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."I'mhesitant to say this, my Duke, but I fear it was murder.Evidence is mountingof a devious plan, indeed.""What?" Rhombur said, pounding his fist on the table.His face flushed."Whodid this to the Duke? How?" He felt affection not only for Leto, but for theAtreides patriarch who had granted sanctuary to him and his sister.A visceral,sinking feeling told Rhombur the motivation might have been to punish Paulus forshowing kindness to the Ixian exiles."I am the Duke, Rhombur," Leto said, resting a hand on his friend's forearm."Iwill have to handle this."Leto could almost hear the wheels humming inside the Mentat's complex mind.Hawat said, "Chemical analysis of muscle tissue in the Salusan bull revealedfaint traces of two drugs.""I thought the beasts were checked before every fight." Leto narrowed his eyes,but for a moment he could not drive away the memory flashes of his younger days,when he had gone to look at the massive bulls in the stables and puffy-eyedStablemaster Yresk had let him feed the beasts -- to the horror of thestableboys."Was our veterinarian in on a plot?""The usual tests were performed as required, before the paseo." A frown on hisred-stained lips, Thufir tapped his fingers on the table as he marshaled histhoughts and assessed his answer."Unfortunately, the prescribed analysestested for the wrong things.The bull had been enraged by a harsh stimulantthat gradually built up in its body over days, delivered in time-releasedamounts.""That wouldn't have been enough," Leto said, flaring his nostrils."My fatherwas a good fighter.The best."The Mentat shook his shaggy head."The bull was also given a neutralizingagent, a chemical that counteracted the neurotoxin in the Duke's banderillas andsimultaneously triggered a release of the stimulant.When the bull should havebeen paralyzed, the stimulant was increased instead.The beast became an evenmore dangerous killing machine, just as the Old Duke was growing tired."Leto glowered.With an angry lurch he rose from the breakfast table and glancedup at the omnipresent poison-snooper.He paced, letting his rice pudding growcold.Then he turned and spoke sharply, summoning all the techniques ofleadership he had been taught."Mentat, give me a prime projection.Who woulddo this?"Thufir sat motionless as he entered deep Mentat mode.Data streamed through thecomputer inside his skull, a human brain that simulated the capabilities of theancient, hated enemies of mankind."Most likely possibility: a personal attack from a major political enemy ofHouse Atreides.Because of the timing, I suspect it may be a punishment of theOld Duke for his support of House Vernius.""My suspicion exactly," Rhombur muttered.The son of Dominic Vernius seemedvery much an adult now, hardened and tempered, no longer just a good-natured study companion who had lived a pampered life.Since coming to Caladan he hadtrimmed down, tightened his muscles.His eyes had taken on a flinty gleam."But no House has declared kanly on us," Leto said."In the ancient rite ofvendetta there are requirements, forms to be followed, are there not, Thufir?""But we can't trust all of the Old Duke's enemies to adhere to such niceties,"Hawat said."We must be very cautious."Rhombur reddened, thinking of his own family's ouster from Ix."And there arethose who twist the forms to match their needs.""Secondary possibility," the Mentat continued."The target could have been DukePaulus himself, and not House Atreides -- the result of a small vendetta orpersonal grudge.The culprit could perhaps be a local petitioner who didn'tlike a decision the Duke had made.Though this murder has galacticconsequences, its cause could, ironically, be a trivial thing."Leto shook his head."I can't believe that.I saw how much the people loved myfather.None of his subjects would turn on him, not a single one."Hawat did not flinch."My Duke, do not overestimate the strength of love andloyalty, and do not underestimate the power of personal hatred.""Uh, what's a better possibility?" Rhombur inquired.Hawat looked his Duke in the eye."An attack to weaken House Atreides.Thedeath of the patriarch leaves you, m 'Lord, in a vulnerable position.You areyoung and untrained."Leto drew in a deep breath, but restrained his temper as he listened."Your enemies will now see House Atreides as unstable, and could make a moveagainst us.Your allies may also see you as a liability and support you withsomewhat.limited enthusiasm.This is a very dangerous time for you.""The Harkonnens?" Leto asked.Hawat shrugged."Possibly.Or some ally of theirs."Leto pressed his hands against his temples and drew another deep breath.He sawRhombur looking uneasily at him."Continue your investigation, Thufir," Leto said."Since we know that drugswere introduced to the Salusan bull, I suggest you target your interrogationsaround the stables."THE STABLEBOY DUNCAN Idaho stood in front of his new Duke, bowing proudly, readyto swear his fealty again.The household staff had cleaned him up, though hestill wore stable clothes.The ruined garments he'd been given for the ill-fated final bullfight had been discarded.His curly black hair was disheveled.A rage burned inside him.He was certain that Duke Paulus's death could havebeen avoided if someone had only listened to him.The grief struck him sharply,and he agonized over whether he might have done more: Should he have insisted harder or spoken to someone other than Stablemaster Yresk? He wondered if heshould reveal what he had tried to do, but for the moment held his tongue.Looking too small in the ducal chair, Leto Atreides narrowed his gray eyes andskewered Duncan with a gaze."Boy, I remember when you joined our household."His face looked thinner, and much older than it had been when Duncan had firststood inside the Castle hall."It was just after I escaped from Ix with Rhomburand Kailea."Both of the Vernius refugees also sat in the main hall, as did Thufir Hawat anda contingent of guards.Duncan glanced over at them, then returned hisattention to the young Duke."I heard stories of your escape from the Harkonnens, Duncan Idaho," Letocontinued, "of how you were tortured and imprisoned.My father trusted you whenhe gave you a position here at Castle Caladan.You know how unusual it was forhim to do that?" He leaned forward on the dark, wooden chair.Duncan nodded."Yes, m'Lord." He felt a hot flush of guilt on his face athaving failed the benefactor who had been so kind to him."Yes, I know.""But someone drugged the Salusan bulls before my father's last fight -- and youwere one of those tending the beasts.You had ample opportunity.Why didn't Isee you at the paseo when all the others marched around the arena? I rememberlooking for you." His voice became much sharper."Duncan Idaho, were you senthere, all innocent looking and indignant, as a secret assassin in the employ ofthe Harkonnens?"Duncan stepped back, appalled."Indeed not, m'Lord Duke!" he cried."I triedto warn everyone.For days I knew something was wrong with the bulls.I toldStablemaster Yresk again and again, but he wouldn't do anything.He justlaughed at me.I even argued with him.That's why I wasn't at the paseo.Iwas going to go warn the Old Duke myself, but instead the stablemaster locked mein one of the dirty stalls during the fight." Tears welled up in his eyes."All the fine clothes your father gave me were ruined
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