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！
ries we have recently developed highly unorthodox techniques to synthesize； shall we say； unusual substances。〃 His words were clipped and efficient； providing no more detail than necessary。 〃Our initial results indicate that a synthetic could be fashioned that； in all important chemical properties； is identical to melange。〃
〃Spice？〃 Elrood now gave the Tleilaxu his full attention。 Shaddam noticed a twitching tic in his father's right cheek below his eye。 〃Created in a laboratory？ Impossible！〃
〃Not impossible； my Lord。 Given the proper time and conditions for development； this artificially created spice could bee an inexhaustible supply； mass…produced and inexpensive and it could be earmarked exclusively for House Corrino； if you wish。〃
Elrood leaned forward like a mummified carrion bird。 〃Such a thing has never been possible before。〃
〃Our analysis shows that the spice is an organically based substance。 Through careful experimentation and development； we believe our axlotl tanks can be modified to produce melange。〃
〃The same way you grow gholas from dead human cells？〃 the Emperor said； scowling with revulsion。 〃And clones？〃
Intrigued and surprised； Shaddam glanced over at Fenring。 Axlotl tanks？
Ajidica continued to focus on Elrood。 〃In。。。effect； my Lord。〃
〃Why e to me？〃 Elrood asked。 〃I should think the diabolical Tleilaxu would create a spice substitute for themselves and leave the Imperium at their mercy。〃
〃The Bene Tleilax are not a mighty race； Sire。 If we discovered how to produce our own melange； and kept the secret for ourselves； we know it would bring down the wrath of the Imperium。 You yourself would send in Sardaukar； tear the secret from our grasp； and destroy us。 The Spacing Guild and CHOAM would be happy to assist you and the Harkonnens； too； would defend their spice monopoly at all costs。〃 Ajidica gave a thin； humorless smile。
〃It's good to see that you understand your subordinate position；〃 Elrood said； resting his bony elbow on the arm of the heavy throne。 〃Not even the wealthiest Great House has ever developed a military force to oppose my Sardaukar。〃
〃Thus； we have prudently decided to ingratiate ourselves with the most powerful presence in the galaxy the Imperial House。 In that way we can reap the greatest benefit from our new research。〃
Elrood placed a long finger on his papery lips； considering。 These Tleilaxu were clever； and if they could manufacture the substance exclusively for House Corrino； and cost…effectively； the Emperor would have a powerful bargaining chip。
The economic difference could be huge。 House Harkonnen could be driven into the ground； bankrupted。 Arrakis would bee of little value； with the product there paratively expensive to get out of the sand。
If this gnome could do as he suggested； the Landsraad； CHOAM； the Spacing Guild； the Mentats； and the Bene Gesserit would be forced to seek favors from the Emperor in order to get their supplies。 Most of the important scions of noble families were already addicted to melange； and Elrood himself could bee their supplier。 Excitement blossomed within him。
Ajidica interrupted Elrood's train of thought。 〃Let me emphasize that this will be no simple task； Sire。 The precise chemical structure of melange is extraordinarily difficult to analyze； and we must separate out which ponents are necessary for the substance to be effective； and which are irrelevant。 In order to achieve this goal； the Tleilaxu will require enormous resources； as well as the freedom and time to pursue our avenues of research。〃
Fenring shifted on the polished steps and； while looking up at old Emperor； interjected： 〃My Lord； I see now that Master Ajidica was right in seeking privacy for this audience。 Such an undertaking must be carried out entirely in secret if House Corrino is to have an exclusive source。 Ah； certain powers in the Imperium would do anything to prevent you from creating an independent and inexpensive supply of spice； hm…m…m…m？〃
Fenring could see that the old man recognized the enormous political and economic advantages Ajidica's proposal could bring him even in light of everyone's instinctive loathing for the Tleilaxu。 He sensed the balance shifting； the senile Emperor ing to exactly the conclusion Fenring wished。 Yes； the ancient creature can still be manipulated。
Elrood himself saw many forces hanging in the balance。 Since the Harkonnens were ambitious and intractable； he would have preferred to place another Great House in charge of Arrakis； but the Baron would remain in power for decades yet。 For political reasons； the Emperor had been forced to grant this valuable quasi…fief to House Harkonnen after ousting Richese； and the new fief holders had dug themselves in。 Too much so。 Even the debacle of Abulurd's governorship （he'd been installed in his position at the request of his father Dmitri Harkonnen） had not brought the desired result。 The effect had been the exact opposite； in fact； once the Baron had maneuvered himself into a position of power。
But what to do with Arrakis afterward？ Elrood thought。 I would want total control of it as well。 Without its monopoly on spice； the place might e cheap。 At the right price； it could prove useful for something else。。。an incredibly harsh military training area； perhaps？
〃You were correct in bringing your ideas to our attention； Hidar Fen Ajidica。〃 Elrood clasped his hands on his lap； clinking gold rings together； refusing to apologize for his earlier rudeness。 〃Please give us a detailed summary of your needs。〃
〃Yes； my Lord Emperor。〃 Ajidica bowed again； keeping his hands folded in his billowing maroon sleeves。 〃Most importantly； my people will need equipment and resources。。。a place in which to do our research。 I will be in charge of this program myself； but the Bene Tleilax require an appropriate technological base and industrial facilities。 Preferably ones that are already functional and well defended。〃
Elrood pondered the question。 Surely； among all the worlds in the Imperium； there must be someplace； a high…tech world with industrial capabilities。。。。
Puzzle pieces snicked into place； and he saw it： a way to obliterate his old rival House Vernius payback for Dominic's effrontery involving the royal concubine Shando； and for the new Heighliner design that threatened to wreak havoc on Imperial profit systems。 Oh； this will be magnificent！
Sitting on the steps to the crystal pedestal of the throne； Hasimir Fenring did not understand why the Emperor smiled with such smug satisfaction。 The silence drew out for a long moment。 He wondered if it might have something to do with the mind…eating effects of the slow chaumurky。 The old man would soon bee increasingly irrational and paranoid。 And after that he would die。 Horribly； I hope。
But before then； all the proper wheels would have been set in motion。
〃Yes； Hidar Fen Ajidica。 We do have the place for your efforts； I believe；〃 Elrood said。 〃A perfect place。〃
Dominic must not know until it is too late； the Emperor thought。 And then he must know who did it to him。 Right before he dies。
The timing； as in so many matters of the Imperium； had to be precise。
The Spacing Guild has worked for ce