Chapter 30 Chapter Thirty

"Perhaps there is no need to remind you at all," Farrakhan said, "but just to prevent accidents, I should say that a deaf man was placed in the house, and he was ordered that if there was any indication that I was under control, he would will kill you." He didn't expect these words to have any effect, and the reactions of Jessica and Idaho met his expectations. Farakon had carefully chosen the place where he first met the two men—the old drawing room of Shaddam IV, whose exotic decoration made it look less dignified.It was already a winter afternoon outside, but the interior of the windowless house simulated an endless summer day. Ball lamps made of the purest Eckon crystals were elegantly arranged inside the house, enveloping the whole house in golden light.

The news from Arrakis delighted Falakon secretly.The boy of the twins - Leto - was killed by a Razz tiger.The girl who survived, Ghanima, was imprisoned by her aunt and reportedly held hostage. With this report, the arrival of Idaho and Jessica has a certain logic, and they really need a refuge. Spies from House Corrino report that the situation on Arrakis is unstable. Alia agrees to undergo a test called "The Magus Trial", but the purpose of doing so is not further explained.Moreover, the time of the test is still to be determined, and the two spies of the Corino family even think that such a day will never come.

So far, here's what exactly happened: Fremen in the desert clashed with Fremen in the royal army, and a near-civil war brought the government to a standstill.Stilgar remained neutral and took on the task of exchanging hostages.Ghanima is apparently one of the hostages.The mechanics of the hostage exchange are unclear. Jessica and Idaho were firmly strapped to the suspension chair and brought into the audience room.The two men were wrapped in deadly shakyamuni canes, and any slight struggle would hurt them.Two Sadukas led them in, checked the bindings for firmness, and left quietly. Falakon's warning was indeed unnecessary.Jessica saw the heavily armed deaf man, leaning against a wall to her right, still clutching an old-fashioned but highly effective shotgun.She observed the exotic decorations in the interior.In the center of the circular roof, rare iron leaves and precious opals are arranged in a crescent shape. The floor under her feet is a rectangle formed of diamond wood and shells. The rectangles are surrounded by animal bones. Laser cut and polished.The decoration on the wall is a dense mosaic of some hard material, from which can be seen the lion in four poses, the emblem of the successor of the late Shadham IV.The silhouette of the lion is drawn with gold thread.

Falakon decided to greet his captive in a standing stance.He wore military shorts and a gold jacket with a silk embroidered neckline, the only decoration being the noble family star in the left breast. Standing beside him in Saduka uniform and heavy boots over his legs, Pascha Tekhanik wore a holster on his belt containing an ornate lasgun. Jessica had long been familiar with Tekanek's big face from Bee Geist's report, standing a few paces behind Farakon to the left.There was a black wooden throne against the wall behind them. "Now," Falcon said to Jessica, "do you have anything to say?"

"I want to ask, why are we tied up like this?" Jessica gestured to the Sakyamuni vine wrapped around her body. "We just received a report from Arrakis explaining why you are here." Falcon said, "Maybe I should untie you now." He smiled, "If you—" He fell silent suddenly, and his mother came in through the door behind the captive. Vincia hurried past Jessica and Idaho without glancing at them.She handed Farrakon a small piece of information and activated it. He studied the shiny surface of the message block, looking up at Jessica from time to time.The surface light dimmed, and he handed the message back to his mother, beckoning her to show Techanic.He frowned at Jessica as she did so.

Vincia stood on Faraken's right hand, holding the information block that was no longer glowing, and the folds of the white robe covered part of the information block. Jessica glanced to the right at Idaho, but he refused to meet her gaze. "The Sisters of Bee Geist are not very happy with me," Farrakken said. "They think I am responsible for your grandson's death." Jessica controlled her facial expression, thinking: I should take Ghanima at her word, unless...she doesn't want to think about it any further. Idaho closed his eyes, then opened them again, and glanced at Jessica.She was still staring at Farakon.Judging by her expression, she didn't seem to care.He didn't know how to interpret her calmness.It seemed that she must know something that he didn't.

"The thing is..." Falakon said, starting to explain everything he knew about what had happened to Arrakis, without missing a word.He concluded: "Your granddaughter survived, but according to reports, she was locked up by Mrs. Alia. You should be satisfied now." "Did you kill my grandson?" Jessica asked. Falcon's answer was very sincere. "I didn't, I just recently learned of a conspiracy but it wasn't my idea." Jessica looked at Vincia with a smug expression on her oval face.She thought: She did it!It's a conspiracy devised by the lioness for her cubs!Let the lioness regret it in her lifetime.

Jessica refocused on Falcon, saying, "But the Sisterhood thinks you killed him." Falcon turned to his mother and said, "Show her the news." Vincia hesitated.He spoke again with anger: "I told you, show her." Jessica recorded his anger for future use. Vincia turned pale, pointed the fluorescent screen of the information block at Jessica, and activated it.In line with the movement of Jessica's eyes, lines of text flowed across the surface of the information block. "Bee Gist's committee on Wallachhe IX has formally protested the assassination of Leto Atreides II by the Corino family. Relevant evidence and opinions have been submitted to the Internal Security Committee. We will select a neutral venue and choose a judge acceptable to all parties. We request your reply as soon as possible. Sabit Ricusi, Federation of Great Families."

Vincia returned to her son. "How would you respond?" Jessica asked. Wen Xiya said: "Because my son has not officially become the leader of the Corino family, I will - where are you going?" The second half of the sentence was addressed to Falcon, who was turning and walking towards a small door next to the deaf man. Falcon stopped, turned half sideways and said, "I'm going back to my books and other things I'm more interested in." "How dare you?" Vincia said, a dark blush forming on her neck and face. "I dare to do a lot of things in my name," Farrakken said. "You make decisions in my name, and I think these decisions are disgraceful. From now on, either I can do it in my name." Make a decision, or you find another heir to the Corino family."

Jessica glanced quickly at the opposing sides, seeing Farrakon's anger clearly.Pashar stood upright, pretending not to hear anything.Vincia hesitated on the verge of rage, while Farakon put on an appearance of accepting any result.Jessica couldn't help admiring his gesture.She saw that there was much she could use in this confrontation.It seems that the decision to send Raztiger against her grandchildren did not take Falakon's approval.He just said that he was aware of the conspiracy but was not involved.There was nothing suspicious about his manner when he spoke. Farrakon stood here, real anger burning in his eyes, and he was ready to accept the consequences.

Wencia trembled, took a deep breath, and then said, "Very good. The official authorization ceremony will be held tomorrow, and you can use your powers in advance now." She looked at Taikanik, but the latter refused Eye to eye with her. Once she and her son get out of here, there's going to be a big fight between them, Jessica thought, but I believe he's won.She refocused her awareness on the message from the Federation of Great Families.The sorority fiddled with the message a bit, hiding messages in the formal language of protest that only Jessica could read.The fact that this news existed shows that the Sisterhood's spies knew of Jessica's situation, and that they knew Farrakon so precisely that he would show the news to his captors. "I need you to answer my question," Jessica said after Falcon turned his face away. "I will tell the Federation of Great Families that I had nothing to do with this assassination," Farrakhan said. I am sorry for the pain the assassination caused you. Misfortunes happen everywhere." Misfortunes happen everywhere!thought Jessica.That was her Duke's favorite proverb, and the way Farrakon spoke it suggested he at least knew the assassination would happen.She forced herself not to think that they might have really killed Leto.She had to assume that what Ghanima had told her about the twins had come to fruition.The Smugglers will arrange for Gurney to meet Leto, and the Sisterhood's plan will be carried out.Leto had to be tested, there was no choice.Without the test, he would be considered diabolical like Alia.And Ghanima... Ghanima can take a while.There is currently no way to deliver this person with memories before birth to Our Lady Keith Helen Mohiam.Jessica let out a deep sigh. "Sooner or later," she said, "someone will offer to marry you to my granddaughter, to unite our two families, and to heal the wound." "Someone has already raised this possibility with me," Falcon said with a glance at his mother. "My answer is to wait until the current situation in Arakis becomes clearer. There is no need to make a hasty decision." "It's possible that you have fallen into my daughter's trap and been controlled by her," Jessica said. Farrakon straightened up. "Explain clearly." "Things with Arrakis are not what you think they are," Jessica said. "Aria is playing her own game, the game of the aberrant spirit. My granddaughter is in danger unless Aria Can find a way to use her." "You want me to believe that you and your daughter are fighting each other, that the Atreides are killing each other?" Jessica glanced at Wen Xiya, and then at Falcon: "Aren't the Corino family fighting among themselves?" A twisted smile played on Farrakon's lips. "Good answer. How did I fall for your daughter's trick?" "Say you had something to do with my grandson's death, say you kidnapped me." "Kidnapping..." "Don't trust this witch." Wen Xiya reminded. "I will decide who to believe, mother," Farrak said, "forgive me, Mrs. Jessica, but I don't know about the kidnapping, I only know about you and your loyal servant..." "Who is Alia's husband?" Jessica asked. Falcon looked at Idaho, and then at Bashar: "What do you think, Taika?" Bashar's thoughts are obviously similar to Jessica's.He said: "I agree with her reasoning. Be careful!" "He's a Mentat who came back from the dead," Falakon said. "Even if we tortured him to death, we wouldn't know for sure." "But it's a relatively safe assumption that we've fallen for Alia," Tecanik said. Jessica knew that now was her time to act.It would be nice if Idaho could just sit in his pain and not interfere.She didn't like using him in this way, but she had to think about the bigger picture. "First," said Jessica, "I have to announce in public that I am here of my own free will." "Interesting," Falcon said. "You have to trust me and give me the freedom to act on Secundus," Jessica said. "You can't make it look like I'm being forced to announce it." "No!" Vincia objected. Falcon ignored her. "What is your reason for coming here?" "I am the plenipotentiary ambassador sent by the sisterhood to teach you your homework." "But the sisterhood accuses me of—" "That's why you need to make a decision as soon as possible," Jessica said. "Don't trust her!" Wen Xiya said. Farrakon looked at her and said in a very polite tone: "If you interrupt me again, I will let Taika take you away. He heard with his own eyes that you have agreed to hand over power to me. He is now mine. people." "I tell you, she is a witch!" Vincia glanced at the deaf man by the wall. Faraken hesitated for a moment, then said: "Taika, what do you think? Am I being controlled?" "I don't think so. She—" "Both of you are under control!" "Mother." The tone was firm and non-negotiable. Wen Xiya clenched her fists, trying to argue, but she finally didn't speak, but turned and left the room. Falcon turned around again and said to Jessica, "Will the Bi Geist sisters agree to do this?" "They will." Falcon carefully understood their conversation and smiled faintly. "What does the sorority want out of this?" "You married my granddaughter." Idaho gave Jessica a surprised look, as if he wanted to say something, but finally gave up. Jessica said, "What do you want to say, Duncan?" "I would say that what Bee Geist wants is what they have been pursuing all along: a universe that will not interfere with them." "That's obvious," Falcon said, "but I really don't see how it has anything to do with you." Because of the sakya vines tied to his body, Idaho had to raise his eyebrows to represent a shrug.He smiled. Falcon saw the smile, turned to look at Idaho and said, "Do I make you feel funny?" "The whole thing amused me. Someone in your family paid off the Guild to bring assassination weapons to Arrakis—you couldn't hide your intentions from them. Then you offended Bee Gee Sturt, because you killed their prime seed—” "Are you calling me a liar, Mentat?" "No. I'm sure you don't know the plot, but I think we should examine the whole story carefully." "Don't forget he's a Mentat," Jessica reminded. "That's what I thought too," Falcon said, turning to look at Jessica again. "Let's say I let you go and you made a public statement. Your grandson's death is still unresolved. Door Tate was right." "Did your mother do it?" Jessica asked. "My lord!" Tekanek warned. "It's okay, Taika," Falcon waved his hand casually, "what if I say it's my mother?" In order to split the Corino family, I will go all out!Jessica said: "You must condemn her and exile her." "My lord," said Tecanek, "be careful of deceit." Idaho said, "Lady Jessica and I are the ones who have been deceived." The corners of Falcon's mouth tightened. Jessica thought: Leave me alone, Duncan!not now!But Idaho's words stimulated her own Bee Geist logical reasoning.He shook her.She began to wonder whether she might have fallen into someone else's trap and been used without knowing it.Ghanima and Leto... People who have memories before birth can refer to countless experiences in their bodies, and they get more advice from them than any living Bee Gist.One more question: Did the sorority show her everything?They probably still don't trust her.After all, she had betrayed them... for her duke. Falcon frowned suspiciously and looked at Idaho. "Mentat, I want to know what kind of person a missionary is in your eyes?" "He arranged for us to be here. I...we didn't speak more than ten words between us. Someone on his staff contacted me in his place. He could be... he could be Paul Atreides, but I didn't Enough data to prove it. All I know for sure is that I should have left Arrakis, and he has a way for me to do so." "You said that you were deceived," Falcon reminded him. "Alia hopes that you can kill us quietly, and then destroy all evidence." Idaho said, "After getting rid of Mrs. Jessica, I am useless. Also, Mrs. Jessica is helping the sisters After serving, it's of no use to them. Alia will blame the sorority, but the sorority will eventually explain." Jessica closed her eyes and gathered her attention.He is right!She could hear the Mentat certainty in his tone, the sincerity in his words.The whole design is seamless.She took two deep breaths, entered meditation mode, and analyzed various data in her mind.Then, she came out of meditation and opened her eyes. At this moment, Farrakn had already walked away from her, and stood half a step away from Idaho—moved three steps. "Stop it, Duncan," said Jessica, thinking sadly that Leto had warned her that the Bee Geist Sisterhood might have tampered with her consciousness, preprogrammed it.Idaho, who was about to speak again, closed his mouth. "Only I can issue orders," Falakon said. "Go on, Mentat." Idaho remained silent. Farrakon turned and looked at Jessica. She stared at the far wall, reviewing Idaho and what the meditation had sparked.Of course Bee Geist didn't give up Atreides' bloodline, but they hoped to control Kwizaki Hadnaky.They spent too much time and energy on selecting bloodlines.They hoped that an open conflict would break out between the Atreides and Corinos so that they could participate as arbitrators. Duncan was right.They will control both Ganima and Farakon at the same time.This is the only possible outcome.Oddly, Alia didn't realize this.Jessica swallowed hard.Alia... the deformed evil spirit!Ghanima was right to say to have mercy on her.But who will have mercy on Ghanima? "The Sisterhood promises to put you on the throne and make Ghanima your consort," Jessica said. Falcon took a step back.Can this witch read my mind? "They connected with you secretly, bypassing your mother." Jessica said, "They told you, I don't know about this plan." Jessica watched the expression on Falcon's face.You can see right through him at a glance.That's the plan.Idaho displayed his prodigious reasoning ability, seeing the structure of the entire design with limited data. "It seems that they are playing tricks and telling you these things." Falcon said. "They didn't say anything," Jessica said. "Duncan was right: they tricked me." She nodded for herself.It was a delaying tactic, a typical sorority move: the statement made sense and was easy to accept because it explained their motives and left the listener with no doubts.But they wanted the listener to get rid of Jessica for them, a tainted sister who had let them down, and not let her get in the way. Tekanek walked over to Falakon. "My lord, these two are too dangerous to be with them—" "Wait, Taika," Farrakn said, "there's a trap in the middle." He looked at Jessica, "In the past, we had reason to believe that Alia might have wanted herself to be my bride. " Idaho struggled involuntarily, then he controlled himself.Blood flowed from the wound on his left wrist cut by the sakya vine. Jessica allowed her eyes to open slightly, in surprise.She wanted to convey that now, through Falakon's grim reasoning, she finally saw the distortion and evil of the Aberration. "Will you agree?" Idaho asked. "I am considering." "Duncan, I told you not to talk," Jessica said.She turned to Farrakon. "Her condition is that we both die unexpectedly?" "We are skeptical of all acts of betrayal," Falakon said, "Didn't your son say that 'betrayal breeds new betrayal'." "The Sisterhood's intentions are obvious," Jessica said. "They want to control House Atreides and House Corino at the same time." "We are considering accepting your offer, Lady Jessica, but then Duncan Idaho would have to return to his lovely wife." Pain is just nerves at work, Idaho reminded himself, pain comes from the same way that light enters the eyes.Strength comes from muscles, not nerves.It was an ancient Mentat drill, and he did it in one breath.Then he bent his right wrist and aimed the artery at the sakya vine. Tekanek jumped to the edge of the chair, snapped the catch and released the restraints, calling out to the doctor.The assistants immediately rushed out from behind the dark wall. Duncan can't help being a little silly, Jessica thought. The doctor was resuscitating Idaho, and Falcon stared at Jessica. After a while, he said, "I didn't say I would accept Alia." "That's not why he cut his wrist," Jessica said. "Oh? I thought he was trying to make room." "You're not that stupid," Jessica said. "Stop pretending to me." He smiled. "I know very well that Alia can destroy me. Not even Bee Geist wants me to take her in." Jessica eyed him thoughtfully.What kind of person is this successor of the Corino family?He's not good at playing dumb.She remembered that Leto had said she would meet an interesting student.And Idaho said the missionaries had similar thoughts.She wished she could meet the missionary. "Will you exile Vincia?" Jessica said. "It seemed like a good deal," Farakon said. Jessica glanced at Idaho.First aid is over and he is now strapped with less dangerous straps. "Mentat should avoid going to extremes," she said. "I'm tired," Idaho said. "You don't know how tired I am." "Loyalty can also be exhausted if used too hard," Falcon said.Jessica gave him another look. Seeing Jessica's gaze, Falcon thought: Before long, she will know me completely, which will be very valuable to me.A bee gist apostate for my use!It's something his son has that I don't.Let her peep part of me now, and show her the whole thing later. "It's a fair deal," Falcon said. "I accept your terms." He made a complex set of gestures to the deaf man by the wall, issuing orders.The deaf man nodded. Falcon bent down and pressed the catch, releasing Jessica. Taikanik asked: "My lord, are you sure about doing this?" "Didn't we discuss it?" Falcon asked back. "Yes, but..." Farakon laughed and said to Jessica: "Tekha doubts the basis for my judgment. However, only part of the knowledge can be learned from books and scrolls, and real knowledge comes from practice." Jessica stood up from her chair, lost in thought.Her consciousness returned to Farrakon's gesture just now.The Atreides battle sign language he uses!This is very telling.Someone here is consciously learning from the Atreides. "Of course," said Jessica, "do you want me to teach you, to train you with Bee Geist?" Farrakon smiled. "I couldn't turn down the offer," he said.