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Book Three: The Prophet
Sheholdstothenicetiesevenwhenfearisalmostoverwhelmingher.
Yes.Shemaybetheoneweneednow.
OnlytheslightesttoneofresignationcreptintoChani’svoiceasshesaid:
“Nowyoumaysaythethingthatmustbesaid.”
“YouwereneededheretohelpmerevivePaul,”Jessicasaid.Andshethought:There!Isaiditinthepreciselycorrectway.Revive.ThussheknowsPaulisaliveandknowsthereisperil,allinthesameword.
Chanitookonlyamomenttocalmherself,then:“WhatisitImaydo?”ShewantedtoleapatJessica,shakeherandscream:“Takemetohim!”Butshewaitedsilentlyfortheanswer.
“Isuspect,”Jessicasaid,“thattheHarkonnenshavemanagedtosendanagentamongustopoisonPaul.It’stheonlyexplanationthatseemstofit.Amostunusualpoison.I’veexaminedhisbloodinthemostsubtlewayswithoutdetectingit.”
Chanithrustherselfforwardontoherknees.“Poison?Isheinpain?CouldI....”
“Heisunconscious,”Jessicasaid.“Theprocessesofhislifearesolowthattheycanbedetectedonlywiththemostrefinedtechniques.IshuddertothinkwhatcouldhavehappenedhadInotbeentheonetodiscoverhim.Heappearsdeadtotheuntrainedeye.”
“Youhavereasonsotherthancourtesyforsummoningme,”Chanisaid.“Iknowyou,ReverendMother.WhatisityouthinkImaydothatyoucannotdo?”
Sheisbrave,lovelyand,ah-h-h,soperceptive,Jessicathought.She’dhavemadeafineBeneGesserit.
“Chani,”Jessicasaid,“youmayfindthisdifficulttobelieve,butIdonotknowpreciselywhyIsentforyou.
