Great Schools of Dune, #2
Mentats of Dune
by Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
Contents
Chapter 81 (Murder is murder)
Overview
Josef Venport arrives on Salusa to align with newly crowned Emperor Roderick and secure spice operations while curbing Butlerians. Roderick remains cautious. News that the Imperial Barge has returned with survivors exposes Josef’s role in Salvador’s death. Roderick accuses Josef, but Norma Cenva folds space to extract them.
Summary
En route from Kolhar, Josef Venport justifies assassinating Emperor Salvador to Navigator Norma Cenva, arguing Roderick’s ascension enables a rational Imperium free of Butlerian dominance. Norma is cautious, foreseeing turbulence, but accompanies Josef to Salusa Secundus to press their case.
At the palace, Josef gains an overdue audience. He pledges allegiance and proposes partnership to stabilize spice commerce and contain Manford Torondo’s fanatics. Roderick, wary and invoking Truthsayers and the uncertainty of Salvador’s fate, signals conditional openness but emphasizes moral foundations and broad responsibilities.
Josef urges coordinated action against Butlerians and careful handling of Arrakis, seeking to avoid disruption. Norma underscores melange’s necessity. Tension rises in the hall as Josef references Butlerian atrocities; Roderick agrees something must be done, hinting at possible collaboration.
A courier bursts in with urgent news. Simultaneously, Norma perceives that the Imperial Barge has returned from foldspace with survivors. Realizing witnesses can tie him to Salvador’s death, Josef panics. Roderick, informed, publicly accuses Josef of assassinating his brother and orders guards to seize him.
As guards close in and escape seems impossible, Norma declares the situation unforeseen and instantly folds space, extracting both her suspensor tank and Josef from the Audience Chamber, aborting the arrest and leaving the Imperium on the brink of political upheaval.
Who Appears
- Josef VenportDirecteur of VenHold; seeks alliance with Roderick, defends spice control, exposed for Salvador’s murder, escapes via Norma.
- Norma CenvaAncient Navigator; cautions of turbulence, stresses spice necessity, perceives barge’s return, folds space to rescue Josef.
- Emperor Roderick CorrinoNew Emperor; cautious toward Josef, invokes Truthsayers, learns of barge’s return, publicly accuses Josef of regicide.
- CourierBrings urgent report confirming the Imperial Barge’s return, triggering Roderick’s accusation.