"Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson - Dune 12 - The Battle at " - читать интересную книгу автора (Herbert Brian & Frank)

set him off. Other times, Erasmus purposely provoked him just to observe the result.

Controlling humansтАФeven such a disgusting exampleтАФwas a science and an art. This degraded captive
was as much a тАЬsubjectтАЭ as any of the humans in the blood-spattered slave pens and chambers. Even
when the Tlulaxa was driven to the extreme, when he struggled to rip away his life-support systems using
nothing more than his teeth, Erasmus could always get him working on the plagues again. Fortunately,
the man despised League humans even more than he hated his machine masters.

Decades ago, during a great political upheaval in the League of Nobles, the dark secret of the Tlulaxa
organ farms had been revealed to the horror and disgust of free humanity. On the League Worlds, public
opinion had been inflamed against the genetic researchers, and outraged mobs had destroyed the organ
farms and driven most of the Tlulaxa into hiding, their reputations irreparably blackened.

On the run, Rekur Van had fled to Synchronized space, bearing what he thought was an irresistible
giftтАФthe cellular material to make a perfect clone of Serena Butler. Erasmus had been amazed,
remembering his intriguing discussions with the captive woman. The desperate Van had been certain
Erasmus would want herтАФbut alas the clones that Van developed had none of SerenaтАЩs memories, none
of her passion. They were merely shallow replicas.

Despite the clonesтАЩ blandness, however, Erasmus had found Rekur Van himself very interestingтАФmuch
to the little manтАЩs dismay. The independent robot enjoyed his company. Here at last was someone who
spoke his scientific language, a researcher capable of helping him understand more about the countless
ramifications and investigative pathways of complex human organisms.



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 Dune

Erasmus found the first few years to be a challenge, even after removing the TlulaxaтАЩs arms and legs.
Eventually, with careful manipulations, a patiently administered system of rewards and punishments, he
had converted Rekur Van into quite a fruitful experimental subject. The limbless manтАЩs situation seemed
rather like that of VanтАЩs own slave subjects in the sham organ farms. Erasmus found it wonderfully
ironic.

тАЬWould you like a little treat now, to get us started on our work?тАЭ Erasmus suggested. тАЬA flesh cookie,
perhaps?тАЭ

VanтАЩs eyes lit up, for this was one of the few pleasures remaining to him. Made from a variety of
laboratory-bred organisms, including human тАЬdebris,тАЭ the flesh cookies were considered delicacies on the
Tlulaxa homeworld. тАЬFeed me, or I refuse to continue my work for you.тАЭ

тАЬYou use that threat too often, Stump. You are connected to tanks of nutrient solutions. Even if you
refuse to eat, you will not starve.тАЭ

тАЬYou want my cooperation, not just my survivalтАФand you have left me with too few bargaining chips.тАЭ
The TlulaxaтАЩs face contorted in a grimace.

тАЬVery well. Flesh cookies!тАЭ Erasmus shouted. тАЬFour-Arms, see to it.тАЭ