Navigators of Dune

Roderick continued, “She is also a Truthsayer with the ability to detect any nuance of diversion or evasion. She can tell if a person is lying. Therefore, I have one question to pose to you, Leader Torondo.”

Swallowing visibly, Manford said, “And what might that be, Sire?” The tension increased in the room, like a palpable fog.

“Do you know what happened to my sister Anna on Lampadas?”

Manford froze, then smiled with relief. “No, Sire, I do not.”

“Did you have anything to do with her disappearance? Anything whatsoever?”

Manford’s smile broadened. “No, Sire. I did not. I honestly do not know what happened to her. Given the turmoil during the liberation of the school, she could have run off into the swamps and been devoured by predators.” He spread his hands. “I cannot say, other than that I had nothing to do with it.”

Fielle studied Manford for a long moment, before turning to face the throne. “He’s telling the truth, Sire.”

Sitting back, Roderick felt surprised and disappointed. “Very well, I accept your answer, and I accept the gift of these two Mentats. I am certain we can put them to good use, somehow.”

With a bow from his harness on Anari’s shoulders, Manford said, “It is my honor to serve you, Sire. I came to you as a dedicated defender in this war for the human soul, and I offer my loyal fighters to you. The Butlerian army will join your defenses, and together we can crush Venport in his stronghold. Countless throngs are already gathering here. Shall we go together to Kolhar, wipe him out once and for all?”

“It is not that simple.” Roderick scowled. “Directeur Venport controls the largest and most powerful spacing fleet. Without his ships, we cannot restore commerce throughout the Imperium, which becomes more and more imperative each day. Even if we neutralize him by military means and punish him for his crimes, we need to keep his foldspace ships and Navigators. The Imperium requires them.”

“I care nothing for his Navigator-guided fleet.” Manford sniffed. “I travel from planet to planet using standard foldspace ships. We can make do.”

“I don’t want to ‘make do.’ I want the Imperium to thrive. Only Venport’s Navigators can absolutely guarantee safe passage.”

In an indignant tone Manford said, “Only God can guarantee safe passage!”

“Perhaps, but God guarantees safe passage more readily when VenHold Navigators are involved.”

“We fight the same enemy,” Manford said. “We must be prepared to lay down our lives to stop that man.”

Roderick became more calculating. If nothing else, he could use the Butlerian fanatics as expendable shock troops in a frontal assault against the VenHold headquarters on Kolhar. More than anything, he wanted to get their warships away from Salusa, where they hung as an unspoken threat. It was a devil’s bargain, but if the Butlerians threw themselves recklessly at Kolhar, the fanatics would suffer tremendous casualties. Not necessarily a bad thing …

The Emperor rose from the throne. Taking Haditha by the hand, he announced, “I shall consult with my advisers on how we might implement that. Your efforts would be most appreciated.”

With the brief audience concluded, Imperial troops escorted Manford and his entourage back out into the great hall, where the Butlerian crowds cheered him. Though he had looked disturbed during the meeting, Manford seemed strengthened by the roar of the crowd. Thousands of them, with more and more coming every day.…

Watching him, Roderick felt uneasy, knowing how difficult it would be to make the fanatics leave Salusa—unless he managed to send them after another target.

* * *

THE NEXT DAY, no less than a miracle, a battered foldspace carrier arrived above Salusa. Despite its VenHold markings, the giant vessel carried Admiral Umberto Harte and the hostage Imperial fleet from Kolhar. Even though they bore no news of General Roon’s strike force, which had vanished entirely, this restored seventy warships to the Imperial Armed Forces—enough to keep the Butlerians from making an unwise move.

Roderick was pleased to learn the even more astonishing news that Harte had captured one of Venport’s mysterious Navigators. A specimen that they would study in great detail.

That indeed changed the state of affairs significantly.

Love does not make the world go around. Love is an obstruction in the gears of the universe.

—MOTHER SUPERIOR VALYA HARKONNEN

After the attack by Tula’s protectors in the Chusuk performance hall, Vor and Willem were rushed to an emergency medical facility, a small building that consisted of two examination rooms and a lobby filled with portable beds. Seven doctors were crammed into that limited space, tending a battered Willem and Vor, along with a pair of bedraggled-looking women receiving treatment for injuries from a boating accident.