Dune Book 6 Chapterhouse: Dune by Frank Herbert

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

"The old witch will be brought from Buzzell," Logno said. "And her attendants."

"Don't forget about the Futars."

"I have given the orders, Dama."

Oily voice! You'd like to feed me to the herd, wouldn't you, Logno?

"And tighten up security on the cages, Logno. Three more of them escaped last

night. They were wandering around in the garden when I awoke."

"I was told, Dama. More cage guards have been assigned."

"And don't tell me they're harmless without a Handler."

"I do not believe that, Dama."

And that's truth from her, for once. Futars terrify her. Good.

"I believe we have our power base, Logno." Dama turned, noting that Logno had

encroached at least two millimeters into the danger zone. Logno saw it, too,

and retreated. As close as you want in front where I can see you, Logno, but

not behind my back.

Logno saw the orange blaze in Dama's eyes and almost knelt. Definite bending of

the knees. "It is my eagerness to serve you, Dama!"

Your eagerness to replace me, Logno.

"What of that woman from Gammu? Odd name. What was it?"

"Rebecca, Dama. She and some of her companions have . . . ahhh, temporarily

eluded us. We will find them. They cannot get off the planet."

"You think I should have kept her here, don't you?"

"It was wise to think of her as bait, Dama!"

"She's still bait. That witch we found on Gammu did not go to those people by

accident."

"Yes, Dama."

Yes, Dama! But the subservient sound in Logno's voice was enjoyable. "Well,

get on with it!"

Logno scurried away.

There were always those little cells of potential violence meeting secretly

somewhere. Building up their mutual charges of hate, swarming out to disrupt

the orderly lives around them. Someone always had to clean up after those

disruptions. Dama sighed. Terror tactics were so . . . so temporary!

Success, that was the danger. It had cost them an empire. If you waved your

success around like a banner someone always wanted to cut you down. Envy!

We will hold our success more cautiously this time.

She fell into a semi-reverie, still alert to the sounds behind her, but

relishing the evidence of new victories that had been displayed to her this

morning. She liked to roll the names of captive planets silently on her tongue.

Wallach, Kronin, Reenol, Ecaz, Bela Tegeuse, Gammu, Gamont, Niushe . . .

Humans are born with a susceptibility to that most persistent and debilitating

disease of intellect: self-deception. The best of all possible worlds and the

worst get their dramatic coloration from it. As nearly as we can determine,

there is no natural immunity. Constant alertness is required.

-The Coda

With Odrade away from Central (and probably only for a short time) Bellonda knew

swift action was required. That damned Mentat-ghola is too dangerous to live!

Mother Superior's party was barely out of sight into the lowering afternoon

before Bellonda was on her way to the no-ship.

Not for Bellonda a thoughtful approach through ring orchards. She ordered space

on a tube, windowless, automatic, and fast. Odrade, too, had observers who

might send unwanted messages.

En route, Bellonda reviewed her assessment of Idaho's many lives, a record she

had kept in Archives ready for quick retrieval. In the original and early

gholas, his character had been dominated by impulsiveness.

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