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knows its own mortality and fears stagnation
of its heredity. It’s in the bloodstream — the urge to mingle genetic strains
without plan. The Imperium, the CHOAM Company, all the Great Houses, they are
but bits of flotsam in the path of the flood.”
    “CHOAM,” Jessica muttered. “I suppose it’s already decided how they’ll
redivide the spoils of Arrakis.”
    “What is CHOAM but the weather vane of our times,” the old woman said. “The
Emperor and his friends now command fifty-?nine point six-?five per cent of the
CHOAM directorship’s votes. Certainly they smell profits, and likely as others
smell those same profits his voting strength will increase. This is the pattern
of history, girl.”
    “That’s certainly what I need right now,” Jessica said. “A review of
history.”
    “Don’t be facetious, girl! You know as well as I do what forces surround us.
We’ve a three-?point civilization: the Imperial Household balanced against the
Federated Great Houses of the Landsraad, and between them, the Guild with its
damnable monopoly on interstellar transport. In politics, the tripod is the most
unstable of all structures. It’d be bad enough without the complication of a
feudal trade culture which turns its back on most science.“
    Jessica spoke bitterly: ”Chips in the path of the flood — and this chip
here, this is the Duke Leto, and this one’s his son, and this one’s –“
    ”Oh, shut up, girl. You entered this with full knowledge of the delicate
edge you walked.“
    ” ‘I am Bene Gesserit: I exist only to serve,’ “ Jessica quoted.
    ”Truth.“ the old woman said. ”And all we can hope for now is to prevent this
from erupting into general conflagration, to salvage what we can of the key
bloodlines.“
    Jessica closed her eyes, feeling tears press out beneath the lids. She
fought down the inner trembling, the outer trembling, the uneven breathing, the
ragged pulse, the sweating of the palms. Presently, she said, ”I’ll pay for my
own mistake.“
    ”And your son will pay with you.“
    ”I’ll shield him as well as I’m able.“
    ”Shield!“ the old woman snapped. ”You well know the weakness there! Shield
your son too much, Jessica, and he’ll not grow strong enough to fulfill any
destiny.“
    Jessica turned away, looked out the window at the gathering darkness. ”Is it
really that terrible, this planet of Arrakis?“
    ”Bad enough, but not all bad. The Missionaria Protectiva has been in there
and softened it up somewhat.“ The Reverend Mother heaved herself to her feet,
straightened a fold in her gown. ”Call the boy in here. I must be leaving soon.“
    ”Must you?“
    The old woman’s voice softened. ”Jessica, girl, I wish I could stand in your
place and take your sufferings. But each of us must make her own path.“
    ”I know.“
    ”You’re as dear to me as any of my own daughters, but I cannot let that
interfere with duty.“
    ”I understand . . . the necessity.“
    ”What you did, Jessica, and why you did it — we both know. But kindness
forces me to tell you there’s little chance your lad will be the Bene Gesserit
Totality. You mustn’t let yourself hope too much.“
    Jessica shook tears from the corners of her eyes. It was an angry gesture.
”You make me feel like a little girl again — reciting my first lesson.“ She
forced the words out: ” ‘Humans must never submit to animals.’ “ A dry sob shook
her. In a low voice, she said: ”I’ve been so lonely.“
    ”It should be one of the tests,“ the old woman said. ”Humans are almost
always lonely. Now summon the boy. He’s had a long, frightening day. But he’s
had time to think and remember, and I must ask the other questions about these
dreams of his.“
    Jessica nodded, went to the door of the Meditation Chamber, opened it.
”Paul, come in now, please.“
    Paul emerged with a stubborn slowness. He stared at his mother as though she
were a stranger.