When a prolonged 1 interrogation of Leto failed, the Baron decided to try the threat of torture. It was then that Leto bit on the capsule tooth and opened his mouth to expel the poison gas. Although the Baron escaped, Piter succumbed. Perhaps the best thing that one can say for Piter de Vries is that he shared his moment of death with the great Duke Leto Atreides. D.K. Further references; MENTAT entries; MENTATS, TWISTED; Marya von Wikkheiser, The History tfHoui* tMaattm. tr. Arazrii Pezh, SAH 76 (Paseo: Institute of Gatacto-Fremen Culture); lakin Zefud, Duty Officer's Log for 7/1J10I91, RRC 35-MH3; Lady Jessica, Ttu Years on Arrakis. tr. Zhaivz Aultan [Caladan: Apex). DEW PRECIPITATORS (or Dew Coflectore). Along with windtraps, the most important tools for collecting atmospheric moisture on Arrakis. They were introduced to Arrakis by Pardot Kynes, Imperial Planetologist. for use in planting experiments in the open desert. Invention of the precipitator is credited to Pajit Narayam (7520-7613); it was first used on Zecrati in 7587. It has been used on many dry, low-precipitation planets like New Bhutan, Deviil, and Salusa Seomdus to support local agriculture. Dimensions of the units varied from planet to planet depending on solar distance and atmospheric composition and density. The typical precipitator of Arrakis was half of a circular ellipsoid (inner radius 1,59 cm, outer radius 1.75 cm, long axis 4 cm, short axis 3.17 cm). Hie bowl or "saucer" sat in the ground around the stem of the plant with its concave surface facing upward. The precipitator had a dual function. During the day it reflected sunlight from its unfocused surface and thus helped keep its plant cool. When the sun went down, the conductivity of the material cooled the precipitator more quickly than die air. Atmospheric moisture condensed on die surfaces, dribbled to the small opening at the center for the stalk of the plant, and dripped directly onto the root. DICTATEL A thought-transcribing device first constructed in 10938 by Pon Fenrhy and Glais Omer, Ixian scientists of differing specializations. Fenrhy had done the landmark research on brain waves and their physical manifestations which led to the invention of the interpersonal transmitter in 10925; Omer was the inventor and developer of the lasprinter, a machine he first demonstrated in 10921 which transcribed data onto light-sensitized sheets of plastivellum using a beam of coherent light. Their combined talents and two years of intensive research resulted in the dictatel, By 10938, the God Emperor's journal-keeping had been a matter of widespread knowledge for several centuries, no doubt prompting the Ixians to invest so much of their time and energies in developing a workable dictatel. A machine which could .transcribe an author's thoughts without the intermediary of writing or speech, onto material capable of enduring for several thousand years, could have appealed to no one so much as Leto.