launch？ Leto didn't think it was possible。 Thousands of surface…bound workers swarmed like a static pattern across the ground； removing debris and preparing for the departure of the incredible ship。
The buzz of the audience in the observation chamber grew louder； and Leto sensed something was about to happen。 He spotted numerous screens and images transmitted by eyes。 Numbed by the spectacle； he asked； 〃But。。。how do you get it out？ A ship this size？ There's a rock ceiling overhead； and all the walls look solid。〃
One of the eager…faced twins next to him looked down with a confident smile。 〃Wait and see。〃 The two identical young men had widely set eyes on squarish faces； intent expressions； furrowed brows； they were several years older than Leto。 Their pale skin was an inevitable consequence of spending their lives underground。
Between them； Kailea cleared her throat and looked at her brother。 〃Rhombur？〃 she said； flashing a glance at the twins and at Leto。 〃You're forgetting your manners。〃
Rhombur suddenly remembered his obligations。 〃Oh； yes！ This is Leto Atreides； heir to House Atreides on Caladan。 And these two are C'tair and D'murr Pilru。 Their father is Ix's Ambassador to Kaitain； and their mother is a Guild banker。 They live in one of the wings of the Grand Palais； so you might see them around。〃
The young men bowed in unison and seemed to draw closer to Kailea。 〃We're preparing for Guild examination in the next few months；〃 one of the twins； C'tair； said。 〃We hope to pilot a ship like that someday。〃 His dark head nodded toward the immense vessel below。 Kailea watched them both with a worried glint in her green eyes； as if she wasn't too sure about the idea of their being Navigators。
Leto was moved by the sparkle and eagerness he saw in the young man's deep brown eyes。 The other brother was less social and seemed to be interested only in the activity below。 〃Here es the Navigator's chamber；〃 D'murr said。
Below； a bulky black tank floated ahead on a cleared path； borne on industrial suspensors。 Traditionally； Guild Navigators masked their appearance； keeping themselves hidden in thick clouds of spice gas。 It was generally believed that the process of being a Navigator transformed a person into something other than human； something more evolved。 The Guild said nothing to confirm or deny the speculations。
〃Can't see a thing inside；〃 C'tair said。
〃Yes； but that's a Navigator in there。 I can sense him。〃 D'murr leaned forward so intently it seemed as if he wanted to fly through the metaglass observation window。 When the twins both ignored her； intent on the ship below； Kailea turned instead to Leto and met his gaze with sparkling emerald eyes。
Rhombur gestured down at the ship and continued his rapid mentary。 〃My father is excited about his new enhanced…payload Heighliner models。 I don't know if you've studied your history； but Heighliners were originally of； uh； Richesian manufacture。 Ix and Richese peted with one another for Guild contracts； but gradually we won by bringing all aspects of our society into the process： uh； subsidies； conscriptions； tax levies； whatever it took。 We don't do things halfway on Ix。〃
〃I've heard you're also masters of industrial sabotage and patent law；〃 Leto said； remembering what his mother had claimed。
Rhombur shook his head。 〃Lies told by jealous Houses。 Vermilion hells； we don't steal ideas or patents we waged only a technological war against Richese； and won without firing a single shot。 But as sure as if we'd used atomics； we struck mortal blows against them。 It was either them or us。 A generation ago they lost their stewardship of Arrakis at about the same time they lost their lead in technology。 Bad family leadership； I guess。〃
〃My mother is Richesian；〃 Leto said crisply。
Rhombur flushed with deep embarrassment。 〃Oh； I'm sorry。 I forgot。〃 He scratched his tousled blond hair just to give his hands something to do。
〃That's okay。 We don't wear blinders；〃 Leto said。 〃I know what you're talking about。 Richese still exists； but on a vastly smaller scale。 Too much bureaucracy and too little innovation。 My mother's never wanted to take me there； not even to visit her family。 Too many painful memories； I suppose； though I think she hoped marrying my father might help restore Richese fortunes。〃
Below； the tank bearing the mysterious Navigator entered an orifice at the front end of the Heighliner。 The polished black chamber va