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

ЧConfidential CHOAM memorandum, for the Emperor's eyes only

WITHIN A COMPLEX OF LINKED UNDERGROUND laboratory buildings, the white capsule-car sped along a tramway. Rattling over aging tracks, the car stuttered for an unsettling moment before continuing.

Through the clearplaz floor of the car, Master Researcher Hidar Fen Ajidica could see overpasses, conveyors, and technical systems functioning together for a vital mission. All of it under my supervision. Though the Emperor deluded himself that he directed all progress made here on Xuttuh, once called Ix, no man was as vital as Ajidica. Eventually, all the politicians and nobles, even the shortsighted representatives of his own Tlei-laxu race, would begin to understand. By then it would be too late to prevent the Master Researcher's inevitable victory.

His capsule-car clattered toward the heavily guarded research pavilion. Before his people had conquered this planet, the advanced Ixian manufacturing facilities had produced vast wealth for House Vernius. Now, the laboratories and manufactories were put to even better use for the glory of God and the mastery of the chosen Tleilaxu race.

Today, though, he had different trials to face. Ajidica was not looking forward to another meeting with Count Fenring, the Imperial Spice Minister, but at last he had good news to reportЧenough to keep the Emperor's Sardaukar troops at bay. In recent months, he had supervised a plethora of full-scale testing operations on the artificial spiceЧparallel analyses to compare the effects of melange and amal in the most minute detail. One difficult veil of secrecy, the ritualistic uses of melange by the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood, had been broken by a

fortuitous occurrence, when one of the witches' spies had fallen unexpectedly into his lap. Now that captive woman, who had passed herself off under the name of Miral Alechem, served a higher purpose.

The whirring capsule-car came to a lurching stop at the pavilion, and Ajidica stepped out onto a spotless white platform. Fenring would already be there, and the man did not like to be kept waiting.

Ajidica hurried into a lift tube, which dropped him to the main level of the pavilionЧbut the round door did not dilate open. Annoyed, he pressed an emergency alarm and shouted into the comspeaker, "Get me out of here, and hurry up about it. I am a busy man!"

This lift tube was based upon an Ixian design, but now a simple door wouldn't open. What could be more basic? Too many things were beginning to fall apart in these supposedly wondrous research facilities. Could it be sabotage by those persistent faceless rebels? Or simply poor maintenance?

He heard men chattering outside and tools hammering against the jammed door. Ajidica disliked enclosed spaces, hated to live underground. Now the redolent air seemed to thicken around him. He whispered the catechism of the Great Belief and humbly asked God for a safe passage. Grabbing a vial from his pocket, he removed two foul-tasting lozenges and swallowed them.

Why is it taking them so long?

Struggling to calm himself, Ajidica reviewed a plan he had set in motion. Since the beginning of this project decades ago, he had been in contact with a small cadre of Tleilaxu who would serve him after he escaped with the sacred axlotl tanks. In the farthest reaches of the Imperium, protected by deadly Face Dancers, he would set up his own Tleilaxu regime for the true interpretation of the Great Belief.

Arrangements had already been made to conceal him, his Face Dancer entourage, and the secret of amal in a long-range frigate. After his escape, he would detonate a bomb that would destroy this entire laboratory complex; the massive explosion would take half of the surrounding underground city with it. Before the dust settled, he would be far, far away.

From his safe planet, Ajidica would take steps to solidify his power base and assemble a military force to protect himself from Imperial reprisals. He alone would control the vital and inexpensive supply of synthetic melange. He who controls the spice controls the universe. Ultimately, Ajidica might sit upon the Golden Lion Throne itself. If only he could get out of this malfunctioning lift.

Finally, with a great clatter and loud shouts, the lift-tube door squealed open, and two assistants peered in at him. "Are you well, Master?"

Behind them, wearing a bemused expression, stood Count Fenring. While not a tall man, he still towered over the Tleilaxu. "A bit of trouble, hmmm-ah?"

Straightening himself, Ajidica pushed out of the cramped tube, shoul' dering his sputtering subordinates out of the way. "Come with me, Count Fenring."

The Master Researcher led the Spice Minister to a familiar demonstration room, an enormous chamber with white smoothplaz walls, floors, and ceiling. The room contained scientific instruments and receptacles, and a red table topped by a translucent dome.

"Hmmm, you're going to show me one of the desert worms again? Another small one, I hope, and not as sickly as the last?"

Ajidica brought forth a plaz vial containing an orangish ooze, which he leld under Fenring's nostrils. "The latest batch of amal. Smells like nelange, don't you agree?" Fenring's nose twitched as he inhaled. Without vaiting for an answer, Ajidica pressed a button at the base of the dome, fhe foggy plaz cleared, revealing churned sand that half covered a meter-ong sandworm.

"How long from Arrakis?" Fenring asked.

"We smuggled this one in eleven days ago. Worms always die away rom their home, but it should live another month, maybe two."

Ajidica poured the orange liquid into a receptacle at the top of the ome. The receptacle dropped, embedded itself in the sand, and tilted award the worm.

The snake-sized creature slithered toward the amal, its round mouth pen to reveal tiny crystal teeth deep inside its throat. In a sudden violent lotion, the creature lunged at the orange substance and devoured it, re-^ptacle and all.

Meeting Fenring's inquisitive gaze, Ajidica said, "Just like real .elange." ,