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Book One: Dune
TherecouldbeHarkonnenshipsrightalongsideusandwe’dhavenothingtofearfromthem.
TheHarkonnensknowbetterthantoendangertheirshippingprivileges.”
“I’mgoingtowatchourscreensandtrytoseeaGuildsman.”
“Youwon’t.NoteventheiragentseverseeaGuildsman.TheGuild’sasjealousofitsprivacyasitisofitsmonopoly.Don’tdoanythingtoendangerourshippingprivileges,Paul.”
“Doyouthinktheyhidebecausethey’vemutatedanddon’tlook...humananymore?”
“Whoknows?”TheDukeshrugged.“It’samysterywe’renotlikelytosolve.
We’vemoreimmediateproblems—amongthem:you.”
“Me?”
“Yourmotherwantedmetobetheonetotellyou,Son.Yousee,youmayhaveMentatcapabilities.”
Paulstaredathisfather,unabletospeakforamoment,then:“AMentat?
Me?ButI....”
“Hawatagrees,Son.It’strue.”
“ButIthoughtMentattraininghadtostartduringinfancyandthesubjectcouldn’tbetoldbecauseitmightinhibittheearly....”Hebrokeoff,allhispastcircumstancescomingtofocusinoneflashingcomputation.“Isee,”hesaid.
“Adaycomes,”theDukesaid,“whenthepotentialMentatmustlearnwhat’sbeingdone.Itmaynolongerbedonetohim.TheMentathastoshareinthechoiceofwhethertocontinueorabandonthetraining.Somecancontinue;someareincapableofit.OnlythepotentialMentatcantellthisforsureabouthimself.”
Paulrubbedhischin.
