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Duncan scrambled up one of the tangled tree trunks to join the other panicked rice farmers。 He hung in the low branches； pushing Spanish moss aside as he looked down and watched the ripples approach。 Beneath the water he could see large； many…fanged creatures armored with broad scales。 Several of the panther…fish circled around the trunk of the swamp tree in which Duncan had taken refuge。
Some of the creatures rose up on scaled elbows； rudimentary arms with front fins that had developed into clumsy claws。 With most of their bodies out of the water； the carnivorous fish stretched upward； large and deadly。 They blinked wet； slitted eyes at the young man who hung just out of reach in the branches above。 After a long moment of staring them down； Duncan climbed one branch higher。 The panther…fish submerged again； swirling away out of sight in the sprawling rice paddies。
The following day Duncan took a spare meal the farmer's family had packed for him and trudged off toward the coast； where he eventually found work as a net…rigger on a fishing boat that plied the waters of the warm southern seas。 At least the boat would take him to port on the continent where Castle Caladan lay。
For weeks he worked the nets； gutted the fish； and ate his fill in the galley。 The cook used a lot of spices that were unfamiliar to Duncan hot Caladanian peppers and mustards that made his eyes water and his nose run。 The men laughed at his disfiture； and told him he would never be a man until he could eat food like that。 To their surprise young Duncan took this as a challenge； and soon he began asking for extra seasoning。 Before long he could endure meals hotter than any other crew member。 The fishermen stopped teasing him and began to praise him instead。
Before the end of the voyage； a cabin boy in the next bunk did a calculation for Duncan that showed him that he was nine now； by almost six weeks。 〃I feel a lot older than that；〃 Duncan responded。
He hadn't expected to take so long to reach his destination； but his life was better now； despite the incredibly hard work he'd taken on。 He felt safe； freer in a way than he had ever felt before。 The men on the crew were his new family。
Under cloudy skies the fishing boat finally reached port； and Duncan left the sea behind。 He didn't ask for pay； didn't take his leave of the captain he simply departed。 The oceangoing sojourn was just a step along the way。 Never once during his long journey did he ever deviate from his main goal of reaching the Old Duke。 He took advantage of no one and worked hard for the hospitality he received。
In a dockside alley a sailor from another ship once tried to molest him； but Duncan fought back with iron…hard muscles and whip…fast reflexes。 The bruised and battered predator retreated； finding this wild boy too much for him。
Duncan began hitching rides on groundtrucks and cars； and sneaked aboard tube trains and short…haul cargo 'thopters。 Inexorably； he moved north on the continent； toward Castle Caladan； getting closer and closer as the months passed。
During the frequent rains； he found trees under which he could huddle。 But even wet and hungry； he didn't feel so bad； for he recalled the terrible night at Forest Guard Station； how cold he had been； how he had used a knife to cut open his own shoulder。 After that； he could certainly handle these brief disforts。
Sometimes he struck up conversations with other travelers and heard stories of their popular Duke； bits of Atreides history。 Back on Giedi Prime； no one had spoken of such matters。 People held their opinions to themselves and gave up no information except under duress。 Here； however； the locals were happy to talk about their situation。 Duncan realized with a shock one afternoon as he traveled with three entertainers that the people on Caladan actually loved their leader。
In sharp contrast； Duncan had heard only terrible stories of the Harkonnens。 He knew the fear of the populace and the brutal consequences of any real or imagined defiance。 On this planet； though； the people respected rather than feared their ruler。 The Old Duke； Duncan was told； walked with only a small honor guard through villages and markets； visiting the people without wearing any armor； without shields or fear of attack。
Baron Harkonnen or Glossu Rabban would never dare such a thing。
I may like this Duke； Duncan thought one night； curled up under a blanket one of the entertainers had loaned him。。。。
Finally； after months of travel； he stood in the village at the foot of the promontory that held Castle Caladan。 The magnificent structure stood like a sentinel gazing out across the calm seas。 Somewhere inside it lived Duke Paulus Atreides； by now a legendary figure to the boy。
Duncan shivered from the chill of morning and took a deep breath。 The fog lifted above the seacoast； turning the rising sun into a deep orange ball。 He marched away from the village and started up the long； steep road to the Castle。 This was where he must go。
As he walked； he did what he could to make himself presentable； brushing the dust from his clothes and tucking his wrinkled pullover shirt into his trousers。 But he felt confident about himself； regardless of his appearance； and this Duke would accept him or throw him out。 Either way； Duncan Idaho would survive。
When he reached the gates that led into the great courtyard； the Atreides guards tried to bar his way； thinking him a panhandler。
〃I'm not a beggar；〃 Duncan announced with his head held high。 〃I have e across the galaxy to see the Duke； and I must tell him my story。〃
The guards just laughed。 〃We can find you some scraps from the kitchen； but no more。〃
〃That would be very kind of you； sirs；〃 Duncan agreed； his stomach grumbling with hunger； 〃but that isn't why I'm here。 Please send a message into the Castle that〃 he tried to remember the phrasing one of the traveling singers had taught him 〃that Master Duncan Idaho requests an audience with Duke Paulus Atreides。〃
The guards laughed again； but the boy saw grudging respect seep into their expressions。 One went away and came back with some breakfast； tiny roasted eggs for Duncan。 After thanking the guard； he wolfed down the eggs； licked his fingers； and sat on the ground to wait。 Hours passed。
The guards kept looking at him and shaking their heads。 One asked him if he carried any weapons； or any money； both of which Duncan denied。 As a steady stream of petitioners came and went； the guards chatted with each other。 Duncan heard talk about a revolt that had occurred on Ix； and the Duke's concerns over House Vernius； especially because of the Emperor's acceptance of a bounty on Dominic and Shando Vernius。 Apparently； the Duke's son Leto had just returned from war…torn Ix to Caladan with two royal refugees。 Everything in the Castle was in quite a turmoil。
Nevertheless； Duncan waited。
The sun passed overhead and slipped below the horizon of the great sea。 The young man spent the night curled up in a corner of the courtyard； and with the next morning and a change of guards； he repeated his story and his request for an audience。 This time； he mentioned that he had escaped from a Harkonnen world and wished to of