Chapter 17

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Chapter 17

Post by Freakzilla »

Greatness is a transitory experience. It is never consistent. It depends in part
upon the myth-making imagination of humankind. The person who experiences
greatness must have a feeling for the myth he is in. He must reflect what is
projected upon him. And he must have a strong sense of the sardonic. This is
what uncouples him from belief in his own pretensions. The sardonic is all that
permits him to move within himself. Without this quality, even occasional
greatness will destroy a man.

-from "Collected Sayings of Muad'Dib" by the Princess Irulan

Duke Leto stops in the doorway to the dining hall, admiring the table setting. The flagons of water on the table could keep a poor family for over a year. He notices laving basins near the entrance. The old custom was for guest to wash their hands in it, slop some water on the floor then throw their towel in the puddle. After the dinner the towel squeezings would be given to beggars. The Duke sees this as typical Harkonnen repression and orders it stopped. He asks a servant to put the basins outside and any beggar that comes durring the meal shall be given a cup of water. As he leaves the dining room and enters the great hall, Jessica is entertaining the guests. Duncan is there too in dress uniform, keeping an eye on Jessica. Paul is entertaining the young women, along with a few Atreides officers. Leto goes to the group around Jessica. The water shipper doesn't like the change in the laving basin custom and asks about the conservatory. Jessica says they plan to keep it for the people in hopes that one day they can change the climate so plants can be grown in the open. Kynes hears this and is in awe at another sign of the prophecy, they share the Fremen's most precious dream. Dinner is served. Gurney plays a tune. After the toast, the Duke pours the rest of his water on the floor, the guests do the same, except for Kynes, he poured it into a concealed pouch. The Guild banker asks about the lost spice factory which angers the Duke and Kynes. Jessica discearns that the Guild banker is a Harkonnen agent and worders if even the Guild has turned against the Duke. Kynes and the banker get into an argument, durring which Jessica notices that the smuggler, Tuek, is allied with Kynes. Kynes and Leto get into a discussion about the water on Arrakis. Kynes fakes uncertainty as to whether or not there's enough water but Paul's truthsense tells him there is enough water. An Atreides guard enters and the Duke is needed elsewere, he asks Paul to take over as host and for Gurney to take Pauls place. He asks Gurney to bring Paul to field command post after dinner. Paul tells a story about how a drowning fisherman had marks on his shoulders from another man's boots who was trying to save himself by climbing the drowning man's back. The banker doesn't see the point. Paul explains that Duke Leto made an appropriate comment at the time. He said the drowning man who climbs on your shoulders to save himself is understandable, except when you see it happen in the drawing room. Paul adds, or at the dinner table. Gurney, Duncan and the house guards come to alert, the banker pushes his chair back and glares at Paul. Kynes says you bait an Atreides at your own risk. Bewt makes a toast to Paul to ease the tension and Kynes asks the banker to appologize again, which he does. Jessica receives a note from the Duke and informs the guests that the missing carryall has been found. A harkonnen agent overpowered the crew and tried to sell it to smugglers who turned him and the carryall over to the Atreides. She doesn't tell them that they also intercepted a shipment of lasguns and Leto wants them to take precautions.
They were destroyed because they lied pretentiously. Have no fear that my wrath
will fall upon you because of your innocent mistakes.

~Leto II, God Emperor
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