Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
Again,thepresenceoftheoldReverendMotherasserteditself,butnowtherewasatriplingofmutualawareness—twoactiveandonethatlayquietlyabsorbing.
“Timecompelsme,”theReverendMothersaidwithintheawareness.“Ihavemuchtogiveyou.AndIdonotknowifyourdaughtercanacceptallthiswhileremainingsane.Butitmustbe:theneedsofthetribeareparamount.”
“What—”
“Remainsilentandaccept!”
ExperiencesbegantounrollbeforeJessica.ItwaslikealecturestripinasubliminaltrainingprojectorattheBeneGesseritschool...butfaster...
blindinglyfaster.
Yet...distinct.
Shekneweachexperienceasithappened:therewasalover—virile,bearded,withtheFremeneyes,andJessicasawhisstrengthandtenderness,allofhiminoneblink-moment,throughtheReverendMother’smemory.
Therewasnotimenowtothinkofwhatthismightbedoingtothedaughterfetus,onlytimetoacceptandrecord.TheexperiencespouredinonJessica—birth,life,death—importantmattersandunimportant,anoutpouringofsingle-viewtime.
Whyshouldafallofsandfromaclifftopstickinthememory?sheaskedherself.
Toolate,Jessicasawwhatwashappening:theoldwomanwasdyingand,indying,pouringherexperiencesintoJessica’sawarenessaswaterispouredintoacup.Theothermotefadedbackintopre-birthawarenessasJessicawatchedit.
And,dying-in-conception,theoldReverendMotherleftherlifeinJessica’smemorywithonelastsighingblurofwords.
“I’vebeenalongtimewaitingforyou,”shesaid.“Hereismylife.
