Dune_ House Atreides - Brian Herbert [69]
“Arrakis is the only known source of melange in the universe.” Fenring curled his hand into a fist and brought it down with a hard thump on the milky marbleplaz tabletop. “But why? With all the Imperial explorers and prospectors, and the huge reward House Corrino has offered for generations, why has no one found spice anywhere else? After all, with a billion worlds in the Imperium, it must be somewhere else.”
“A billion?” Shaddam pursed his lips. “Hasimir, you know that’s just hyperbole for the masses. The tally I’ve seen is only a million or so.”
“A million, a billion, what’s the difference, hmmmm? My point is, if melange is a substance found in the universe, we should find it in more than one place. You know about the Planetologist your father sent to Arrakis?”
“Of course, Pardot Kynes. We expect another report from him at any moment. It’s been a few weeks since the last one.” He raised his head in pride. “I’ve made a point to read them whenever they arrive.”
From the curtained side room, they heard gasping and giggling, heavy furniture sliding aside, something overturning with a thump. Shaddam allowed himself a thin smile. The concubine was well trained, indeed.
Fenring rolled his large eyes, then turned back to the teaching machine. “Pay attention, Shaddam. Spice is vital, and yet all production is controlled by a single House on a single world. The threat of a bottleneck is enormous, even with Imperial oversight and pressure from CHOAM. For the stability of the Imperium, we need a better source of melange. We should create it synthetically if we have to. We need an alternative.” He turned to the Crown Prince, his dark eyes glittering. “One that’s in our control.”
Shaddam enjoyed discussions like this much more than the tutor’s programmed learning routines. “Ah, yes! An alternative to melange would shift the entire balance of power in the Imperium, wouldn’t it?”
“Exactly! As it is, CHOAM, the Guild, the Bene Gesserit, the Mentats, the Landsraad, even House Corrino, all fight over the spice production and distribution from a single planet. But if there was an alternative, one solely in the hands of the Imperial House, your family would become true Emperors, not just puppets under the control of other political forces.”
“We are not puppets,” Shaddam snapped. “Not even my doddering father.” He flicked a nervous glance at the ceiling, as if comeyes might be hidden there, though Fenring had already run thorough scans for observational apparatus. “Uh, long may he live.”
“As you say, my Prince,” Fenring said without conceding a millimeter. “But if we put the wheels in motion now, then you will reap those benefits when the throne is yours.” He fiddled with the teaching machine. “Watch, and learn!” he said in a creaking falsetto imitation of Elrood’s ponderous pronouncements. Shaddam chuckled at the sarcasm.
The machine displayed scenes of Ixian industrial accomplishments, all the new inventions and modifications that had been made during a profitable rule by House Vernius. “Why do you think it is the Ixians can’t use their technology to find a spice alternative?” Fenring asked. “They’ve been instructed time and again to analyze the spice and develop another option for us, yet they play with their navigation machines and their silly timepieces. Who needs to tell the exact hour on any planet of the Imperium? How are those pursuits more important than the spice itself? House Vernius is an utter failure, as far as you are concerned.”
“This tutoring machine is Ixian. The annoying new Heighliner design is Ixian. So’s your high-performance groundcar and . . .”
“Off the point,” Fenring said. “I don’t believe House Vernius invests any of its technological resources in solving the alternative-spice problem. It is not a high priority for them.”
“Then my father should give them firmer guidance.” Shaddam clasped his hands behind his back and tried