WS 2 The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert

Author:Frank Herbert [Herbert, Frank]
Format: epub
Publisher: Frank Herbert
Published: 2010-03-25T10:04:22.762000+00:00

He waited for her to say it.

“Because we Wreaves are the best in the universe at learning the behavior of others -- both overt and covert.”

“And you dare not rely on any supposed inhibitions he may or may not have!”

After a long pause, she said:

“You are a better teacher than I'd suspected. Perhaps you're even better than you suspected.”

“Their law! It is a dangerous foundation for nonauthentic traditions. It is no more than a device to justify false ethics!”

-Gowachin comment on ConSentient Law

While they dressed in the dim dawn light coming through the single window, McKie began testing what Jedrik meant by being his teacher.

“Will you answer any question I ask about Dosadi?” “No.”

Then what areas would she withhold from him? He saw it at once: those areas where she gained and held personal power.

“Will anyone resent it that we . . . had sex together?” “Resent? Why should anyone resent that?”

“I don't . . .”

“Answer my question!”

“Why do I have to answer your every question?”

“To stay alive.”

“You already know everything I . . .”

She brushed this aside.

“So the people of your ConSentiency sometimes resent the sexual relationships of others. They are not sure, then, how they use sex to hold power over others.”

He blinked. Her quick, slashing analysis was devastating.

She peered at him.

“McKie, what can you do here without me? Don't you know yet that the ones who sent you intended you to die here?”

“Or survive in my own peculiar way.”

She considered this. It was another idea about McKie which she had put aside for later evaluation. Indeed, he might well have hidden talents which her questions had not yet exposed. What annoyed her now was the sense that she didn't know enough about the ConSentiency to explore this. Could not take the time right now to explore it. His response disturbed her. It was as though everything she could possibly do had already been decided for her by powers of which she knew next to nothing. They were leading her by the nose, perhaps, just as she led Broey . . . just as those mysterious Gowachin of the ConSentiency obviously had led McKie . . . poor McKie. She cut this short as unprofitable speculation. Obviously, she had to begin at once to search out McKie's talent. Whatever she discovered would reveal a great deal about his ConSentiency.

“McKie, I hold a great deal of power among the Humans and even among some Gowachin in the Warrens -- and elsewhere. To do this, I must maintain certain fighting forces, including those who fight with physical weapons.”

He nodded. Her tone was that of lecturing to a child, but he accepted this, recognizing the care she took with him.

“We will go first,” she said, “to a nearby training area where we maintain the necessary edge on one of my forces.”

Turning, she led him out into the hall and down a stairway which avoided the room of the cage. McKie was reminded of Pcharky, though, thinking about that gigantic expenditure of space with its strange e occupant.

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