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 himself to attention. "My sword was firs' blooded on Grumman! Killed a Harkon . . . 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 f 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' 'Mperial Universe, 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. "Drink this 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 take care of this."
Jessica shook her head. She stepped forward, slapped Idaho sharply across 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 snatched the 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 to her--the broken stems of meaning she had seen in words and actions around her these past few days could now be translated. She found herself in the grip of anger almost too great to contain. It took the most profound of her Bene Gesserit training to quiet her pulse and smooth her breathing. Even then she could 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 me immediately!"
"But, my Lady . . . "
"Immediately!"
It has to be Hawat, she thought. Suspicion such as this could come from 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 its contents across Idaho's face. "Lock him in one of the guest rooms of the east wing," she ordered. "Let him sleep it off."
The two guards stared at her unhappily. One ventured: "Perhaps we should take him someplace else, m'Lady. We could . . . "
"He's supposed to be here!" Jessica snapped. "He has a job to do here." Her voice dripped bitterness. "He's so good at watching the ladies."
The guard swallowed.
"Do you know where the Duke is?" she demanded.
"He's at the command post, my Lady."
"Is Hawat with him?"
"Hawat's in the city, my Lady."
"You will bring Hawat to me at once," Jessica said. "I will be in my sitting room when he arrives."
