Frank Herbert

“ Orne touched the subvocal stud at his neck, moved his speaking muscles without opening his mouth. A surf-hissing voice filled the matching transceiver in Stetson's neck:
"You pay attention while I'm making a play for this Diana Bullone, you hear? Then you'll know how an expert works."
"Don't get so interested in your work that you forget why you're out there," growled Stetson. ”

“ Diana quivered with fury.
p. 110
"My major point is this," said Orne. "Government is a dubious glory. You pay for your power and wealth by balancing on the sharp edge of the blade. That great amorphous thing out there—the people—has turned and swallowed many governments. The only way you can stay in power is by giving good government. Otherwise—sooner on later—your turn comes. I can remember my mother making that point. It's one of the things that stuck with me." He frowned. "My objection to politics is the compromises you have to make to get elected!"
Stetson moved out from the wall. ”

“ It's hard to ferret out a gang of fanatics; it would, obviously, be even harder to spot a genetic line of dedicated men. But the problem Orne had was one step tougher than that!
hen the Investigation & Adjustment scout cruiser landed on Marak it carried a man the doctors had no hope of saving. He was alive only because he was in a womblike creche pod that had taken over most of his vital functions.
The man's name was Lewis Orne. He had been a blocky, heavy-muscled redhead with slightly off-center features and the hard flesh of a heavy planet native. ”

“ If I have to jail every last one of—"
"An hour after this conspiracy became known, you wouldn't be in a position to jail anyone," said Orne. "The husband of a Nathian! You'd be in jail yourself or more likely dead at the hands of a mob!"
Spencer paled.
"What's your suggestion for compromise?" asked Polly.
"Number one: the I-A gets veto power on any candidate you put up," said Orne. "Number two: you can never hold more than two thirds of the top offices."
"Who in the I-A vetoes our candidates?" asked Polly.
"Admiral Spencer, Stet, myself ... anyone else we deem trustworthy," said Orne. ”

“ What if the Heleb women were just a bunch who got out of hand because they'd lost contact with the main element?"
"Holy Moley!" blurted Stetson. "Do you have evidence—"
"Nothing but a hunch," said Orne. "Do you have a list of the guests who'll be here for the election party tomorrow?"
"We can get it. Why?"
"Check for women who mastermind their husbands in politics. Let me know how many and who." ”

“ And on every one of them we have reason to believe there's a clan of traitors sworn to overthrow the League. Even on your home planet—Chargon."
"You want me to go home for my convalescence?" asked Orne. ”

“ For a moment, Orne saw that Stetson's suspicions could have basis in fact. Bullone might go to any lengths to maintain this luxury.
Orne's entrance had interrupted an argument between Polly and her p. 103 husband. They welcomed him, went right on without inhibition. Rather than embarrassing him, this made him feel more at home, more accepted.
"But I'm not running for office this time," said Bullone patiently. "Why do we have to clutter up the evening with that many people just to—"
"Our election night parties are traditional," said Polly. ”

“ He nodded, turned away, thinking: What a handsome woman! As he started down the hall, he heard Bullone say to Diana: "Di, perhaps you'd better not take that boy out tomorrow. After all, he is supposed to be here for a rest." Her answer was lost as Orne entered the hall, closed the door.
In the privacy of his room, Orne pressed the transceiver stud at his neck, said: "Stet?"
A voice hissed in his ears: "This is p. 105 Mr. Stetson's relief. Orne, isn't it?"
"Yes. I want a check right away on those Nathian records the archaeologists found. Find out if Heleb was one of the planets they seeded." ”

“ We accept." She glanced at Spencer, who shrugged, nodded glumly. Polly looked back at Orne. "Just answer me one question: How'd you know I was boss lady?"
"Easy," said Orne. "The records we found said the ... Nathian (he'd almost said 'traitor') family on Marak was coded as 'The Head.' Your name, Polly, contains the ancient word 'Poll' which means head."
Polly looked at Stetson. "Is he always that sharp?"
"Every time," said Stetson.
"If you want to go into politics, Lewis," said Polly, "I'd be delighted to—"
"I'm already in politics as far as I want to be," growled Orne. ”

“ The public rooms and men's quarters were in the outside ring. Secluded family apartments and women's quarters occupied the inner section.
Orne made his way to the salon. It was long, built around two sections of the tetragon, and with low divans beneath the view windows. The floor was thick pile rugs pushed one against another in a crazy patchwork of reds and browns. At the far end of the room, someone in blue fatigues like his own was bent over a stand of some sort. ”

“ Polly looked up, studied Orne's face. Diana looked confused.
"Once a Nathian, always a Nathian, eh?" snarled Spencer.
"There's no such thing," said Orne. "Five hundred years' cross-breeding with other races saw to that. There's merely a secret society of astute political scientists." He smiled wryly at Polly, glanced back at Spencer. "Think of your own wife, sir. ”

“ There was a protracted silence; then Spencer said: "It doesn't seem right just to—"
"No political compromise is ever totally right," said Polly. "You keep patching up things that always have flaws in them. That's how government is." She chuckled, looked up at Orne. "All right, Lewis. ”

“ The next morning there was a reply from Chargon: "Lewis Orne's mother too ill to travel. Sisters being notified. Please ask Mrs. Ipscott Bullone of Marak, wife of the High Commissioner, to take over for family." It was signed: "Madrena Orne Standish, sister."
With some misgivings, Stetson called the residence of Ipscott Bullone, leader of the majority party in p. 95 the Marak Assembly. Mrs. Bullone took the call with blank screen. There was a sound of running water in the background. Stetson stared at the grayness swimming in his desk visor. He always disliked a blank screen. ”

“ We mustn't tire him." She crossed to the polawindow, adjusted it to neutral gray, turned the selectacol, and the room's color dominance shifted to green. "There, that's more restful," she said. "Now, if there's anything you need you just ring the bell there by your bed. The autobutle will know where to find us." ”