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Book Two: Muad‘dib
TheirdestinationwasSietchTabr—
Stilgar’ssietch.
Sheturnedthewordoverinhermind:sietch.ItwasaChakobsaword,unchangedfromtheoldhuntinglanguageoutofcountlesscenturies.Sietch:ameetingplaceintimeofdanger.Theprofoundimplicationsofthewordandthelanguagewerejustbeginningtoregisterwithherafterthetensionoftheirencounter.
“Wemovewell,”Stilgarsaid.“WithShai-hulud’sfavor,we’llreachCaveoftheRidgesbeforedawn.”
Jessicanodded,conservingherstrength,sensingtheterriblefatiguesheheldatbaybyforceofwill...and,sheadmittedit:bytheforceofelation.Hermindfocusedonthevalueofthistroop,seeingwhatwasrevealedhereabouttheFremenculture.
Allofthem,shethought,anentireculturetrainedtomilitaryorder.WhatapricelessthingishereforanoutcastDuke!
***
TheFremenweresupremeinthatqualitytheancientscalled“spannungsbogen”—whichistheself-imposeddelaybetweendesireforathingandtheactofreachingouttograspthatthing.
—from“TheWisdomofMuad’Dib”bythePrincessIrulan
THEYAPPROACHEDCaveoftheRidgesatdawnbreak,movingthroughasplitinthebasinwallsonarrowtheyhadtoturnsidewaystonegotiateit.JessicasawStilgardetachguardsinthethindawnlight,sawthemforamomentastheybegantheirscramblingclimbupthecliff.
Paulturnedhisheadupwardashewalked,seeingthetapestryofthisplanetcutimcrosssectionwherethenarrowcleftgapedtowardgray-bluesky.
Chanipulledathisrobetohurryhim,said:“Quickly.Itisalreadylight.
