067
A sound from the side hall entry caught Jessica’s attention. Sheturned, saw Yueh crossing to them, his medical kit swinging in his left hand.He was fully dressed, looked pale, exhausted. The diamond tattoo stood outsharply on his forehead.
“Th’ good docker!” Idaho shouted. “Whad’re you, Doc? Splint ’n’ pillman?” He turned blearily toward Jessica. “Makin’ uh damn fool uh m’self, huh?”
Jessica frowned, remained silent, wondering: Why would Idaho getdrunk? Was he drugged?
“Too much spice beer,” Idaho said, attempting to straighten.
Mapes returned with a steaming cup in her hands, stopped uncertainlybehind Yueh. She looked at Jessica, who shook her head.
Yueh put his kit on the floor, nodded greeting to Jessica, said:“Spice beer, eh?”
“Bes’ damn stuff ever tas’ed,” Idaho said. He tried to pull himselfto attention. “My sword was firs’ blooded on Grumman! Killed aHarkon…Harkon…killed ’im f’r th’ Duke.”
Yueh turned, looked at the cup in Mapes’ hand. “What is that?”
“Caffeine,” Jessica said.
Yueh took the cup, held it toward Idaho. “Drink this, lad.”
“Don’t wan’ any more t’ drink.”
“Drink it, I say!”
Idaho’s head wobbled toward Yueh, and he stumbled one step ahead,dragging the guards with him. “I’m almighdy fed up with pleasin’ th’ ’MperialUniverse, Doc. Jus’ once, we’re gonna do th’ thing my way.”
“After you drink this,” Yueh said. “It’s just caffeine.”
“’Sprolly like all res’ uh this place! Damn’ sun ’stoo brighd. Nothin’has uh righd color. Ever’thing’s wrong or….”
“Well, it’s nighttime now,” Yueh said. He spoke reasonably. “Drinkthis like a good lad. It’ll make you feel better.”
“Don’ wanna feel bedder!”
“We can’t argue with him all night,” Jessica said. And she thought:This calls for shock treatment.
“There’s no reason for you to stay, my Lady,” Yueh said. “I can takecare of this.”
Jessica shook her head. She stepped forward, slapped Idaho sharplyacross the cheek.
He stumbled back with his guards, glaring at her.
“This is no way to act in your Duke’s home,” she said. She snatchedthe cup from Yueh’s hands, spilling part of it, thrust the cup toward Idaho.“Now drink this! That’s an order!”
Idaho jerked himself upright, scowling down at her. He spoke slowly,with careful and precise enunciation: “I do not take orders from a damn’Harkonnen spy.”
Yueh stiffened, whirled to face Jessica.
Her face had gone pale, but she was nodding. It all became clear toher—the broken stems of meaning she had seen in words and actions around herthese past few days could now be translated. She found herself in the grip ofanger almost too great to contain. It took the most profound of her BeneGesserit training to quiet her pulse and smooth her breathing. Even then shecould feel the blaze flickering.
They were always calling on Idaho for surveillance of the ladies!
She shot a glance at Yueh. The doctor lowered his eyes.
“You knew this?” she demanded.
“I…heard rumors, my Lady. But I didn’t want to add to your burdens.”
“Hawat!” she snapped. “I want Thufir Hawat brought to meimmediately!”
“But, my Lady….”
“Immediately!”
It has to be Hawat, she thought. Suspicion such as this could comefrom no other source without being discarded immediately.
Idaho shook his head, mumbled. “Chuck th’ whole damn thing.”
Jessica looked down at the cup in her hand, abruptly dashed itscontents across Idaho’s face. “Lock him in one of the guest rooms of the eastwing,” she ordered. “Let him sleep it off.”
The two guards stared at her unhappily. One ventured: “Perhaps weshould take him someplace else, m’Lady. We could….”
“He’s supposed to be here!” Jessica snapped. “He has a job to dohere.” Her voice dripped bitterness. “He’s so good at watching the ladies.”
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