After a storm briefly clears on Lankiveil, Griffin Harkonnen watches local fishermen prepare their boats and reflects on the planet’s fragile economy. Harsh winter weather has damaged roads and docks, and Griffin hopes that becoming the official Landsraad representative will eventually strengthen the planetary treasury and improve conditions for his people.

A delivery shuttle arrives from orbit after being delayed by storms. Griffin receives the cargo and diplomatic packets, deals politely with an irritated shuttle captain, pays for municipal deliveries, and oversees the unloading before taking the documents back to the Harkonnen house.

In the family study, Griffin searches the dispatches for hoped-for news: approval of his governmental examination, word from his sister Valya, or an update from his uncle Weller’s trade mission. Instead, Griffin finds only routine reports and an official letter from Celestial Transport.

The letter informs Griffin that the vessel carrying Weller Harkonnen and the entire Lankiveil whale-fur cargo vanished en route to Parmentier because of a navigational hazard. Griffin first reels from the personal loss of his beloved uncle, then realizes the financial disaster: House Harkonnen had invested heavily in the venture, and the minimal compensation will not prevent decades of economic damage.

Griffin hears his father Vergyl cheerfully occupied with dinner and cannot bring himself to share the devastating news immediately. Griffin decides to wait until the next day, while privately wondering whether House Harkonnen is cursed and imagining that Valya would blame Vorian Atreides.