loyalty-and-distrust

In this chapter, Duke Leto Atreides discusses with his Mentat, Thufir Hawat, the precarious political and military situation on Arrakis, including suspicions of betrayal within their ranks and the threat posed by the Harkonnens. The Duke wrestles with the possibility that his beloved Lady Jessica might be involved in a plot against him, though he struggles to accept it. The chapter closes with Duke Leto reflecting on the harsh yet strangely beautiful environment of Arrakis and the hope that it might become a home for his son Paul.

Mark Vorkosigan visits the Imperial Security Headquarters to investigate the disappearance of his clone brother, Miles. He is overwhelmed by the sheer volume of raw intelligence reports but narrows his focus to Jackson's Whole, concluding that Miles is likely still frozen or held secretly there. A tense but pragmatic dialogue with Illyan reveals the limits and frustrations of official investigations, including the possibility of a covert murder of the Count and the challenges of pursuing elusive evidence.