Mentats of Dune

Chapter 57 (All power bases are made of flesh)

After his ship arrived at Salusa, Manford Torondo sent a courier to the palace, demanding an Imperial audience. Not bothering to wait for an answer, he and his entourage moved through the capital city with a crowd of earnest followers massing behind him. The palace would never have enough time to prepare, but Manford made sure the Emperor had time to panic.

As usual, Salvador turned to his brother for advice. Prince Roderick, unable to forget the tragedy and violence the Butlerian leader had caused on his last visit here, felt an icy chill go down his spine. Recently, the antitechnology mobs had struck Baridge in a bloody riot that they called “holy.” Roderick saw nothing even remotely holy in their work, and Manford had never atoned, never apologized for, never even seemed to notice the death of Nantha or any of the others killed in their reckless fervor.

And now he was returning to Zimia as if nothing had happened.

All around the capital city, government employees assigned to the Committee of Orthodoxy remained at a heightened state of readiness, to demonstrate that they were always watchful for any technology that Manford had declared unacceptable.

Roderick wished his brother could outlaw the whole movement and render them impotent … but that would be like playing with explosives. Nevertheless, he blamed Manford Torondo for Nantha’s death; that could not be forgiven, regardless of politics or risks.

As the Butlerian delegation made its way through the city, Roderick increased the number of security teams around the palace, granting them quiet permission to use lethal force if a riot began. Meanwhile, court functionaries organized a reception as quickly as they could. They rushed about to prepare the Audience Chamber, setting up drinks and hors d’oeuvres on gilded tables. Salvador suggested that the formality of the reception would force Manford to behave like a diplomat; Roderick didn’t think the man deserved any amenities. He kept his anger in check and decided to make certain his brother wasn’t bullied into additional foolish concessions.

Salvador sat sweating on his throne, dreading Manford’s arrival. He had already consumed several goblets of wine mixed with melange. His spice consumption had increased dramatically of late, and he kept powdered melange in its usual place in a little jeweled box on the armrest of his throne. The stimulating effect of spice made the Emperor’s eyes shine.

Even in the midst of his aching grief over Nantha’s death, Roderick was perceptive enough to realize that Salvador was also depressed, a gloom that began after the exposure of Empress Tabrina’s affair with the Grand Inquisitor. She was banished, and Quemada executed by his own Scalpel torturers, the entire affair kept quiet from the public on Roderick’s insistence. But still … even though Salvador had openly despised his wife — and the feeling had been mutual — he showed unexpected misery at her absence. Salvador wanted Roderick to comfort him, although his pain could not possibly match the pain of losing an innocent daughter.

A lesser man might have sought to capitalize on his brother’s shortcomings, especially in a time of personal crisis. With all the turmoil in the Imperium, the out-of-control Butlerians and the ruthless commercial war VenHold had launched against them, Salvador’s rule was unsteady. Roderick was loyal to the Corrino throne, a moral man. He was the second-born, and his role was clear. He had never wanted more.

Leaning close to the throne, Roderick suggested, “Allow me to remove your wineglass and the melange box, just for a little while? Leader Torondo is entering the palace now, and we don’t want to show him any weakness.”

Salvador appeared reluctant before he gestured in acquiescence. “Of course, of course. I don’t need it.” The Prince whisked away the two items, handing them to a uniformed man, who hurried out a side door.

One of Dorotea’s orthodox Sisters, Reverend Mother Esther-Cano, entered the chamber, followed by a team of functionaries that Roderick had assigned to record the proceedings. He wished Dorotea were here because he trusted the Truthsayer’s wise counsel, but she and several companions had just departed for Wallach IX on a mysterious, urgent mission.

Esther-Cano led Sister Woodra, who had offered her Truthsayer services to Manford Torondo. Did the Butlerian leader suspect that Salvador might lie to him? Roderick stiffened at the thought. He would have to make sure his brother was careful about whatever he said, whatever he promised.…

Sister Woodra looked around the vaulted chamber, nodded, and sent an all-clear signal. With a buzz of activity, Manford Torondo entered, riding on the shoulders of his Swordmaster.

Roderick narrowed his gaze while remaining close to the Emperor. He kept his hand protectively near a hidden weapon. Roderick had always disliked the fanatics, but after Nantha’s death, he felt deep revulsion, resentment, and distrust toward Manford Torondo.

Anari Idaho approached the throne, carrying Manford as if she were a beast of burden. Sister Woodra stepped away from Esther-Cano and joined the Butlerian delegation, apparently to demonstrate where her loyalties lay.

Salvador tried to hide his nervousness with formality. “Greetings, Leader Torondo.” His voice was steady and dignified, showing hardly any slur from the effects of alcohol and spice. “Your arrival is unexpected.” He cleared his throat. “How can I be of assistance to you, my good friend?”

Roderick felt a burn of anger at these words. Friend?

“Friendship has nothing to do with my visit.” Manford’s face showed more than a little irritation. He glanced around in displeasure. “Hors d’oeuvres? And wine? Do you think we are here for a party?”

Roderick tensed at the blatant disrespect, but Salvador was quick to sound ridiculously conciliatory. “We have more than wine and treats, of course. We simply wanted to extend courtesy. If this is not enough, a banquet in your honor can be arranged.”

“There will be no rampage festival this time,” Roderick broke in, raising his voice. “We have security teams in place. Crowds of your followers will be vigorously dispersed if you attempt to incite them to violence.”

“Your security teams can try to do so.…” Anari Idaho muttered.

From his place on her shoulders, Manford turned to look at the Corrino Prince. “Why would I incite my followers to violence? I abhor unnecessary violence. In the last festival, my followers were overly enthusiastic. We apologize for the inconvenience we caused.”

Roderick wanted to rage at him, My daughter’s death was not an inconvenience!

But the Butlerian leader had already turned his attention back to Salvador. “I’m not hungry, Sire — except for action. Not long ago, you disbanded the poisonous Sisterhood school on Rossak because they conspired against you. Now you must do the same to Venport Holdings. Josef Venport is creating monsters to navigate his ships, corrupting the human form and the human mind. His ships use computers, too — we have proof, because we captured a foldspace vessel he sent to Baridge.”

Roderick’s eyes widened. Concrete evidence that VenHold ships used computers in their navigation systems? The banned practice had long been rumored. “And where is your proof?”

The Swordmaster lifted her chin. “I saw it with my own eyes.”

Manford added, “The ship was unfortunately lost in transit, as so many have been.”

Salvador sat up on the throne. “Then you have no proof.”

“We went to Arrakis to uncover Directeur Venport’s schemes — and his thugs tried to have me killed.” The Butlerian leader gestured to Sister Woodra, who removed a small holoprojector from her robes. Roderick frowned; no device should have slipped past security.

Woodra fumbled with the recording crystal, installed it in the player, and activated the image. She made an adjustment and projected a series of blurred images of dusty streets, a yellow sun and sky, people running.

“On the streets of Arrakis City,” Manford said, “a man in the crowd shot a crude projectile pistol. I was his intended target.”

The next image showed what appeared to be Manford Torondo dead, with half of his skull blown away. His body lay sprawled on the floor of a fire-illuminated room. Anari Idaho looked furious to see the images again.

“I narrowly escaped with my own life.”

Emperor Salvador regarded the images with faint amusement. “You seem to have recovered rather well.” Without being told, Roderick realized the victim must have been the body double Manford used for some of his public appearances.

Manford lowered his voice to a growl. “The assassin was convinced he had hit the mark. Josef Venport ordered my murder — I know it!”

“I believe you’ve called for his death as well,” Roderick pointed out. “You reap what you sow. As I understand it, Venport barely escaped with his life when your ships attacked the Thonaris shipyards. And your followers have shown a great capacity for bloodshed. Perhaps Directeur Venport should be the one here asking for our protection?”

Salvador added, “I wouldn’t put too much stock in the attack. Arrakis is a rugged, dangerous world, and that city is not a place for civilized men. People are murdered there every day. How do you know it wasn’t just a random act of violence?”

“Because I know. I demand that you condemn Venport for this act, just as you must condemn him for the continued use of thinking machines. His crimes are inexcusable. The penalty must be death.”

Salvador looked to his brother for help, and Roderick raised his voice. “You demand? Leader Torondo, you do not dictate Imperial policy.”

“And you do? You are the Prince, not the Emperor.” He obviously intended for his comment to sting more than it did.

Emperor Salvador looked irritated. “What am I to do about this? The squabble is between you and Directeur Venport — I wish you wouldn’t put me in the middle of it.”

Manford scowled. “If you had the moral courage to choose the proper side, you would not be in the middle. Venport Holdings has been strangling any world that takes our pledge of purity. Some of the faithful are weakening, but I’ve commanded that all must renew their oaths in no uncertain terms.”

Holding on to Anari’s shoulders, Manford leaned forward, staring at the Emperor. “My followers can fight with their faith, and we will win. But it is not enough — we need your help, Sire. As the ruler of the Imperium, you have a weapon that can hurt him financially. Strike him where he is vulnerable — and enrich yourself at the same time.”

Salvador blinked at Roderick. “What does he mean? What financial weapon do we have?”

The Swordmaster stepped closer to the dais, and Manford ignored Roderick. “Economics. All he cares about is profit, and Venport’s key vulnerability is spice! Combined Mercantiles is just a front for Venport Holdings. He set up a widespread network of melange harvesting and distribution, created his Navigators by saturating them with spice. And he has addicted a large portion of the Imperium, through which he can control populations.”

Salvador looked away, his eyes frantic. “My Truthsayer recently made the same claim.”

Manford said, “As the Emperor, how do you allow one man to wield so much power?”

Roderick clenched his jaw, muttered, “We could ask the same question of you, Leader Torondo.…”

Sister Woodra crept forward, stood on her tiptoes, and whispered to Manford. The Butlerian leader nodded. “You recently annexed all the assets of House Péle, Sire, including your wife’s personal holdings, in retaliation for a treacherous scheme. Directeur Venport’s crimes are far more serious to the Imperium, and he commands a near monopoly on all spice operations right under your nose. Shouldn’t such a vital industry be under Imperial control? Not in the hands of a private citizen? What if Venport decides to place an embargo on melange shipments everywhere, the way he has embargoed Butlerian worlds?”

Salvador frowned as he considered. “I consume spice myself, for my own health. As do many of my subjects, whose supplies I do not want cut off. That would increase discontent. There could be riots in the streets.”

Although Roderick did not approve of Butlerian tactics, he felt a chill as he began to realize just how wide a net of dependence Josef Venport had spread. Sister Dorotea had laid out her suspicions of the connections Venport Holdings had not only with Combined Mercantiles, but to planetary banks, along with a monopoly on safe shipping.…

Manford said, “Josef Venport is a temperamental, vengeful man who wields far too much power. With his stranglehold on so many critical services, this one man has created suffering and unrest across the Imperium. Do you see the knife he holds to your throat? Salvador Corrino, you are the Emperor of the Known Universe. Why do you let that man control you? Why are you letting him make the Imperial throne irrelevant?”

Roderick added in a cautious tone, “Before you cause too much disruption, Sire, remember that much of the Imperial military fleet is carried aboard VenHold haulers. Some of our ships have Holtzman engines, yes, but no Navigators. Others still have old-style faster-than-light engines, which require weeks or months to travel from system to system. If the VenHold Spacing Fleet were to block critical foldspace routes, the Directeur could force even the throne to capitulate. He might even overthrow House Corrino and crown himself the next Emperor.”

Sister Woodra added, “Perhaps foldspace travel should be under Imperial control as well.”

“I shall exert control over all spice operations, for a start,” Salvador said, not looking at his brother for confirmation. “I am in fact the Emperor of the Known Universe, so I should control the only known source of spice.”

Roderick was startled by the drastic, provocative suggestion. “We should consult further, brother, before taking rash action. This is a dangerous situation. I fear the widespread reprisals VenHold could launch if you attempt to seize melange operations.”

Manford focused a withering gaze on Salvador. “The people can decide this matter if you do not. If they decide you are in collusion with the demon Venport, I would never be able to control them. Maybe they would take your throne, rather than Venport.”

“I do not need more time to consider such an important matter,” Salvador snapped. “I am tired of being made irrelevant.” He leaned forward and raised his voice. “I hereby declare that spice operations are strategically vital to the Imperium and by law must be operated under direct Imperial control. As Emperor, I shall take charge of Arrakis and mobilize the Imperial fleet to enforce my will. My trade advisers will inform Directeur Venport and prepare the necessary documentation for a smooth transition.”

Roderick stared at him, aghast, but Salvador just waved a hand casually. “You worry too much, brother. VenHold will be fairly compensated. In fact, I’ll go there myself with a small force of soldiers to oversee the transition.”

Roderick felt disturbed, but could see that his brother was buoyed with excitement. Salvador grinned as if he had made a good decision. “Spice will be Imperialized. It is time to show who is really in command!”

A cold heaviness settled in Roderick’s stomach, but he forced a brave face. Salvador didn’t often make his own major decisions, and when he did, they rarely went well.