Chapter 16

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Chapter 16

Post by Freakzilla »

Atrocity is recognized as such by victim and perpetrator alike, by all who learn
about it at whatever remove. Atrocity has no excuses, no mitigating argument.
Atrocity never balances or rectifies the past. Atrocity merely arms the future
for more atrocity. It is self-perpetuating upon itself -- a barbarous form of
incest. Whoever commits atrocity also commits those future atrocities thus bred.

-The Apocrypha of Muad'Dib

The Preacher appears in the square below Alia's Temple with his young Fremen guide, hoping to maintain the disguise. He hope every day for some subtly difference that strays from his vision. Alia watches secretly from above, hoping for a sign of The Preacher's true identity. She has ordered for him to be captured but not in a public place like this. It terrifies her to think that it might be Paul commiting these heresies. She thinks back to the previous Council meeting where she'd accepted the Corrino gift of clothing for the twins, distressed that there was appearantly nothing sinister about them. She had managed to delay a vote on Jessica being placed on the Council. The Preacher says he brings four messages, each for a different person. First is Alia, has she sold out her future using the Bene Gesserit longevity trick? The second is for Stilgar who hopes to transform the power of the tribes into the power of the Imperium. His rigid code of ethics will drive him into exile. The third is for Irulan, no one can forget humiliation and he warns her to flee. The fourth is for Duncan who thinks loyalty buys loyalty. Don't believe history, he should use his horns to do what he knows how to do best. Following, he has a sermon for Muad'dib's priesthood who practice the exuminicsm of the sword. They believe in manifest destiny but it also has an evil side. They think themselves blessed to have lived in Muad'dib's time but they have replaced love with holiness and tempt the vengance of the desert. He says that it's written, those who pray for dew will bring the flood. They will not escape fate through the power of reason. He claims Muad'dib had no magical answers to the universe. Again he warns the priests, the blood of the brother cannot be washed away. Alia is convinced it is Paul as he starts to leave the square. She feels how thin her grip on the Imperium is. Without the Fremen and the spice monopoly her power would crumble. She thinks of the Bene Gesserit lessons on how a large population can turn on it's leaders; when they find a leader, when they recognize their bondage and when they sence hope that they might be able to break free. She recognizes these signs in her people. Alia decides to go with the Baron persona's plans to eliminate Jessica and discredit House Corrino. The Preacher will have to be discredited later, if possible.
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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