Chapter 12
Posted: 12 Feb 2008 21:30
"You do not beg the sun for mercy."
-Maud'dib's Travail from The Stilgar Commentary
Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohaim has been summoned from her cell to appear before Paul. She remembers testing him with the Gom Jabbar and blames Jessica for letting him escape Bene Gesserit control of that bloodline. She worries about the possibilities in Paul's genes and especially Alia's. The scale of Paul's citadel impresses her, a dozen cities could fit inside. Paul wants something from her and they both know it, if only she can figure out what it is. Mohiam is awed by the architechtual genius behind Paul's audience chamber, it could have held the entire citadel of any other ruler. They go into a private chamber behind Paul's throne along with Alia, Stilgar and Hayt. Paul says he wishes to bargain for Chani's life. He offers to have Irulan aritificially inseminated and banished. Her child will not be his heir. Mohiam is horrified, the Bene Gesserit believe that artificial insemination is a violation of the Butlerian Jihad. Paul reveals that Chani is pregnant and this is his final offer. Mohiam asks Hayt to function as a mentat and judge whether she should take the deal. He tells her that an offer is only as good as what it buys, in this case, a life for a life. Alia askes what else is hidden in the bargain. He asks why the BG have not used the Tleilaxu. Mohiam shudders at the thought, if they resort to artificial insemination, what next, controlled mutation? Alia questions what the BG will do with the Atreides genes. What if Paul went to the Bene Tleilax himself? Mohiam regrets that the ideal mate for Alia, Feyd Rautha, was killed by Paul. She hints at a mating between Paul and Alia, Paul warns her. Mohiam asks for time to send a message to Wallach. Paul agrees and tells her to hurry, he plans for his child to be born in the desert. Paul sheds a tear, Alia touches it and tells him not to grieve for people before they die. Paul asks her, "What is before?"
-Maud'dib's Travail from The Stilgar Commentary
Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohaim has been summoned from her cell to appear before Paul. She remembers testing him with the Gom Jabbar and blames Jessica for letting him escape Bene Gesserit control of that bloodline. She worries about the possibilities in Paul's genes and especially Alia's. The scale of Paul's citadel impresses her, a dozen cities could fit inside. Paul wants something from her and they both know it, if only she can figure out what it is. Mohiam is awed by the architechtual genius behind Paul's audience chamber, it could have held the entire citadel of any other ruler. They go into a private chamber behind Paul's throne along with Alia, Stilgar and Hayt. Paul says he wishes to bargain for Chani's life. He offers to have Irulan aritificially inseminated and banished. Her child will not be his heir. Mohiam is horrified, the Bene Gesserit believe that artificial insemination is a violation of the Butlerian Jihad. Paul reveals that Chani is pregnant and this is his final offer. Mohiam asks Hayt to function as a mentat and judge whether she should take the deal. He tells her that an offer is only as good as what it buys, in this case, a life for a life. Alia askes what else is hidden in the bargain. He asks why the BG have not used the Tleilaxu. Mohiam shudders at the thought, if they resort to artificial insemination, what next, controlled mutation? Alia questions what the BG will do with the Atreides genes. What if Paul went to the Bene Tleilax himself? Mohiam regrets that the ideal mate for Alia, Feyd Rautha, was killed by Paul. She hints at a mating between Paul and Alia, Paul warns her. Mohiam asks for time to send a message to Wallach. Paul agrees and tells her to hurry, he plans for his child to be born in the desert. Paul sheds a tear, Alia touches it and tells him not to grieve for people before they die. Paul asks her, "What is before?"