House harkonnen by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson

Author:Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson [Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: SF
ISBN: 0553897837
Published: 2008-06-25T10:00:00+00:00

There exists no way of exchanging information without making judgments.

— Bene Gesserit Axiom

From the balcony of her private apartment, Jessica observed her frumpy, apple-cheeked lady-in-waiting in the practice yard near the west guardhouse. She watched as the breathless woman chattered with Thufir Hawat, using too many hand gestures as she spoke. Both of them glanced up at her window.

Does the Mentat think I am stupid?

In the month that Jessica had lived on Caladan, her every need had been met with cold precision, as a respected guest but no more. Thufir Hawat had personally seen to her comforts, placing her in the former apartments of the Lady Helena Atreides. After being sealed for so many years, the chambers had needed to be aired out, but the fine furniture, the pool-bath and sunroom, the complete wardrobe were all more than she required. A Bene Gesserit needed very little in the way of comfort and luxury.

The Mentat had also arranged for Jessica’s busybody lady-in-waiting, who flitted around her like a moth, finding little tasks that kept her close to Jessica at all times. Obviously, one of Hawat’s spies.

Abruptly, Jessica had dismissed the woman from service that very morning, giving her no reason. Now she sat back to await the repercussions. Would the Master of Assassins come himself, or would he send a representative? Would he even understand her intended message? Don’t underestimate me, Thufir Hawat.

From the balcony, she saw him break from his discussion with the disgraced woman. Moving with confidence and strength, he strode away from the west guardhouse toward the Castle proper.

A strange man, that Mentat. While still at the Mother School, Jessica had memorized Hawat’s background, how he’d spent half his life at a Mentat training center, first as a student and later as a philosopher and theoretical tactician, before being purchased for the newly titled Duke Paulus Atreides, Leto’s father.

Using her Bene Gesserit powers of observation, Jessica studied the leathery, confident man. Hawat wasn’t like other graduates of the Mentat Schools, the introverted types who shied away from personal contact. Instead, the deadly man was aggressive and crafty, with a fanatic loyalty to House Atreides. In some ways his deadly nature resembled that of the Tleilaxu-twisted Piter de Vries, but Hawat was the ethical opposite of the Harkonnen Mentat. It was all very curious. . . .

Similarly, she had noticed the old Master of Assassins scrutinizing her through his Mentat logic filter, processing bits of data about her and arriving at unsubstantiated conclusions. Hawat could be very dangerous indeed.

They all wanted to know why she was here, why the Bene Gesserit had chosen to send her, and what she meant to do.

Jessica heard a heavy-knuckled rap on the door, and answered it herself. Now we shall see what he has to say. Enough games.

Hawat’s lips were moist with sapho juice, and the deep-set brown eyes showed concern and agitation. “Please explain why you were dissatisfied with the servant I chose for you, my Lady.”

Jessica wore a lavender soosatin singlesuit, which showed off the curves of her slender body.

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