Chapter 21

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Chapter 21

Post by Freakzilla »

The assumption that humans exist within an essentially impermanent universe,
taken as an operational precept, demands that the intellect become a totally
aware balancing instrument. But the intellect cannot react thus without
involving the entire organism. Such an organism may be recognized by its
burning, driving behavior. And thus it is with a society treated as organism.
But here we encounter an old inertia. Societies move to the goading of ancient,
reactive impulses. They demand permanence. Any attempt to display the universe
of impermanence arouses rejection patterns, fear, anger, and despair. Then how
do we explain the acceptance of prescience? Simply: the giver of prescient
visions, because he speaks of an absolute (permanent) realization, may be
greeted with joy by humankind even while predicting the most dire events.

-The Book of Leto, After Harq al-Ada

Alia has called Duncan back from sietch Tabr to have a council with her and Irulan. The Fremen have made a unanimous demand that Jessica be reinstated to the Regency Council. Of course, Alia is paranoid that this is a plot against her and thinks Jessica is in on it. They discuss possibilities and rule out an attack on the twins because they are in seitch Tabr, guarded by Stilgar and men he's trained. Duncan has a mentat mode inspired vision of the twins crouching among rocks with giant claws raking at them. He doesn't try to convince them because he has no actual data to back it up, he feels it's a vision similar to Paul's presciene. The council ends with Duncan wishing it really was Alia that was the target of assasination and is saddend at her obvious possession and insanity that grows with each passing crisis.
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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