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

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

is feeling better," she had announced, "he will lead the Ixian people to victory."

Jessica didn't know if the brown-haired woman followed her heart, or fulfilled an unknown set of instructions secretly given to her by the Sisterhood.

All through her own childhood, Jessica had listened to her teacher and mentor, Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam. She had followed her every draconian instruction, learning what the old woman had to teach her.

But now the Sisterhood wanted the Duke's genetics combined with hers. In no uncertain terms, Jessica had been ordered to seduce Leto and conceive an Atreides daughter. When she experienced unfamiliar and forbidden feelings of love for this dark and moody Duke, however, Jessica had developed a rebellious streak and delayed becoming pregnant. Then, in the wake of Victor's death and Leto's destructive depression, she had allowed herself to conceive a son, against the strictest of orders. Mohiam would feel betrayed and deeply disappointed. But Jessica could always bear a daughter later, couldn't she?

In his reinforced chair, Rhombur bent his left arm and cautiously thrust his stiff fingertips into a pocket of the short robe. He aimed carefully with his fingers, fished about in there. Finally, he grasped a piece of paper, which he painstakingly unfolded.

"Look at the fine motor control," Yueh said. "This is better than I had expected. You've been practicing, Rhombur?"

"Every second." The Prince held up the paper. "I keep remembering new things each day. This is the best sketch I've been able to make of a few obscure access tunnels on Ix. Gurney and Thufir will find them useful."

"The other paths have proven too dangerous," the Mentat said. Over the decades spies had tried to break through the Tleilaxu defenses. Several Atreides infiltrators had slipped in but never returned. Others had been unable to enter the underground world at all.

But Rhombur, the son of Earl Dominic Vernius, had dredged his memory for information about secret security systems and hidden entrances to the cavern cities. During his long and enforced convalescence, he had begun to recall obscure details he had believed long forgotten, details that might make the difference in penetrating the enemy stronghold.

Turning his attention to his meal, Rhombur lifted a large piece of parafish on his fork. Then, noting Dr. Yueh's disapproving gaze, he lowered the morsel to his plate and cut off a smaller portion instead.

Leto stared at his murky reflection in the hall's polished blue-obsidian wall. "Like wolves ready to prey upon any member who shows weakness, some noble families are just waiting for me to falter. The Harkonnens, for

example." Since the skyclipper disaster, a hardened Duke Leto had grown unwilling to accept injustice in silence. He needed to make a difference on Ix as much as Rhombur did.

"We must let all the Imperium see that House Atreides is as strong as ever."

When we try to conceal our innermost drives, our entire being screams betrayal.

Ч Bene Gesserit Teaching