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"There are twenty-eight different words for melange in common Galach. They
describe it by its intended use, by its dilution, by its age, by whether it came
through honest purchase, through theft or conquest, whether it was the dower
gift for a male or for a female, and in many other ways is it named. What do you
make of this, Moneo?"
"We are offered many choices, Lord."
"Only where the spice is concerned?"
Moneo's brow wrinkled in thought, then: "No."
"You so seldom say 'no' in my presence," Leto said. "I enjoy watching your lips
form around the word."
Moneo's mouth twitched in an attempted smile.
Leto spoke briskly: "Well! You must go now to the Lady Hwi. I will give you one
parting piece of advice which may help."
Moneo paid studious attention to Leto's face.
"Drug knowledge originated mostly with males because they tend to be more
venturesome-an outgrowth of male aggression. You've read your Orange Catholic
Bible, thus you know the story of Eve and the apple. Here's an interesting fact
about that story: Eve was not the first to pluck and sample the apple. Adam was
first and he learned by this to put the blame on Eve. My story tells you
something about how our societies find a structural necessity for sub-groups."
Moneo tipped his head slightly to the left. "Lord, how does this help me?"
"It will help you with the Lady Hwi!"
===
The singular multiplicity of this universe draws my deepest attention. It is a
thing of ultimate beauty.
-The Stolen Journals
LETO HEARD Moneo in the antechamber just before Hwi entered the small audience
room. She wore voluminous pale green pantaloons tightly tied at the ankles with
darker green bows to match her sandals. A loose blouse of the same dark green
could be seen under her black cloak.
She appeared calm as she approached Leto and sat without being invited, choosing
a golden cushion rather than the red one she had occupied earlier. It had taken
less than an hour for Moneo to bring her. Leto's acute hearing detected Moneo
fidgeting in the anteroom and Leto sent a signal which sealed the arched doorway
there.
"Something has disturbed Moneo," Hwi said. "He tried very hard not to reveal
this to me, but the more he tried to soothe me the more he aroused my
curiosity."
"He did not frighten you?"
"Oh, no. He did say something very interesting, though. He said that I must
remember it at all times, that the God Leto is a different person to each of
us."
"How is this interesting?" Leto asked.
"The interesting thing is the question for which this was the preface. He said
he often wonders what part we play in creating that difference in you?"
"That is interesting."
"I think it is a truthful insight," Hwi said. "Why have you summoned me?"
"At one time, your masters on Ix..
."
"They are no longer my masters, Lord."
"Forgive me. I will refer to them hereafter as the lxians."
She nodded gravely, prompting: "At one time. . ."
"The lxians contemplated making a weapon-a type of hunter-seeker, self-propelled
death with a machine mind. It was to be designed as a self improving thing which
would seek out life and reduce that life to its inorganic matter."
"I have not heard of this thing, Lord."
"I know that. The lxians do not recognize that machine makers always run the
risk of becoming totally machine. This is ultimate sterility. Machines always
fail . . . given time. And when these machines failed there would be nothing
left, no life at all."
"Sometimes I think they are mad," she said.
"Anteac's opinion. That is the immediate problem. The lxians are now engaged in
an endeavor which they are concealing."
"Even from you?"
"Even from me. I am sending the Reverend Mother Anteac to investigate for me. To
help her, I want you to tell her everything you can about the place where you
spent your childhood. Omit no detail, no matter how small. Anteac will help you
remember. We want every sound, every smell, the shapes and names of visitors,
the colors and even the tinglings of your skin. The slightest thing may be
vital."
"You think it is the place of concealment?"
"I know it is."
"And you think they are making this weapon in. . ."
"No, but this will be our excuse for investigating the place where you were
born."
She opened her mouth and gradually formed a smile, then: "My Lord is devious. I
will speak to the Reverend Mother immediately." Hwi started to rise, but he
stopped her with a gesture.
"We must not give the appearance of haste," he said.
She sank back onto the cushion.
"Each of us is different in the way of Moneo's observation," he said. "Genesis
does not stop. Your god continues creating you."
"What will Anteac find? You know, don't you?"
"Let us say that I have a strong conviction. Now, you have not once mentioned
the subject which I broached earlier. Have you no questions?"
"You will provide the answers as I require them." It was
a statement full of such trust that it stopped Leto's voice. He could only look
at her, realizing how extraordinary was this accomplishment of the Ixians-this
human. Hwi remained precisely true to the dictates of her personally chosen
morality. She was comely, warm and honest and possessed of an emphatic sense
which forced her to share every anguish in those with whom she identified. He
could- imagine the dismay of her Bene Gesserit teachers when confronted by this
immovable core of self-honesty. The teachers obviously had been reduced to
adding a touch here, an ability there, everything strengthening that power which
prevented her from becoming a Bene Gesserit. How that must have rankled!
"Lord," she said, "I would know the motives which forced you to choose your
life."
"First, you must understand what it is like to see our future."
"With your help, I will try."
"Nothing is ever separated from its source," he said. "Seeing futures is a [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]