Idaho's appearance required a careful study by Nunepi, a study which did not please the Ambassador.
"I find Shape Changers particularly obnoxious," Leto said.
"I am not a Shape Changer, Lord," Nunepi said. His voice was low and cultured, with only a trace of hesitancy in it.
"But you represent them and that makes you an item of annoyance," Leto said.
Nunepi had expected an open statement of hostility, but this was not the language of diplomacy, and it shocked him into a bold reference to what he believed to be Tleilaxu strength.
"Lord, by preserving the flesh of the original Duncan Idaho and providing you with restored gholas in his image and identity, we have always assumed..."
"Duncan!" Leto glanced at Idaho. "If I command it, Duncan, will you lead an expedition to exterminate the Tleilaxu?"
"With pleasure, m'Lord."
"Even if it means the loss of your original cells and all of the axlotl tanks?"
"I do not find the tanks a pleasant memory, m'lord, and those cells are not me."
"Lord, how have we offended you?" Nunepi asked.
Leto scowled. Did this inept fool really expect the God Emperor to speak openly of the recent Face Dancer attack?
"It has come to my attention," Leto said, "that you and your people have been spreading lies about what you call my `disgusting sexual habits."'
Nunepi gaped. The accusation was a bold lie, completely unexpected. But Nunepi realized that if he denied it, no one would believe him. The God Emperor had said it. This was an attack of unknown dimensions. Nunepi started to speak while looking at Idaho.
"Lord, if we..."
"Look at me!" Leto commanded.
Nunepi jerked his gaze up to Leto's face.
"I will inform you only this once," Leto said. "I have no sexual habits whatsoever. None."
Perspiration rolled off Nunepi's face. He stared at Leto with the fixed intensity of a trapped animal. When Nunepi found his voice, it no longer was the low, controlled instrument of a diplomat, but a trembling and fearful thing,
"Lord, I... there must be a mistake of..."
"Be still, you Tleilaxu sneak!" Leto roared. Then: "I am a metamorphic vector of the holy sandworm-Shai-Hulud! I am your God!"
"Forgive us, Lord," Nunepi whispered.
"Forgive you?" Leto's voice was full of sweet reason. "Of course I forgive you. That is your God's function. Your crime is forgiven. However, your stupidity requires a response."
"Lord, if I could but..."
"Be still! The spice allotment passes over the Tleilaxu for this decade. You get nothing. As for you personally, my Fish Speakers will now take you into the plaza."
Two burly guardswomen moved in and held Nunepi's arms. They looked up to Leto for instructions.
"In the plaza," Leto said, "his clothing is to be stripped from him. He is to be publicly flogged-fifty lashes."
Nunepi struggled against the grip of his guards, consternation on his face mingled with rage.
"Lord, I remind you that I am the Ambassador of..."
"You are a common criminal and will be treated as such." Leto nodded to the guards, who began dragging Nunepi away.
"I wish they'd killed you!" Nunepi raged. "I wish..."
"Who?" Leto called. "You wish who had killed me? Don't you know I cannot be killed?"
The guards dragged Nunepi out of the chamber as he still raged: "I am innocent! I am innocent!" The protest faded away.
Idaho leaned close to Leto.
"Yes, Duncan?" Leto asked.
"M'Lord, all the envoys will feel fear at this."
"Yes. I teach a lesson in responsibility."
"M'Lord?"
"Membership in a conspiracy, as in an army, frees people from the sense of personal responsibility."
"But this will cause trouble, m'Lord. I'd best post extra guards."
"Not one additional guard!"
"But you invite..."
"I invite a bit of military nonsense."
"That's what I..."
"Duncan, I am a teacher. Remember that. By repetition, I impress the lesson."
"What lesson?"
"The ultimately suicidal nature of military foolishness."
"M'Lord. I don't..."
"Duncan, consider the inept Nunepi. He is the essence of this lesson."
"Forgive my denseness, m'Lord, but I do not understand this thing about military..."
"They believe that by risking death they pay the price of any violent behavior against enemies of their own choosing. They have the invader mentality. Nunepi does not believe himself responsible for anything done against aliens."
Idaho looked at the portal where the guards had taken Nunepi. "He tried and he lost, m'Lord."
"But he cut himself loose from the restraints of the past and he objects to paying the price."
"To his people, he's a patriot."
"And how does he see himself, Duncan'? As an instrument of history."
Idaho lowered his voice and leaned closer to Leto.
"How are you different, m'Lord?"
Leto chuckled. "Ahhh, Duncan, how I love your perceptiveness. You have observed that I am the ultimate alien. Do you not wonder if I also can be a loser'?"
"The thought has crossed my mind."
"Even losers can shroud themselves in the proud mantle of `the past,' old friend."
"Are you and Nunepi alike in that'?"
"Militant missionary religions can share this illusion of the `proud past,' but few understand the ultimate peril to humankind-that false sense of freedom from responsibility for your own actions."