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Book Three: The Prophet
Itwassomethinglarger,animmediateawarenessofanotherlivingspark,asharpandpoignantthing,anerve-sympaticothatmadethememotionallyone.
Intheformalmannerthatbefittedamemberofherson’shousehold,Jessicasaid:“Subakhulkuhar,Harah.Thisnightfindsyouwell?”
Withthesametraditionalformality,shesaid:“Subakhunnar.Iamwell.”
Thewordswerealmosttoneless.Again,shesighed.
JessicasensedamusementfromAlia.
“Mybrother’sghanimaisannoyedwithme,”Aliasaidinherhalf-lisp.
JessicamarkedthetermAliausedtorefertoHarah—ghanima.InthesubtletiesoftheFrementongue,thewordmeant“somethingacquiredinbattle”andwiththeaddedovertonethatthesomethingnolongerwasusedforitsoriginalpurpose.Anornament,aspearheadusedasacurtainweight.
Harahscowledatthechild.“Don’ttrytoinsultme,child.Iknowmyplace.”
“Whathaveyoudonethistime,Alia?”Jessicaasked.
Harahanswered:“Notonlyhassherefusedtoplaywiththeotherchildrentoday,butsheintrudedwhere....”
“IhidbehindthehangingsandwatchedSubiay’schildbeingborn,”Aliasaid.“It’saboy.Hecriedandcried.Whatasetoflungs!Whenhe’dcriedlongenough—”
“Shecameoutandtouchedhim,”Harahsaid,“andhestoppedcrying.
EveryoneknowsaFremenbabymustgethiscryingdoneatbirth,ifhe’sinsietchbecausehecannevercryagainlesthebetrayusonhajr.”
“He’dcriedenough,”Aliasaid.“Ijustwantedtofeelhisspark,hislife.
That’sall.Andwhenhefeltmehedidn’twanttocryanymore.
