'Some of my aides think there may be clues to your witches' nest there or, at least, a way to eliminate you quickly. So many languages!'
Does she need a translator? Be blunt!
'What interests you?'
'Very little. Who could possibly need accounts of the Butlerian Jihad?'
'They destroyed libraries, too.'
'Don't patronize me!'
She's sharper than we thought. Keep it blunt.
'I thought I was the object of patronage.'
'Listen to me, witch! You think you can be ruthless in defense of your nest but you do not understand what it is to be ruthless.'
'I don't think you have yet told me how I can satisfy your curiosity. '
'It's your science we want, witch!' She pitched her voice lower. 'Let us be reasonable. With your help we could achieve utopia.'
And conquer all of your enemies and achieve orgasm every time.
'You think science holds the keys to utopia?'
'And better organization for our affairs.'
Remember: Bureaucracy elevates conformity... Make that elevates 'fatal stupidity' to the status of religion.
'Paradox, Great Honored Matre. Science must be innovative. It brings change. That's why science and bureaucracy fight a constant war.'
Does she know her roots?
'But think of the power! Think of what you could control!' She doesn't know.
Honored Matre assumptions about control fascinated Lucilla. You controlled your universe; you did not balance with it. You looked outward, never inward. You did not train yourself to sense your own subtle responses, you produced muscles (forces, powers) to overcome everything you defined as an obstacle. Were these women blind?
When Lucilla did not speak, Honored Matre said: 'We found much in the library about the Bene Tleilax.
'You joined them for many projects, witch. Multiple projects: how to nullify a no-ship's invisibility, how to penetrate the secrets of the living cell, your Missionaria Protectiva, and something called 'The Language of God.' '
Lucilla produced a tight smile. Did they fear there might be a real god out there somewhere? Give her a little taste! Be candid.
'We joined the Tleilaxu in nothing. Your people misinterpret what they found. You worry about being patronized? How do you think God would feel about it? We plant protective religions to help us. That is the Missionaria's function. The Tleilaxu have only one religion.'
'You organize religions?'
'Not quite. The organizational approach to religion is always apologetic. We do not apologize.'
'You are beginning to bore me. Why did we find so little about the God Emperor?' Pouncing!
'Perhaps your people destroyed it.'
'Ahhhh, then you do have an interest in him.'
And so do you, Madame Spider!
'I would have presumed, Great Honored Matre, that Leto II and his Golden Path were subjects of study at many of your academic centers.'
That was cruel!
'We have no academic centers!'
'I find your interest in him surprising.'
'Casual interest, no more.'
And that Futar sprang from an oak tree struck by lightning!
'We call his Golden Path 'the paper chase.' He blew it into the infinite winds and said: 'See? There is where it goes.' That's the Scattering.'
'Some prefer to call it the Seeking.'
'Could he really predict our future? Is that what interests you?'
Bullseye!
Great Honored Matre coughed into her hand.
'We say Muad'Dib created a future. Leto II un-created it.'
'But if I could know...'
'Please! Great Honored Matre! People who demand that the oracle predict their lives really want to know where the treasure is hidden.'
'But of course!'
'Know your entire future and nothing will ever surprise you? Is that it?'
'In so many words.'
'You don't want the future, you want now extended forever.'
'I could not have said it better.'
'And you said I bored you!'
'What?'
Orange in her eyes. Careful.
'Never another surprise? What could be more boring?'
'Ahhhh... Oh! But that's not what I mean.'
'Then I'm afraid I do not understand what you want, Great Honored Matre.'
'No matter. We'll return to it tomorrow.'
Reprieve!
Great Honored Matre stood. 'Back into your cage.'
'Eat?' The Futar sounded plaintive.
' I have some wonderful food for you downstairs, darling. Then I'll rub your back.'
Lucilla entered her cage. Great Honored Matre threw a chair cushion in after her. 'Use that against the shigawire. See how kind I can be?'
The cage door sealed with a click.
The Futar in its cage slid back into the wall. The panel snapped closed over it.
'They get so restless when they're hungry,' Great Honored Matre said. She opened the door to the room and turned to contemplate Lucilla for a moment. 'You will not be disturbed here. I am refusing permission for anyone else to enter this room.'
Many things we do naturally become difficult only when we try to make them intellectual subjects. It is possible to know so much about a subject that you become totally ignorant.
- Mentat Text Two (dicto)
Periodically, Odrade went for dinner with acolytes and their Proctor-Watchers, the most immediate warders in this mind-prison from which many would never be released.
What the acolytes thought and did really informed the depths of Mother Superior's consciousness on how well Chapterhouse functioned. Acolytes responded from their moods and forebodings more directly than Reverend Mothers. Full Sisters got very good at not being seen at their worst. They did not try to conceal essentials, but anyone could walk in an orchard or close a door and be out of the view of watchdogs.
Not so the acolytes.
There was little slack time in Central these days. Even the dining halls had their constant streams of occupants no matter the hour. Workshifts were staggered and it was easy for a Reverend Mother to adjust her circadian rhythms to off-beat time. Odrade could not waste energy on such adjustments. At the evening meal, she paused at the door to the Acolyte Hall and heard the sudden hush.
Even the way they conveyed food to their mouths said something. Where did the eyes go as the chopsticks
