Chapter 07


Moderators: Omphalos, Freakzilla, ᴶᵛᵀᴬ

Post Reply
User avatar
Freakzilla
Lead Singer and Driver of the Winnebego
Posts: 18449
Joined: 05 Feb 2008 01:27
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Contact:

Chapter 07

Post by Freakzilla »

With the Lady Jessica and Arrakis, the Bene Gesserit system of sowing implant legends
through the Missionaria Protectiva came to its full fruition. The wisdom
of seeding the known universe with a prophecy pattern for the protection of B.G.
personnel has long been appreciated, but never have we seen a condition-ut-extremis
with more ideal mating of person and preparation. The prophetic legends
had taken on Arrakis even to the extent of adopted labels (including Reverend
Mother, canto and respondu, and most of the Shari-a panoplia propheticus). And
it is generally accepted now that the Lady Jessica's latent abilities were
grossly underestimated.

-from "Analysis: The Arrakeen Crisis" by the Princess Irulan [Private
circulation: B.G. file number AR-81088587]


Lady Jessica is unpacking in the in the Arrakeen Governor's Mansion after the move. It is in a small, more defensable town near the major city, Carthag. The first two things she opens is a painting of the Old Duke and the head of the bull that killed him. She wonders at the significance of opening those two items first. She hasn't felt this frightened and unsure since the Duke's handlers took her from the school. Jessica plans to hang them in the great hall but Leto insists they be hung in the dinning room, much to Jessica's dismay. He tells her that they may resume their custom of dining in their private rooms except on formal occasions. The Duke tells her he's appointed locals as the house servants and that they have made some progress with the Fremen, about their prophecies about a Bene Gesserit and her son, and how they were secretly a terrible thorn in the Harkonnen's side. After he leaves to pursuade experienced spice hunters to stay, she meets the Shadout Mapes. Jessica uses the Missionaria Protectiva implanted legends to make an impression on Mapes who gives her a crystknife, a gift sent to her should she prove to be "the one", which she does. Jessica orders mapes to hang the bull's head and painting in the dining room then start unpacking the rest.
User avatar
Freakzilla
Lead Singer and Driver of the Winnebego
Posts: 18449
Joined: 05 Feb 2008 01:27
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Contact:

Re: Chapter 07

Post by Freakzilla »

Updated
Image
Paul of Dune was so bad it gave me a seizure that dislocated both of my shoulders and prolapsed my anus.
~Pink Snowman
ahnnah

Re: Chapter 07

Post by ahnnah »

Do you think Mapes would have really tried to kill Jessica?
User avatar
Freakzilla
Lead Singer and Driver of the Winnebego
Posts: 18449
Joined: 05 Feb 2008 01:27
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Contact:

Re: Chapter 07

Post by Freakzilla »

ahnnah wrote:Do you think Mapes would have really tried to kill Jessica?
Do you think she wouldn't have? :shock:
Image
Paul of Dune was so bad it gave me a seizure that dislocated both of my shoulders and prolapsed my anus.
~Pink Snowman
ahnnah

Re: Chapter 07

Post by ahnnah »

What would be the point in killing her? If she tested Jessica's knowledge and found it lacking, why would it not be enough to simply know that?
User avatar
Freakzilla
Lead Singer and Driver of the Winnebego
Posts: 18449
Joined: 05 Feb 2008 01:27
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Contact:

Re: Chapter 07

Post by Freakzilla »

OK, now that I've had a cup of coffee...

"I know many things." Jessica said. "I know that you have borne children,
that you have lost loved ones, that you have hidden in fear and that you have
done violence and will yet do more violence. I know many things."
In a low voice, Mapes said: "I meant no offense, my Lady."
"You speak of the legend and seek answers," Jessica said. "Beware the
answers you may find. I know you came prepared for violence with a weapon in
your bodice."
"My Lady, I . . . "
"There's a remote possibility you could draw my life's blood," Jessica said,
"but in so doing you'd bring down more ruin than your wildest fears could
imagine. There are worse things than dying, you know -- even for an entire
people."
"My Lady!" Mapes pleaded. She appeared about to fall to her knees. "The
weapon was sent as a gift to you should you prove to be the One."
"And as the means of my death should I prove otherwise," Jessica said. She
waited in the seeming relaxation that made the Bene Gesserit-trained so
terrifying in combat.


I think Jessica may have just slightly misread Mapes' intentions, Fremen are always prepared for violence. Plus, they were used to dealing with Harkonnens.
Image
Paul of Dune was so bad it gave me a seizure that dislocated both of my shoulders and prolapsed my anus.
~Pink Snowman
User avatar
Freakzilla
Lead Singer and Driver of the Winnebego
Posts: 18449
Joined: 05 Feb 2008 01:27
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Contact:

Re: Chapter 07

Post by Freakzilla »

Clean
Image
Paul of Dune was so bad it gave me a seizure that dislocated both of my shoulders and prolapsed my anus.
~Pink Snowman
User avatar
Lisan Al-Gaib
Posts: 418
Joined: 11 Feb 2008 15:34
Location: In the Heart of My Religion.

Re: Chapter 07

Post by Lisan Al-Gaib »

I have concluded this chapter during my rereading, and I was left wondering which kind of backstory Jessica might have with Leto's father. Actually, rereading the earlier chapter made me think if Frank Herbert had really some ideas about writing prequels when he started Dune.

Nonetheless, I believe it would have been different from Pink and Brain's work.
The singular multiplicity of this universe draws my deepest attention. It is a thing of ultimate beauty.

-- The Stolen Journals

User avatar
Freakzilla
Lead Singer and Driver of the Winnebego
Posts: 18449
Joined: 05 Feb 2008 01:27
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Contact:

Re: Chapter 07

Post by Freakzilla »

Lisan Al-Gaib wrote:I have concluded this chapter during my rereading, and I was left wondering which kind of backstory Jessica might have with Leto's father. Actually, rereading the earlier chapter made me think if Frank Herbert had really some ideas about writing prequels when he started Dune.

Nonetheless, I believe it would have been different from Pink and Brain's work.
Well, of course. It would have been good. :P
Image
Paul of Dune was so bad it gave me a seizure that dislocated both of my shoulders and prolapsed my anus.
~Pink Snowman
Post Reply