Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
ShehadheardwhatshehadheardinStilgar’svoice—theunspokenofferofmorethanhiscountenance.Didheneedawife?Sherealizedshecouldstepintothatplacewithhim.Itwouldbeonewaytoendconflictovertriballeadership—femaleproperlyalignedwithmale.
ButwhatofPaulthen?Whocouldtellyetwhatrulesofparenthoodprevailedhere?Andwhatoftheunborndaughtershehadcarriedthesefewweeks?WhatofadeadDuke’sdaughter?Andshepermittedherselftofacefullythesignificanceofthisotherchildgrowingwithinher,toseeherownmotivesinpermittingtheconception.Sheknewwhatitwas—shehadsuccumbedtothatprofounddrivesharedbyallcreatureswhoarefacedwithdeath—thedrivetoseekimmortalitythroughprogeny.Thefertilitydriveofthespecieshadoverpoweredthem.
JessicaglancedatStilgar,sawthathewasstudyingher,waiting.Adaughterbornheretoawomanwedtosuchaoneasthisman—whatwouldbethefateofsuchadaughter?sheaskedherself.WouldhetrytolimitthenecessitiesthataBeneGesseritmustfollow?
Stilgarclearedhisthroatandrevealedthenthatheunderstoodsomeofthe
questionsinhermind.“Whatisimportantforaleaderisthatwhichmakeshimaleader.Itistheneedsofhispeople.Ifyouteachmeyourpowers,theremaycomeadaywhenoneofusmustchallengetheother.Iwouldprefersomealternative.”
“Thereareseveralalternatives?”sheasked.
“TheSayyadina,”hesaid.“OurReverendMotherisold.”
TheirReverendMother!
Beforeshecouldprobethis,hesaid:“Idonotnecessarilyoffermyselfasmate.
