"Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson - Dune 09 - House Corrino" - читать интересную книгу автора (Herbert Brian & Frank)

head, a slow rotational movement, as if on ball bearings. "Do you think I might eat some of it, Dr.
Yueh?"

The Suk doctor stroked his long mustaches. "Just taste it. Your digestive system needs more work."

Rhombur swiveled his head toward Leto. "It appears I'm going to consume more power cells than
desserts for a while." He lowered himself into his chair, and the others finally resumed their seats.

Leto raised his wineglass, trying to think of a toast. Then his face acquired an anguished
expression, and he simply took a sip. "I am so sorry this has happened to you, Rhombur. These . . .
mechanical replacements . . . were the best I could do."

Rhombur's scarred face lit up in a combination of gratitude and annoyance. "Vermilion hells, Leto,
stop apologizing! Trying to find all the facets of blame would consume House Atreides for years,
and we'd all go mad." He lifted a mechanical arm, rotated the hand at the wrist joint, and stared
down at it. "This isn't so bad. In fact, it's marvelous. Dr. Yueh's a genius, you know. You should
keep him around as long as you can." The Suk doctor fidgeted in an effort to keep from glowing at
the compliment.

"Remember that I come from Ix, so I appreciate the marvels of technology," Rhombur said. "Now
I'm a living example of it. If any person is better suited to adapt to this new situation, I'd like to
meet him."

For years, the exiled Prince Rhombur had been biding his time, sending ninimal support to the
resistance movement on his devastated home-vorld, including explosive wafers and military
supplies provided by Duke .eto.

In recent months, as Rhombur grew stronger physically, he also grew tronger mentally. Though he
was only a fraction of a man, every day he poke of the need to recapture Ix, to the point where
Duke Leto and even iis concubine Tessia sometimes had to tell him to calm down.
Finally, Leto had agreed to risk sending the reconnaissance team of jurney and Thufir, clutching at
a goal of his own, a new determination to ccomplish something good in the face of all the tragedies
he had sur-ived. It was not a matter of if they could mount an attack; it was a matter f when and
how.

Tessia spoke without shifting her gaze. "Don't underestimate Rhom-jr's strength. You of all people
know how one must adapt in order to irvive."

Jessica couldn't help but notice the adoring look on the concubine's ce. Tessia and Rhombur had
spent years together on Caladan, during hich time she had encouraged him to support the freedom
fighters on Ix,

that he might regain his royal position. Tessia had stood by him through e worst times, even after
the explosion. Upon returning to conscious-:ss, Rhombur had said, "I am surprised you stayed."

"As long as you need me, I will remain."

Tessia was a whirlwind working on his behalf, supervising the modifica' m of his Castle apartments
and preparing devices to assist him. Much of ssia's time was devoted to making him stronger.
"Once Prince Rhombur