Dune Book 5 Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert

Author:Frank Herbert [Herbert, Frank]
Format: epub
Tags: Sci-Fi
Published: 2010-02-01T13:38:14+00:00

Mother will explain matters to you."

"Lucilla?"

Abruptly, Duncan looked up at the ornate ceiling, then at the alcove and its

baroque clock. He remembered coming here with Teg and Lucilla. This place was

the same but it was different. "Harkonnens," he whispered. He sent a glowering

look at Teg. "Do you know how many of my family the Harkonnens tortured and

killed?"

"One of Taraza's Archivists gave me a report."

"A report? You think words can tell it?"

"No. But that was the only answer I had to your question."

"Damn you, Bashar! Why do you Atreides always have to be so truthful and

honorable?"

"I think it's bred into us."

"That's quite right." The voice was Lucilla's and came from behind Teg.

Teg did not turn. How much had she heard? How long had she been there?

Lucilla came up to stand beside Teg but her attention was on Duncan. "I see

that you've done it, Miles."

"Taraza's orders to the letter," Teg said.

"You have been very clever, Miles," she said. "Much more clever than I

suspected you could be. That mother of yours should have been severely punished

for what she taught you."

"Ahhhh, Lucilla the seductress," Duncan said. He glanced at Teg and returned

his attention to Lucilla. "Yes, now I can answer my other question -- what

she's supposed to do."

"They're called Imprinters," Teg said.

"Miles," Lucilla said, "if you have complicated my task in ways that prevent me

from carrying out my orders, I will have you roasted on a skewer."

The emotionless quality of her voice sent a shudder through Teg. He knew her

threat was a metaphor, but the implications in the threat were real.

"A punishment banquet!" Duncan said. "How nice."

Teg addressed himself to Duncan: "There's nothing romantic about what we've

done to you, Duncan. I've assisted the Bene Gesserit in more than one

assignment that left me feeling dirty, but never dirtier than this one."

"Silence!" Lucilla ordered. The full force of Voice was in the command.

Teg let it flow through him and past him as his mother had taught, then: "Those

of us who give our true loyalty to the Sisterhood have only one concern:

survival of the Bene Gesserit. Not survival of any individual but of the

Sisterhood itself. Deceptions, dishonesties -- those are empty words when the

question is the Sisterhood's survival."

"Damn that mother of yours, Miles!" Lucilla paid him the compliment of not

hiding her rage.

Duncan stared at Lucilla. Who was she? Lucilla? He felt his memories stirring

of themselves. Lucilla was not the same person . . . not the same at all, and

yet . . . bits and pieces were the same. Her voice. Her features. Abruptly,

he saw again the face of the woman he had glimpsed on the wall of his room at

the Keep.

"Duncan, my sweet Duncan."

Tears fell from Duncan's eyes. His own mother -- another Harkonnen victim.

Tortured . . . who knew what else? Never seen again by her "sweet Duncan."

"Gods, I wish I had one of them to kill right now," Duncan moaned.

Once more, he focused on Lucilla. Tears blurred her features and made the

comparisons easier. Lucilla's face blended with that of the Lady Jessica,

beloved of Leto Atreides.

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