Dune_ House Atreides - Brian Herbert [285]
Finally, in a standard communiqué via human Courier bearing a message cylinder, the Emperor suggested—since he had very little free time for conversation with his cousin—that they make use of a new and untried method being offered by the Spacing Guild, an instantaneous process called Guildlink. It involved the mental connection of two Guild Navigators positioned in separate star systems; a Heighliner in orbit around Caladan and another over Kaitain could theoretically arrange a conversation involving Duke Leto Atreides and Emperor Shaddam IV.
“At last I’ll be able to speak my piece,” Leto said, though he had never before heard of this communication method. Shaddam seemed anxious to try it for his own purposes, and this way no one would see him actually meeting with Duke Leto Atreides.
Kailea’s emerald eyes lit up, and she even ignored the distasteful bull’s-head that hung in the dining hall. She went to change her dress into proud Vernius colors, though it wasn’t likely she would be seen in the transmission at all. Rhombur came at the appointed hour, accompanied by Thufir Hawat. Leto sent all the other retainers, guards, and household staff out of the room.
The Heighliner that had brought the original Courier remained in geostationary orbit over Caladan; another already waited over Kaitain. The sophisticated Guild Steersmen aboard each ship—separated from one another by vast distances—would use an unfathomable procedure that allowed them to stretch their minds across the void, joining thoughts to form a connection. The Guild had tested hundreds of their Navigators before finding two that could establish a tentative direct link—through telepathy, melange-fostered prescience, or some other method, to be determined.
Leto took a deep breath, wishing he had more time to practice his words, though he had already waited far too long. He dared not request another delay. . . .
From a magnificent hedge-lined arboretum at the Imperial Palace, Shaddam spoke into a tiny microphone on his chin, which transmitted to speakers in the navigation chamber of the Heighliner over his planet. “Can you hear me, Leto Atreides? It’s a sunny morning here, and I’ve just returned from my morning walk.” He took a sip from a goblet of syrupy juice.
As the Emperor’s words reached the navigation chamber of the ship orbiting Kaitain, the Steersman in the other Heighliner over Caladan experienced them in his mind, in an echo of what his compatriot had heard. Breaking the link temporarily, the Steersman over Caladan repeated the Emperor’s words into the glittering speaker globe that floated within his spice-filled chamber. In turn, standing in the echoing dining hall of Castle Caladan, Leto heard the words over his own speaker system, distorted and slow, without the nuances of emotion. But still, they were the Emperor’s own words.
“I’ve always preferred the morning sun of Caladan, Cousin,” Leto responded, using the familiar form of address, trying to begin on friendly terms. “You should visit our humble world someday.”
By the time Leto said this, the Navigator above Caladan was again in Guildlink with his associate, and Leto’s words were heard in the other ship, then transmitted down to Kaitain.
“This new communication is marvelous,” Shaddam said, avoiding the meat of Leto’s request. He did, however, seem to be enjoying the possibilities of Guildlink, as if it were a new toy for him. “Much faster than human messengers, though it’ll likely be prohibitively expensive. Ah yes, we have here the makings of another monopoly for the Guild. Hopefully they won’t charge too much for urgent messages.”
Receiving the words in his dining hall, Leto wondered if that message was for his benefit, or the Guild eavesdroppers.
Shaddam coughed uneasily, sounds that were not repeated