Дюна

           TheCommissioners,nineoftheiroriginalnumberhavingdiedandbeenreplaced,pausedtoobserveformalinstallationofthereplacementsandannouncedtheywerelaboringtoproduceonebook,weedingout“allthepathologicalsymptoms”ofthereligiouspast.

           “WeareproducinganinstrumentofLovetobeplayedinallways,”theysaid.

           Manyconsideritoddthatthisstatementprovokedtheworstoutbreaksofviolenceagainstecumenism.Twentydelegateswererecalledbytheircongregations.Onecommittedsuicidebystealingaspacefrigateanddivingitintothesun.

           Historiansestimatetheriotstookeightymillionlives.ThatworksouttoaboutsixthousandforeachworldthenintheLandsraadLeague.Consideringtheunrestofthetime,thismaynotbeanexcessiveestimate,althoughanypretensetorealaccuracyinthefiguremustbejustthat—pretense.

           Communicationbetweenworldswasatoneofitslowestebbs.

           Thetroubadours,quitenaturally,hadafieldday.ApopularmusicalcomedyoftheperiodhadoneoftheC.E.T.delegatessittingonawhitesandbeachbeneathapalmtreesinging:

           “ForGod,womanandthesplendoroflove

           Wedallyheresansfearsorcares.

           Troubadour!Troubadour,singanothermelody

           ForGod,womanandthesplendoroflove!”

           Riotsandcomedyarebutsymptomsofthetimes,profoundlyrevealing.

           Theybetraythepsychologicaltone,thedeepuncertainties...andthestrivingforsomethingbetter,plusthefearthatnothingwouldcomeofitall.