Herbert, Frank - Dune 4 by Herbert Frank

Author:Herbert,Frank [Herbert,Frank]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

long, narrow face and eyes which never looked long at anything and never ever looked

directly into the eyes of someone he addressed. Yake had presented her with a single

sheet of memerase paper containing what he described as "a summation of recently

reported violence in the Festival City."

Standing close to the desk at which she was seated, he had stared down somewhere to her

left and said: "Fish Speakers are slaughtering Face Dancers throughout the City." He did not appear particularly moved by this.

208

"Why?" she demanded.

"It is said that the Bene Tleilax made an attempt on the God Emperor's life."

A thrill of fear shot through her. She sat back and glanced around the ambassadorial

office-around room with a single half-circle desk which concealed the controls for many

Ixian devices beneath its highly polished surface. The room was a darkly important-

appearing place with brown wood panels covering instruments which shielded it from

spying. There were no windows.

Trying not to show her upset, Hwi looked up at Yake. "And the Lord Leto is. . ."

"The attempt on his life appears to have been total y without effect. But it might explain that flogging."

"Then you think there was such an attempt?"

"Yes."

The Fish Speaker from the Lord Leto entered at that moment, hard on the announcement

of her presence in the outer office. She was followed by a Bene Gesserit crone, a person

she introduced as "The Reverend Mother Anteac." Anteac stared intently at Yake while the Fish Speaker, a young woman with smooth, almost childlike features, delivered her

message:

"He told me to remind you: 'Return quickly if I summon you.' He summons you."

Yake began fidgeting as the Fish Speaker spoke. He darted his attention all around the

room as though looking for something which was not there. Hwi paused only to pul a

dark blue robe over her gown, instructing Yake to remain in the office until she returned.

In orange evening light outside the Embassy, on a street oddly empty of other traffic,

Anteac looked at the Fish Speaker and said simply: "Yes." Anteac left them then and the Fish Speaker had brought Hwi through empty streets to a tal , windowless building whose

depths contained this down-plunging spiral ramp.

The tight curves of the ramp made Hwi dizzy. Brilliant tiny white glowglobes drifted in the

central wel , illuminating a purple-green vine with elephantine leaves. The vine was

suspended on shimmering golden wires.

The soft black surface of the ramp swal owed the sounds of their feet, making Hwi

extremely conscious of the faint abrasive swishing caused by the movements of her robe.

"Where are you taking me?" Hwi asked.

209

"To the Lord Leto."

"I know, but where is he?"

"In his private room."

"It's awful y far down."

"Yes, the Lord often prefers the depths."

"It makes me dizzy walking around and around like this."

"It helps if you do not look at the vine."

"What is that plant?"

"It is cal ed a Tunyon Vine and is supposed to have absolutely no smel ."

"I've never heard of it. Where does it come from?"

"Only the Lord Leto knows."

They walked on in silence, Hwi trying to understand her own feelings. The God Emperor

filled her with sadness.

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