from now on... ...as long as they make it worth our while. The Emperor is extremely jealous of his spice profits, Milord. It's one thing to turn a blind eye to smugglers. It's quite another to pocket some of their earnings. Well, then just tell him what we're doing. Bank the entire amount to his name, Shaddam IV. But then deduct it from our taxes as a legitimate expense. In other words, cost of doing business. What? I would just love to see the Baron's face when he hears of this. All the Harkonnen parasites who got rich taking smuggler bribes... ...will be flushed into the open. No more graft. The Emperor cannot deny this. Not in public, anyhow. Well done, lad. Now.... An emperor's daughter must do better. Worthy to be your first-born. They tell me her ambitions tend more to the literary than the political. Never underestimate the political uses of an awakened mind, Majesty. Subterfuge and cunning are often better allies than a fierce heart... ...and a strong back. All she lacks is the primacy of our gender. Then you must marry her well. Someone with a suitably pliable personality. Too bad it won't be that young Atreides. The most admirable lad, I'm told. Good union of breeding and training. We must arrange to send Duke Leto a token of our love. He must continue to think of us fondly. Why did we come here, Father? And don't just tell me it's a matter of honour or duty. There's more to it, isn't there? I've never lied to you, Son. We've been entrusted with the most profitable commodity in the universe. That alone makes us many enemies. Then why don't we call them out? Expose them... ...in front of the Emperor. What if he's one of them? This is a hard lesson, Son. In the world we live in, self-interest governs all. The Emperor needs us... ...for the moment, to administer Arrakis, to make the spice flow. But he fears us, Paul. He fears my influence among the great houses. If he decides it's in his interests... ...that House Atreides should fall, he will do nothing to stop it. He might even... ...invite opportunity to hasten it. Well then, if you're right, this place is a trap. Perhaps. But knowing there's a trap is the first step in evading it. I should've taken the House Atreides renegade... ...fled to the darkest corners of the universe. You're too honourable for that, my love. No. I'm too fed up. This endless feud stops here. The Harkonnen are a rogue clan, Leto. No matter how much prestige they try to buy... ...they'll never have the respect you've earned. Respect can't buy us peace. I'd trade it all for a place somewhere. Anywhere where we could be alone, where Paul could be safe. And all I had to think about was your happiness. Maybe then I could finally make-- Please, don't talk about things that can't be. You belong to your time, I was bred to my destiny. Even if I were able to go back and choose... ...l would change nothing. One of yours, Turok? Harkonnen mercenaries. Someone is signalling from the palace. Save your strength for the desert, Atreides. Word has already been sent to the palace. We have people among you. -Are they trustworthy? -They are Fremen. I'll take care of these. I didn't mean to intrude. Forgive me, Milady. I was enjoying the morning. For a moment, I could imagine my wife walking there. My Suk conditioning is supposed to rid me of such unstable emotions as hope. Still, it's all I have left. We have spies everywhere, Dr. Yueh. If she's still alive we'll find her. Seems almost a sacrilege... ...wasting one's water in a land starved for it. Well, I'm sorry we dragged you here to this dangerous place. I came willingly, Milady. Only half the sandcrawlers are operable... ...but we'll have most of the ornithopters working soon. That is a harvester factory. We have about 1,000. As big as she is, there are worms in the deep desert... ...that could swallow one whole. Why don't we use ------------------------------ Читайте также: - текст Кавказская пленница, или Новые приключения Шурика на английском - текст Тихий Дон на английском - текст Мой друг Иван Лапшин на английском - текст Космические яйца на английском - текст Назад в Будущее на английском |