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No one ever told him what he was expected to do。 He never had a chance。 He choked on the spice gas； became dizzy； fought to keep control of his faculties。 The melange overdose stupefied him； so that he could not remember who he was or why he was there。 He struggled to maintain focus； but lost himself。
When he eventually returned to consciousness； his clothes clean and his hair and skin freshly washed （perhaps so the Guild could reclaim every particle of melange？）； the shapely red…haired proctor looked down at him。 She gave C'tair a winsome； sad smile； and shook her head。 〃You blocked your mind to the spice gas； thereby shackling yourself to the normal world。〃 Her next words came like a death sentence。 〃The Guild cannot use you。〃
C'tair sat up； coughing。 He sniffed； and his nostrils still tingled from the potent cinnamon stench。 〃I'm sorry。 Nobody explained what I was supposed to 〃
She helped him to his feet； anxious to usher him out of the Embassy Building。
His heart felt like molten lead。 The proctor didn't need to answer him as she led him out to the reception area。 C'tair looked around； searching for his brother； but the waiting room was empty。
Then he learned that his own failure wasn't the worst thing he had to face。
〃Where's D'murr？ Did he succeed？〃 C'tair's voice filled with hope。
The proctor nodded。 〃Admirably。〃 She extended her hand toward the exit； but he sidestepped her。 C'tair looked back toward the inner corridor and the sealed testing chamber where his brother had gone。 He needed to congratulate D'murr； even though the victory was now bittersweet。 At least one of them would bee a Navigator。
〃You will never see your brother again；〃 the proctor said； coldly。 She moved to block the way back in。 〃D'murr Pilru is ours now。〃
Recovering after an instant of shock； C'tair broke past the proctor and ran to the sealed chamber door。 He pounded against it and shouted； but received no answer。 Within minutes； Guild guards surrounded him more businesslike than gentle and peeled him away。
Still dizzy from the unaccustomed aftereffects of melange exposure； C'tair didn't realize where they were taking him。 Blinking and disoriented； he found himself standing on the crystal walkway outside the blocky gray embassy。 Below him； other walkways and streets bustled with traffic and pedestrians traveling from one tower building to another。
Now he was more alone than ever。
The testing proctor stood on the embassy steps； barring C'tair from reentering。 Even though his mother worked somewhere inside； deep in the banking section； C'tair knew that the doors of this facility； as well as the doors to the future he had counted on； were now locked to him。
〃Rejoice for your brother；〃 the proctor called from the steps； her voice finally showing some life。 〃He has entered another world。 He can travel to places you'll never imagine。〃
〃I can never see him； or talk to him again？〃 C'tair said； as if part of him had been ripped away。
〃Doubtful；〃 the proctor said； crossing her arms over her chest。 She gave him an apologetic frown。 〃Unless he。。。suffers a reversal。 His first time； your brother immersed himself so pletely in the spice gas that he started the。。nversion process right there and then。 The Guild cannot deny such talent。 He has already started to change。〃
〃Bring him back；〃 C'tair said； his eyes tear…filled now。 He prayed for his brother。 〃Just for a little while。〃 He wanted to be happy for his twin and proud。 D'murr had passed the test that meant so much to both of them。
The twins had always been so close。 How could they possibly go on without one another？ Perhaps his mother could use her Guild banking connections； so that they would at least be able to have their farewells。 Or maybe his father would use ambassadorial privilege to get D'murr back。
But C'tair knew that would never happen。 He could see that now。 His mother had already known it； had been afraid of losing both sons。
〃The process is； in the majority of cases； irreversible；〃 the proctor said with finality。
Guild security guards marched out to stand beside her； ensuring that C'tair did not bee irrational and try to force his way inside。
〃Trust me；〃 said the proctor。 〃You don't want your brother back。
The human body is a machine； a system of organic chemicals； fluid conduits； electrical impulses； a government is likewise a machine of interacting societies； laws； cultures； rewards and punishments； patterns of behavior。 Ultimately； the universe itself is a machine； planets around suns； stars gathered into clusters； clusters and other suns forming entire galaxies。。。。 Our job is to keep the machinery functioning。
…Suk Inner School； Primary Doctrine
Both frowning； Crown Prince Shaddam and Chamberlain Aken Hesban watched the approach of a diminutive； scrawny man who nonetheless walked as tall as a Mutellian giant。 After years of training and conditioning； all Suk doctors seemed pelled to take themselves far too seriously。
〃That Elas Yungar looks more like a circus performer than a respected medical professional；〃 Shaddam said； looking at the arched eyebrows； black eyes； and the steel…gray ponytail。 〃I hope he knows what he's doing。 I want only the best care for my poor ailing father。〃
Beside him； Hesban tugged on one of his long mustaches； but made no response。 He wore a floor…length blue robe with golden piping。 For years； Shaddam had disliked this pompous man who hovered too close to his father's presence； and he vowed to choose a new Chamberlain after assuming the throne。 And so long as this Suk doctor could find no explanation for Elrood's gradually worsening illness； Shaddam's ascendancy would be assured。
Hasimir Fenring had emphasized that even all the resources of the exalted Suk Inner School could not stop what had been set in motion。 The catalyst chemical implanted in the old man's brain would register on no poison…snooper； since it was not itself poison； but would only convert to a dangerous substance in the presence of spice beer。 And as he felt worse and worse； old Elrood consumed ever…increasing quantities of the beer。
No more than a meter in height； the shrunken doctor had smooth skin but ancient eyes from the vast medical knowledge hammered into his mind。 A black diamond tattoo marked the center of Yungar's creased forehead。 His ponytail of steel…gray hair； secured in the back by a silver Suk ring； was longer than a woman's； reaching nearly to the floor。
Wasting no time on further pleasantries； Elas Yungar broached a familiar subject。 〃You have our payment？〃 He looked first at the Chamberlain； then at the Crown Prince； where his gaze settled。 〃Fresh accounts must be established before we can begin treatment。 Given the Emperor's age； our care could be quite prolonged。。。and ultimately fruitless。 He must pay his bills； like every other citizen。 King； miner； basket…weaver it makes no difference to us。 Every human wants to be healthy； and we cannot treat everyone。 Our care is available only to those willing and able to pay for it。〃
Shaddam rested a hand on the Chamberlain's sleeve。 〃Ah yes； we will spare no expense for my father's health； Aken。 It is already arranged。〃
They stood just inside th