Chapter 10 Chapter nine

"Is this where your father died?" Edric asked.Many relief maps adorn the walls of the meeting room.He shoots a beam of indicator light from the chest, and it shines on a gem marker on a map. "That's the sanctuary where his skull was kept," Paul said. "My father was imprisoned by the Harkonnen on the frigate and died in the hollow below us." "Oh, yes, I remember," Edric said. "It seems to be something about the assassination of his sworn enemy, Lord Harkonny." In order to hide the discomfort and fear he felt in this small closed room, Edric turned over in the orange-red gas and looked straight at Paul.He was sitting alone on the gray and black couch.

"My sister killed the Baron." Paul said, his voice and expression were flat, "during the Arakon War." He thought to himself, why did this murloc of the Guild choose to uncover this old scar here and now? The navigator tried his best to suppress his nervous tension, but it was always unsuccessful.The lazy big fish-like demeanor when we met last time has long since disappeared, and the pair of small eyes bulge out, looking around, searching, and calculating.His only entourage stood a little away from him, near the palace guards who lined the wall to Paul's left.There was something in the squire's expression that troubled Paul.He was a heavy-bodied man with a thick neck and a dull expression on his face.Just now, he was the one who pushed Edric's box into the meeting room: his body lightly pressed against the box on the levitation force field, with his hands on his hips, walking like an executioner.

Scyther, Edric called him.Scyther, his assistant. Everything about the assistant's appearance suggested utter stupidity, but his eyes gave him away.These are eyes that look mockingly at everything they see. "Your concubine seems to enjoy watching the performance of the face-changer." Edric said, "It's a pleasure to provide you with a little entertainment. When the whole troupe becomes exactly like her at the same time, she The reaction really made me happy." "The gift from the Astronautics Guild, everyone is very wary of this." Paul said. He thought of the show in the hall.The dancers take to the stage in costumes, dressed up as the Dune tarot cards.They quickly changed formations, forming various seemingly random patterns, including fire vortices and ancient divination patterns.In the end it became a great card, a team of kings and emperors, exactly like the faces of emperors on coins: hard outlines, serious expressions, only grotesquely shifting.These performers also made a joke for everyone: Paul's own face and body were also copied, and Jani was also copied, walking around the hall one by one.Even Stilgar was copied.The rest of the hall laughed, and Stilgar himself muttered and cursed, shaking uncontrollably all the while.

"But the gifts we bring are all kind." Edric protested. "How good is it?" Paul asked. "The necromancer you sent me believes that his purpose is to destroy us." "Destroy you, Your Majesty?" Edric asked, with a very serene expression. "Can man destroy a god?" Stilgar, who had just walked in, heard the last words.He stopped in his tracks and glared at the guard.They were a long way from Paul, beyond his prescribed distance.He gestured angrily, telling them to come closer. "It's okay, Stilgar." Paul held up a hand. "Just a casual chat between friends. Would you move the ambassador's box closer to my sofa?"

Stilgar pondered Paul's order.That way, the box would be placed too close to Paul, between Paul and the rude assistant.But…… "It's okay, Stilgar." Luo repeated, and at the same time made a secret gesture, indicating that this is an order and must not be disobeyed. Reluctantly, Stilgar pushed the box closer to Paul.He didn't like the container, and the strong smell of spices around it.He was standing in the corner of the box under the navigator's spinning articulator. "Destroying the gods," said Paul, "is interesting. But who says I'm a god?"

"Those who worship you," Edric said, casting a deliberate glance at Stilgar. "Do you believe it?" Paul asked. "It doesn't matter what I believe, Your Majesty," Edric said. "However, to most observers, you appear to be conspiring to turn yourself into a god. People will ask if you can do anything if you do that." What you want to do...and do it as you please?" Paul pondered what the Guild navigator had said.A disgusting guy, but with a keen sense.Paul has asked himself this question countless times, but with so many timelines he has seen, he knows that his future may be worse than being a god.Much worse.However, these are not what an ordinary navigator can foresee.Strange.Why ask such a question?What does Edric hope to gain through this kind of head-to-head confrontation?Paul's mind turned (there must be a Treylax behind it) - turn again (the recent jihad victory on Sebor star is related to Edric's actions) - turn again (Bee Geese the various teachings of the Special Sisterhood)—and on to...  

Thousands of messages flashed through his calculating brain.Maybe it only took three seconds. "As a navigator, don't you doubt the guiding role of foresight?" Paul asked, forcing Edric to fight on the battlefield that was most unfavorable to him. The navigator was flustered, but he concealed it well, saying something that sounded like an aphorism: "No wise man doubts the power of foreknowledge, Sire. Prophetic visions have been known from time immemorial, but they always It comes to us when we least expect it. Fortunately, there are other forces in the universe." "A power greater than foreknowledge?" Paul asked urgently.

"If there is only one power in the world, foresight, and it is so powerful and omnipotent, Your Majesty, it will inevitably go to self-destruction. Apart from foresight, there is no other power? Then, it has nowhere to go except to degenerate. " "Humans will definitely abuse this ability and eventually lead to its destruction." Paul agreed. "Prophetic visions are elusive even at their most accurate," Edrek said, "that is, in cases where people don't mistake their hallucinations for prophetic visions." "It seems that my hallucinations are nothing more than hallucinations." Paul pretended to be sad. "Or, you mean, it was my admirers who hallucinated?"

Sensing the growing tense atmosphere, Stilgar took a step closer to Paul, watching closely the members of the Space Guild leaning in the box. "You deliberately misinterpreted my meaning, Your Majesty." Edric protested.There was a strange violence in the words.Show violence here?Paul doubted.Forgive them for not daring!Unless (he glances at his own guards) the guards protecting me turn their backs. "But you accuse me of plotting to make myself a god." Paul said in a voice only Edric and Stilgar could hear. "Planning?" "Perhaps the word was chosen incorrectly, Your Majesty," Edric said.

"But it says a lot," said Paul. "It means you wish me bad luck." Edric twisted his neck and glanced worriedly at Stilgar who was standing aside. "People always wish bad luck to the rich and powerful, Your Majesty. It is said that there is a way to tell whether a person is of noble origin: the nobles will cover up their evil, and the only thing exposed is to make the common people like their evil. Habit." Stilgar's face trembled. Paul found out.He knew what Stilgar was thinking, and he knew his anger.How dare this Guild guy speak to Muad'di like that?

"Of course you're not kidding," Paul said. "A joke? Your Majesty?" Paul's mouth felt dry.There were too many people in the room, and the air he breathed was polluted by the lungs of many people.The smell of spices around Edric's box also made it hard to breathe. "Who could be my accomplice in this plot you speak of?" Paul then asked. "Do you think it's the Chizara Order?" Edric shrugged, stirring the orange gas around his head.He paid no attention to Stilgar, though the Freemen was still staring at him viciously. "You mean, the missionaries of my Holy Cult, all of them, are spreading and implying this lie?" Paul asked. "It could be out of self-interest, or it could be from the heart," Edlake said. Stilgar held down the howling blade under his robe with one hand. Paul shook his head and said, "So you accuse me of spreading lies out of self-interest?" "Accusation is an imprecise word, Your Majesty." What a daring beast!Paul thought."Criticism or no accusation," he said, "you consider my bishops and myself to be nothing but a gang of greedy robbers." "Being greedy?" Edric glanced at Stilgar again. "Power will isolate those who hold too much power, and gradually lose touch with the real world... and finally collapse." "Your Majesty," roared Stilgar, "you have executed many men less guilty than this one!" "A lot, yes," Paul agreed, "but he's an ambassador for the Guild." "He accuses you of being a wicked liar!" said Stilgar. "I'm interested in what he thinks, Stilgar," Paul said. "Suppress your anger and stay on your toes." "Follow Muad'di's orders." "Tell me, Navigator," Paul said, "at such a distance in space and time, I have no way of monitoring every move of all the missionaries, and it is impossible for me to know the details of every Chizara Priory and Temple. How do I implement this hypothetical fraud in this case?" "What is time to you?" Edric asked. Stilgar frowned, clearly confused.He thought: Muad'di used to say that he could see through the veil of time.What is the true meaning of the words of the space guild? "How can a fraud on this scale not be full of holes?" Paul asked. "The major disagreements, divisions... doubts, and confessions that cannot withstand the inner condemnation, fraud can't suppress it all." "What religion and self-interest can't hide, government can hide," Edlake said. "Are you testing the limits of my tolerance?" Paul asked. "Isn't there any merit in my point of view?" Edric retorted. Does he want us to kill him?thought Paul.Edric wants to make himself a martyr? "I like the cynical point of view," Paul said, testing the other person. "You've obviously been trained to know all the tricks of language, how to use puns, kill words. To you, words are weapons, and you Test the strength of my armor." "When it comes to cynicism," Edric said, a slight smile on his lips, "there's no one like a monarch when it comes to religion. Religion is a weapon too. When it becomes part of government, it becomes a What kind of weapon do you want?" Paul felt a deep peace in his heart, calm and alert at the same time.Who was Edric talking to?Extremely clever words, provocative, and deliberate tone, with the tacit subtext: he and Paul are two experienced people with a wider world, knowing that ordinary people cannot know thing.Paul was startled to realize that he was not the main target of the rhetoric.The other party had endured all kinds of discomfort and visited the palace in order to say this to other people, to Stilgar, to the palace guards... maybe even to that clumsy assistant. "The aura of religion was imposed on me," Paul said, "and I didn't consciously pursue it." He thought: All right!Just let the mermaid think he has won the war of words! "Then why don't you publicly deny this god-making movement, Your Majesty?" Edric asked. "Because of my sister Alia," said Paul, watching Edric carefully, "she is a goddess. I advise you, be careful when you mention her, she only needs to look at you to be Can kill you." The smile that had just emerged from Edric's mouth suddenly turned into a shocked expression. "I mean it," Paul said, watching Stilgar nod secretly as the shock of his words spread rapidly. Edric said despondently: "You have shaken my confidence in you, Your Majesty. No doubt that is what you intended." "You know what I mean? Better not be so sure," Paul said.Chao Shidijia made a gesture, indicating that the reception ends here. Stilgar gestures to ask if Edric should be stabbed.Paul gestured in denial, a gesture he deliberately emphasized lest Stilgar should make his own claims. Scyther, Edric's assistant, walked to the rear corner of the box and pushed it toward the door.When he was opposite Paul, he stopped, turned his head, and looked at Paul with a smile in his eyes: "If Your Majesty allows..." "What's the matter with you?" Paul asked.He noticed that Stilgar was leaning closer, in case the man made a sudden attack. "It has been said," said Skelter, "that people depend on the rule of empire because of the infinity of space. Without a single symbol of unity, they feel alone, without support. To a lonely As far as people are concerned, the Emperor is a perfect object for them to cling to. They run to him and say, 'Look, there he is. He has united us as one.' Maybe religion has the same purpose, Your Majesty." Scyther nodded happily, and pushed Edric's case again.They left the meeting room, Edric lying on his back in the box, eyes closed.The navigator seemed to be exhausted, not as lively as before. Paul stared at Scytle's swaying back, and was very surprised by this man's words.A very special fellow, this Scyther, he thought.When he spoke, it seemed that he was not a single person, but a collection of many people, and his ancestors of all generations seemed to stand with him. "Strange," Stilgar said, not targeting anyone in particular. After Edric and his entourage went out, a guard closed the door. Paul stood up from the sofa. "Strange." Stilgar repeated, thick veins throbbing in his temples. Paul dimmed the light in the audience room and went to the window.The windows were wide open, facing the steep cliffs outside the castle.Somewhere far below, lights were flickering, and there were shadows of people moving.A team of laborers came here with huge sol stones to repair the walls of the Temple of Aria, which had been damaged by a powerful sandstorm. "It's not wise, Yuso, to bring such a thing here," Stilgar said. Friends, Paul thought.My cave name.Stilgar wanted me to understand that he had led me, had saved my life in the desert. "Why are you doing this?" Stilgar asked, leaning close behind Paul. "Data," Paul said. "I need more data." "Isn't it too risky to face such a threat just as a Mentat?" Very insightful, Paul thought. Mentat's computing power is also limited.It's like language.Language is limited, and no language can express things that have no limits and no boundaries.But despite this, Mentat's abilities are still useful.He told these words to Stilgar to see if he could disprove himself. "There are always things that are out of scope," Stilgar said. "There are some things that are better left out of our scope." "Or keep them in our hearts," Paul said.In an instant, he as the seer and he as the Mentat came to a conclusion together.Put it out of scope, out of consideration, and that's fine.The most frightening thing is that these things are buried deep in his heart and cannot be lingered.How can he fight against himself?To escape from himself?The enemy's attempt is to set up a poisonous plan to make him self-destruct.Thinking along this line of thought, he saw even more terrifying possible futures. The sound of hurried footsteps interrupted his contemplation.The bright hallway lights illuminated the figure of Kizara Koba from behind, and he rushed in as if he had been thrown in by some great force.After entering the dark interview room, he stopped abruptly.Holding in his hands are several scrolls of Shakyamuni, shining in the light from the corridor, like strangely shaped treasures.A guard's hand reached out and closed the door, and the gleam of the jewels disappeared. "Is that you, Your Majesty?" asked Koba, peering into the shadows. "What's the matter?" Stilgar asked. "Stilgar?" "We're all here. What's the matter?" "I am very disturbed that you have ordered a reception for the members of the Guild." "Uneasy?" Paul asked. "People say, Your Majesty, you do too much favor to our enemies." "That's all?" Paul said. "Are these scrolls what I asked you to bring earlier?" He pointed to the shakyamuni scroll in Koba's hand. "Scrolls... Oh! Yes, Your Majesty. These are historical records. Would you like to read them here?" "I've seen it. You brought it here so Stilgar can see it." "I see?" Stilgar only felt angry.He thought it was another whim of Paul's.history!He had come to discuss the logistics of conquest of the planet Zabulon with Paul, and had happened to run into the Guild's ambassador.After finally having an opportunity, Koba and history appeared again! "How much do you know about history?" Paul mused, thinking about the person with a long shadow beside him. "Your Majesty, I can name every planet our people have visited, and I am familiar with every territory of the empire..." "The golden age of the earth, have you studied it?" "Earth? The Golden Age?" Stilgar was anxious and confused.Why did it suddenly occur to Paul to discuss some myth about the origin of mankind?Stilgar's mind was still filled with data from the planet Zabulon.According to Mentat's staff calculations: 205 frigates are needed to carry 30 regiments.In addition, there are heavy camps, security forces, Chizara missionaries...food supplies (the number is in his head) and spices...weapons, military uniforms, medals...urns of fallen soldiers...Experts needed: production Promotional material people, clerks, accountants...spies...and double agents... "I've also brought the accessories for the pulse synchronization device, Your Majesty," said Koba boldly.He obviously noticed that the atmosphere between Paul and Stilgar was a little tense, so he became anxious. Stilgar shook his head.Pulse synchronization device?Why did Paul ask him to use the Pulse Memory Sync System on a custard projector?Why scan a particular piece of data from the history?This is Mentat's job!As usual, Stilgar couldn't help but be deeply skeptical at the thought of the projector and the memory sync.These things always make his senses extremely uncomfortable.The data came pouring in like mountains and seas, and it took a long time for the brain to sort out the clues.Some information often surprises him: even he himself did not expect such information to be stored in his mind. "Your Majesty, I want to discuss the logistics of Zabrun with you," Stilgar said. "Let's dehydrate Zabulon's logistics!" Paul said impatiently.He used a Freeman slur, meaning the moisture was so vile that no one would want to touch it regardless of their status. "His Majesty!" "Stilgar," Paul said, "what you need most is a sense of balance. This sense of balance can only be obtained by knowing how to take a long-term perspective. We have very little information on the past era. Bartram Jihad destroyed too many things, but Koba brought all the remaining data for you. You can start with Genghis Khan." "Genghi... Sihan? Is he from the Sarduka Legion, Your Majesty?" "Oh, much earlier than Saduka's Legion. He killed . . . about four million people." "Having killed so many people, he must have had a very powerful weapon, Your Majesty. Maybe a laser beam, or..." "He didn't kill it himself, Stilgar. He, like me, sent out his own legions. And by the way, another emperor, a man named Hitler. He killed more than six million people. To the ancients , this number is quite impressive.” "Killed... killed by his legion?" Stilgar asked. "yes." "These statistics are nothing remarkable, Your Majesty." "Very good, Stilgar." Paul glanced at the scroll in Koba's hand.Koba stood there, as if he wanted to drop these things and run away immediately, "I'll tell you a few other statistics. I have killed 61 billion people and wiped out 90 planets by a conservative estimate. Destroyed five hundred planets. I wiped out forty religions, and they exist..." "Infidels!" protested Koba, "they are all infidels!" "No," said Paul, "they're religious." "Your Majesty is joking," said Koba tremblingly. "Holy War has brought light to thousands of planets!" "Bringing the darkness," Paul said. "It will take a hundred generations for humanity to recover from Muad'di's jihad. I can hardly imagine anyone surpassing my feat." Roaring laugh. "What made Muad'di so ridiculous?" Stilgar asked. "Nothing. I just had a sudden vision of Kaiser Hitler, who said something similar. Definitely did." "No ruler has ever had the same power as you," Koba retorted. "Who dares to challenge you? Your Legion controls the entire universe known to man, and all—" "It's the legion that controls all of this," Paul said. "I don't know if they understand this themselves?" "But the Legion is under your control, Sire," Stilgar interjected.It was clear from the voice that he had suddenly realized his importance in this chain of command—these powers were in his hands. Succeeding in turning Stilgar's thoughts on the desired track, Paul turned his attention to Koba and said, "Bring the scroll to the sofa." Koba did as he was told. Paul said, "How did the reception go, Koba? Did my sister handle everything well?" "Yes, Your Majesty." Koba's voice became alert, "but Jani has been watching through the peephole. She suspects that Saduka is among the guild's entourage." "She's right," said Paul. "The jackals are all together." "Earlier, Bonnej was worried that they would take the opportunity to sneak into the secret place of the palace." Stilgar was referring to the head of the guard who was in charge of Paul's personal security. "Did they do that?" "not yet." "But the garden is not as tidy as usual," said Koba. "How untidy?" Stilgar asked. Paul nodded. "Strangers come and go," Koba said, "stepping on plants, whispering to each other. Some words disturb me." "For example?" Paul asked. "Such as whether the tax is being spent in a reasonable way. It is said that the ambassador himself has asked such questions." "I don't think there's much fuss about those words," said Paul. "Are there many strangers in the garden?" "A lot, Your Majesty." "Bonnej has sent his best generals to guard the most vulnerable entrances, Your Majesty," Stilgar said.While speaking, he turned his head sideways, and the only light in the room illuminated half of his face. This light, this face, awakened Paul's memory, a memory from the desert. Paul didn't allow himself to dwell on memories, he thought about Stilgar.How could this person calm down so quickly and reconsider the practical issues. The skin on the Fremen's forehead was taut like a mirror, reflecting every thought that crossed his mind.Now, he had already begun to doubt, and had a deep suspicion of the emperor's weird behavior. "I don't like them entering my garden." Paul said, "We must treat guests with courtesy, and welcome diplomatic envoys must be shown in etiquette. But..." "I'll send them away," said Koba, "at once." "Wait!" Koba ordered, just as he was turning to go out. There was a sudden silence in the room. At this moment, Stilgar moved quietly, just enough to see Paul's face clearly.The action is very clever. Paul secretly admired it.Well done, really no trace of it.Only Freeman has this ability.This is cunning and respect for the privacy of others.Freeman's life is inseparable from this kind of small movements, and it is only through long-term perseverance that such accomplishments can be achieved. "What time is it?" Paul asked. "It's almost midnight, sire," said Koba. "Koba, I think you may be the best thing I've ever created," Paul said. "Your Majesty!" Koba seemed hurt. "Do you fear me?" Paul asked. "You are Paul Muad'di, Youso of our cave," said Koba. "You know that I believe in..." "Do you feel like an apostle of Jesus Christ?" Paul asked. Koba obviously did not understand the meaning of this word, but through the tone of the sentence, he accurately grasped its meaning. "Your Majesty knows my loyalty!" "May Xia Hulu bless us!" Paul murmured. The momentary suspicious silence was broken by a whistle as someone passed through the outer hall.The whistle sounded outside the door and was stopped by the guards. "Koba, you may outlive us," Paul said, seeing a look of enlightenment on Stilgar's face. "What about the strangers in the garden? Your Majesty," Stilgar asked. "Oh, yes," said Paul. "Ask Bonag to throw 'em out, Stilgar. Tell Koba to help him." "Me? Your Majesty?" Koba revealed deep anxiety. "Some of my friends have forgotten that they were once Fremen," Paul said to Koba, actually pointing to Stilgar, "take note of the Saduka that Jani recognizes, and kill them .You do it yourself. I want it to be clean and not cause riots. Remember that religion and government are not just about signing peace treaties and preaching doctrine." "Follow Muad'di's orders," said Koba in a low voice. "What about Zabrun's logistics plan?" Stilgar asked. "Tomorrow," said Paul, "after the reception is over after the strangers are driven out of the garden. The party is over, Stilgar." "I understand, Your Majesty." "I know you understand," Paul said.