Navigators of Dune

50

After leaving Chusuk and beginning to spread rumors that he would go to ground on Corrin, Vorian Atreides had one more important matter to take care of. If the Harkonnens left him alone, he would be surprised yet content, but if they came for him — as he expected — he intended to be ready.

When he arrived at Salusa Secundus, he was surprised to see so many Butlerian warships in orbit as well as huge crowds encamped in Zimia. But his business was with the Emperor, not the antitechnology movement.

He announced himself to spaceport security and asked to see Emperor Roderick, hoping the new ruler was an improvement from petty Salvador, who had caused Vor so many problems. He did not hide his identity, though — for this occasion he needed to be the legendary Hero of the Jihad, not a man trying to erase his past.

He intended to ask a favor, for Willem’s sake. In all his years — centuries, in fact — of service, Vorian Atreides had asked for very little. His request would not threaten the Imperium, but it mattered a great deal to him.

The guards searched him at the entrance to the Palace, checked his identity papers, and then looked at one another in startled confusion.

“Yes, I am Vorian Atreides,” he repeated his name. “I am confident the Emperor knows who I am. As do you, I assume?”

The guards placed him in a comfortable holding room and told him to wait. It was not a particularly auspicious welcome for a man of his stature, but Vor understood the caution. Because of a recent VenHold attack on Salusa and the chaotic influx of so many Butlerians, Imperial security had been increased to the highest levels.

After six hours, he was escorted from the holding chamber with profuse apologies from Chamberlain Bakim. The man greeted him cordially, apologized again, and led Vor away from the Palace to the Hall of Parliament in the center of the capital city, where the flags of noble houses hung from the golden-domed building and all around the large central square.

The chamberlain took him to Roderick’s well-appointed Parliament office, where the Emperor was pacing beside his desk. Roderick Corrino gave him a strong handshake and said, “I regret the delay in seeing you, but the Imperial capital has recently been under siege — in more ways than one.” The Emperor sighed, ran his hands through his own hair. “With all the turmoil in the Imperium, I thought you were long gone, making a quiet life for yourself.”

“I stayed away, Sire — as your brother commanded. Emperor Salvador made that a condition before he would agree to protect Kepler against raids by slavers. I did as he asked, and tried to let history swallow me, but as it turned out, my own history would not leave me alone.”

The restrictions had created much heartache for him, making him leave Mariella and all of his extended family on Kepler, but Salvador’s insecurity was not to be disputed at the time. Vor drew a breath, met the Emperor’s gaze directly. “I promise I will depart swiftly and cause you no further trouble, Sire. I came here to beg a favor. I hope you will grant it.”

Roderick sat down, looking cautious, and dismissed the chamberlain, who hurried off to other duties. “That’s better than you challenging me for the throne. I’ve had enough of that in the past week.” The attempt at witticism fell flat, and he grew serious. “I have always admired your war record and sense of duty, Vorian Atreides. You are a genuine hero, and we have few enough of those. But these are not the best of times to ask for favors.”

“It is small enough, Sire. A family matter — in fact, you can ensure the future of my family.”

An aide came to the door, signaling the Emperor. “The pilot of your flyer reports that all is ready for the inspection flight, Sire.”

Roderick turned. “Join me, and we can continue our conversation on board. It will be good to get away from Zimia and the mobs down there.” Vor followed the Emperor out into the corridor, while he continued to explain, “We recently had a flood disaster, and the Empress Haditha is managing relief efforts, but in my position I am expected to fly over and inspect. It will rally greater support.”

Vor was concerned. “Do you need my assistance, Sire?”

The Emperor considered for a long moment. “Your advice might be helpful, but the legendary Hero of the Jihad could distract our work crews. Let’s have a look together, and we can talk further.”

An escort contingent led them to the roof level of the Hall of Parliament, where a large Imperial flyer awaited them, with the Emperor’s dark-robed Truthsayer, Reverend Mother Fielle, standing at the ramp. As the two men boarded the craft, Vor looked sidelong at her and suppressed his smile. This was an opportunity he could not pass up, and he would be sure she had important information to send back to the Sisterhood school.…

As the engines hummed and the aircraft prepared for takeoff, the men entered the Emperor’s main stateroom as Fielle trailed them. The Imperial flyer had a customized interior with posh fabrics on the walls, and inset crystal glowglobes. In the central salon, uniformed attendants were laying out a meal on a table with two place settings. While Fielle remained unobtrusive on one side of the cabin, in her Truthsayer mode, the Emperor motioned for Vor to take the seat opposite him.

Roderick explained more about the flood. “A week ago we had a freak summer storm. Several major settlements in a river delta were flooded, thousands died, and many more were displaced. Haditha is already out there with the first wave of recovery crews. It’s something she is quite capable of managing, while I am supposed to concern myself with more important Imperial matters. Even so, I want to tour some of the worst areas.”

Vor nodded. “For those affected, a local disaster can be as significant as a galactic one.”

“I face enough galactic disasters, too, but I am certainly glad my wife is in charge down there. I wish the Butlerians would make themselves useful in the relief efforts, but Leader Torondo does not seem inclined to let his people help.” His face darkened. “Ever.”

The aircraft lifted off so smoothly that Vor barely felt the motion. Staff brought plates of sliced meats and bread, and the Emperor relaxed as he ate. The flyer cruised away from the capital city like a huge bird, and soared out over the lush Salusan landscape.

Roderick set his fork down. “Tell me the answer to something that has long raised questions in my mind. House Atreides could have been one of the greatest and wealthiest noble families in the Landsraad, if you had asked for that. Faykan was ready to give you anything after the Battle of Corrin. No one would say that you are a man lacking in ambition. Why would you just … discard it all, throwing away the potential of your Great House?”

Vor took a drink of fresh juice from a wide-bottomed glass. “I never wanted that kind of wealth or power, Sire.” He glanced over at Fielle, and the Truthsayer simply nodded to Roderick, acknowledging that he truly meant what he said. The Emperor did not seem to doubt it, regardless. “I had enough of grand gestures and countless lives depending on my every decision. I just wanted to be a normal man again, at least for a while.”

Vor pictured the opulence of the mansions on old Earth, when he had lived among the thinking machines. He thought of his father, General Agamemnon, the cymek who had laid waste to countless planets … and pondered how many fortunes he himself had made and lost in his extended life.

“At times, that sounds wonderful to me. I never wanted the throne either.” Roderick nodded with respect. “The Imperium shall forever be grateful to you, Vorian Atreides. Yes, if your favor is within my power, I will grant it. I lift all the restrictions my brother imposed upon you. Travel wherever you wish, live where you’d like — is that what you want?”

“Thank you, Sire. But my request is even more straightforward than that.”

Already several hundred kilometers away from Zimia, the Imperial flyer cruised over a sweeping valley. When they reached the flooded river zone and flew low, both men peered out upon the devastation. By now the surging river had receded, leaving destroyed houses, land vehicles, and boats in its wake. Dead farm animals lay strewn on the ground. From above, they could see antlike teams of rescue workers digging in the sediment, setting up temporary settlements and relief camps.

The Emperor pondered the view gravely as the craft cruised over the swath of devastation. He finally looked up at his guest. “What is it you need me to do for you?”

“Sire, I want my descendants to have the opportunities that should be their birthright. I think I have earned the right to request this. They are Atreides, with a proud and distinguished heritage. They should be treated as such, even if I would prefer to disappear myself.”

Roderick flashed a wan smile. “I want the same for my son Javicco. I hope the Corrino line keeps the throne for more than a few generations, but that will depend on how well I steer through these perilous times. So many forces are trying to tear the Imperium apart right now.” He pushed aside the rest of his meal and stared out the window as the flyer circled into the foothills, where another village had been damaged by mudslides. “What family do you have? I believe there are some on Kepler—?”

“And they are perfectly content. I have no wish to draw them into Imperial politics. But one descendant from my Caladan line — a young man named Willem — has become especially important to me. Right now he is on Chusuk recovering from injuries, but I would like to arrange a place for him on Salusa Secundus. Give him a chance, Sire. He’s intelligent and pleasant, but he has suffered recent tragedies, partly because of me, and I’d like to make it up to him. I can deposit all the funds he needs to support himself, if you can find an opportunity for him at court? A respectable spot among the new arrivals?”

Roderick seemed relieved that the request was not far more significant. He gave a quick wave. “I can’t remember the last time I had a problem so easily solved. Of course I grant your most reasonable request. The Imperium owes you much more than that, and my court could certainly use the qualities of an Atreides.”

Vor thanked him. The inspection flyer completed its circuit as they looked down at the flooded areas, the recovery crews, the temporary shelters, the large refugee towns. Roderick smiled wistfully, as if thinking of Haditha down there in the thick of the efforts.

When the craft finally headed back to Zimia, Roderick said, “I will dispatch more resources, so Haditha has everything she needs. In fact, if the Butlerians won’t help, maybe I should command some of the nobles to join the effort.”

Vor smiled. “With the Butlerians I suspect you may be inviting more trouble than it’s worth.”

“Many things are more trouble than they’re worth.” Roderick looked intently at him. “The Butlerians … Josef Venport — how would you deal with two extremes pulling my Imperium apart? If you were Emperor?”

Vor sat back, smiled thinly. “That is precisely why I never wanted to be Emperor, Sire.”

The Emperor’s shoulders fell slightly. “Manford Torondo and his followers are dangerous and destructive, yet they did save me from Venport’s siege. But now they won’t leave. Under other circumstances, I would ally myself with Venport Holdings, but that man murdered my brother and tried to overthrow my throne.” He shook his head. “Haditha wants me to negotiate with him, but how can I try to reach a resolution with someone like that? A murderer on one hand and a madman on the other.”

Vor frowned. “Negotiations are often conducted between rivals. Which solution holds the best future for the Imperium?”

“The solution that eliminates both extremes.”

As the aircraft returned to the rooftop landing zone, the Emperor reiterated his promise to make a place for Willem. “Will you be here to introduce young Willem when he arrives? It would increase his standing if a Hero of the Jihad vouched for him in front of the other nobles and courtiers.”

Vor did not look at the unobtrusive Truthsayer, but was aware that the woman was listening intently. “I’m afraid not, Sire. I doubt if I will ever see Willem again, in fact. I am about to undertake a dangerous mission, one that I must handle alone.” But Vor’s plan to lure the murderess, and perhaps her sister as well, all depended on whether Truthsayer Fielle reported to Mother Superior Valya … and he felt certain she would.

“I need to go where the Harkonnens won’t find me. I’m sure you will understand, Sire, that I cannot discuss details even with you. I must vanish.”

“You’ve earned the privilege,” Emperor Roderick said. “I wish you all the best.”

Eventually, Vor would reveal his destination, but not in the manner anyone would expect, and not until the proper time. Secretly, he had hired two operatives to plant a rumor after his departure that he was on Corrin, when he was assured of already being there. Knowing that Fielle had Sisters in the palace and in the government buildings, he had set it up so that the rumor would begin in the Imperial Court, and from that talkative throng it would spread outward, so that Fielle would be sure to hear it.

And as soon as the Emperor’s Truthsayer learned of the rumor, Valya Harkonnen would be informed soon afterward.

Vor would be ready.…