|
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
."Give him back his clothes and bring him out," she said."Get Streggi in here."Teg's first words on emerging alarmed Odrade and made her wonder if she had madea mistake."What if I will not do battle the way you want?""But you said." "I've said many things in my.lives.Battle doesn't reinforce moral sense,Dar."She (and Taraza) had heard the Bashar on that subject more than once."Warfareleaves a residue of 'eat drink and be merry' that often leads inexorably tomoral breakdown."Correct but she did not know what he had in mind with his reminder."For everyveteran who returns with a new sense of destiny ('I survived; that must be God'spurpose') more come home with barely submerged bitterness, ready to take 'theeasy way' because they saw so much of it in the stresses of war."They were Teg's words but her belief.Streggi hurried into the room but before she could speak, Odrade motioned her tostand aside and wait silently.For once, the acolyte had the courage to disobey Mother Superior."Duncan should know he has another daughter.Mother and child live and arehealthy." She looked at Teg."Hello, Miles." Only then did Streggi removeherself to the rear wall and stand quietly.She is better than I hoped, Odrade thought.Idaho relaxed into his chair, feeling now the tensions of worry that hadinterfered with his appreciation of what he had observed here.Teg nodded to Streggi but spoke to Odrade: "Any more words to whisper in God'sear?" It was essential to control their attention and count on Odraderecognizing it."If not, I'm really famished."Odrade raised a finger to signal Streggi and heard the acolyte leave.She sensed where Teg was directing her attention and, sure enough, he said:"Perhaps you've really created a scar this time."A barb directed at the Sisterhood's boast that "We don't let scars accumulate onour pasts.Scars often conceal more than they reveal.""Some scars reveal more than they conceal," he said.He looked at Idaho."Right, Duncan?" One Mentat to another."I believe I've come in on an old argument," Idaho said.Teg looked at Odrade."See, daughter? A Mentat knows old argument when hehears it.You pride yourselves on knowing what's required of you at every turn,but the monster at this turning is of your own making!""Mother Superior!" That was a Proctor who did not want her addressed thus.Odrade ignored her.She felt chagrin, harsh and compelling.Taraza Withinremembered the dispute: "We are shaped by Bene Gesserit associations.Inpeculiar ways, they blunt us.Oh, we cut swift and deep when we must, butthat's another kind of blunting." "I'll not take part in blunting you," Teg said.So he remembered.Streggi returned with a bowl of stew, brown broth with meat floating in it.Tegsat on the floor and spooned it into his mouth with urgent motions.Odrade remained silent, her thoughts moving where Teg had sent them.There wasa hard shell Reverend Mothers put around themselves against which all thingsfrom outside (including emotions) played like projections.Murbella was rightand the Sisterhood had to relearn emotions.If they were only observers, theywere doomed.She addressed Teg."You won't be asked to blunt us."Both Teg and Idaho heard something else in her voice.Teg put aside his emptybowl but Idaho was first to speak."Cultivated," he said.Teg agreed.Sisters were seldom impulsive.You got ordered reactions from themeven in times of peril.They went beyond what most people thought of ascultivated.They were driven not so much by dreams of power as by their ownlong view, a thing compounded of immediacy and almost unlimited memory.SoOdrade was following a carefully thought out plan.Teg glanced at the watchfulProctors."You were prepared to kill me," he said.No one answered.There was no need.They all recognized Mentat Projection.Teg turned and looked back into the room where he had regained his memories.Sheeana was gone.More memories whispered at the edge of awareness.They wouldspeak in their own time.This diminutive body.That was difficult.AndStreggi.He focused on Odrade."You were more clever than you thought.But my mother.""I don't think she anticipated this," Odrade said."No.she was not that much Atreides."An electrifying word in these circumstances, it charged a special silence in theroom.The Proctors moved closer.That mother of his!Teg ignored the hovering Proctors."In answer to the questions you have notasked, I cannot explain what happened to me on Gammu.My physical and mentalspeed defies explanation.Given the size and energy, in one of your heartbeatsI could be clear of this room and well on my way out of the ship.Ohhh."hand upraised."I'm still your obedient dog.I'll do what you require, butperhaps not in the way you imagine."Odrade saw consternation in the faces of her Sisters.What have I loosed uponus?"We can prevent any living thing from leaving this ship," she said."You may befast but I doubt you are faster than the fire that would engulf you should youtry to leave without our permission [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |
Archiwum
|