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on。
putation： A reflected Lady Jessica lived out a pseudo…life in Alia's awareness。 He saw this as he saw the reflected pre…ghola Duncan Idaho which remained a constant in his own awareness。 Alia had this awareness by being one of the pre…born。 He had it out of the Tleilaxu regeneration tanks。 Yet Alia denied that reflection； risked her mother's life。 Therefore Alia was not in contact with that pseudo…Jessica within。 Therefore Alia was pletely possessed by another pseudo…life to the exclusion of all others。
Possessed！
Alien！
Abomination！
Mentat fashion； he accepted this； turned to other facets of his problem。 All of the Atreides were on this one planet。 Would House Corrino risk attack from space？ His mind flashed through the review of those conventions which had ended primitive forms of warfare：
One All planets were vulnerable to attack from space； ergo： retaliation / revenge facilities were set up off…planet by every House Major。 Farad'n would know that the Atreides had not omitted this elementary precaution。
Two Force shields were a plete defense against projectiles and explosives of non…atomic type； the basic reason why hand…to…hand conflict had reentered human bat。 But infantry had its limits。 House Corrino might have brought their Sardaukar back to a pre…Arrakeen edge； but they still could be no match for the abandoned ferocity of Fremen。
Three Planetary feudalism remained in constant danger from a large technical class； but the effects of the Butlerian Jihad continued as a damper on technological excesses。 Ixians； Tleilaxu； and a few scattered outer planets were the only possible threat in this regard； and they were planet…vulnerable to the bined wrath of the rest of the Imperium。 The Butlerian Jihad would not be undone。 Mechanized warfare required a large technical class。 The Atreides Imperium had channeled this force into other pursuits。 No large technical class existed unwatched。 And the Empire remained safely feudalist； naturally； since that was the best social form for spreading over widely dispersed wild frontiers new planets。
Duncan felt his mentat awareness coruscate as it shot through memory data of itself； pletely impervious to the passage of time。 Arriving at the conviction that House Corrino would not risk an illegal atomic attack； he did this in flash…putation； the main decisional pathway； but he was perfectly aware of the elements which went into this conviction： The Imperium manded as many nuclear and allied weapons as all the Great Houses bined。 At least half the Great Houses would react without thinking if House Corrino broke the Convention。 The Atreides off…planet retaliation system would be joined by overwhelming force； and no need to summon any of them。 Fear would do the calling。 Salusa Secundus and its allies would vanish in hot clouds。 House Corrino would not risk such a holocaust。 They were undoubtedly sincere in subscribing to the argument that nuclear weapons were a reserve held for one purpose： defense of humankind should a threatening 〃other intelligence〃 ever be encountered。
The putational thoughts had clean edges； sharp relief。 There were no blurred between…places。 Alia chose abduction and terror because she had bee alien； non…Atreides。 House Corrino was a threat； but not in the ways which Alia argued in Council。 Alia wanted the Lady Jessica removed because that searing Bene Gesserit intelligence had seen what only now had bee clear to him。
Idaho shook himself out of the mentat trance； saw Alia standing in front of him； a coldly measuring expression on her face。
〃Wouldn't you rather the Lady Jessica were killed？〃 he asked。
The alien…flash of her joy lay exposed before his eyes for a brief instant before being covered by false outrage。 〃Duncan！〃
Yes； this alien…Alia preferred matricide。
〃You are afraid of your mother； not for her；〃 he said。
She spoke without a change in her measuring stare。 〃Of course I am。 She has reported about me to the Sisterhood。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Don't you know the greatest temptation for a Bene Gesserit？〃 She moved closer to him； seductive； looked upward at him through her lashes。 〃I thought only to keep myself strong and alert for the sake of the twins。〃
〃You speak of temptation；〃 he said； his voice mentat…flat。
〃It's the thing which the Sisterhood hides most deeply； the thing they most fear。 It's why they call me Abomination。 They know their inhibitions won't hold me back。 Temptation they always speak with heavy emphasis： Great Temptation。 You see； we who employ the Bene Gesserit teachings can influence such things as the internal adjustment of enzyme balance within our bodies。 It can prolong youth far longer than with melange。 Do you see the consequences should many Bene Gesserits do this？ It would be noticed。 I'm sure you pute the accuracy of what I'm saying。 Melange is what makes us the target for so many plots。 We control a substance which prolongs life。 What if it became known that Bene Gesserits controlled an even more potent secret？ You see！ Not one Reverend Mother would be safe。 Abduction and torture of Bene Gesserits would bee a most mon activity。〃
〃You've acplished this enzyme balancing。〃 It was a statement； not a question。
〃I've defied the Sisterhood！ My mother's reports to the Sisterhood will make the Bene Gesserits unswerving allies of House Corrino。〃
How very plausible； he thought。
He tested： 〃But surely your own mother would not turn against you！〃
〃She was Bene Gesserit long before she was my mother； Duncan； she permitted her own son； my brother； to undergo the test of the gom jabbar！ She arranged it！ And she knew he might not survive it！ Bene Gesserits have always been short on faith and long on pragmatism。 She'll act against me if she believes it's in the best interests of the Sisterhood。〃
He nodded。 How convincing she was。 It was a sad thought。
〃We must hold the initiative；〃 she said。 〃That's our sharpest weapon。〃
〃There's the problem of Gurney Halleck；〃 he said。 〃Do I have to kill my old friend？〃
〃Gurney's off on some spy errand in the desert；〃 she said； knowing Idaho already was aware of this。 〃He's safely out of the way。〃
〃Very odd；〃 he said； 〃the Regent Governor of Caladan running errands here on Arrakis。〃
〃Why not？〃 Alia demanded。 〃He's her lover in his dreams if not in fact。〃
〃Yes； of course。〃 And he wondered that she did not hear the insincerity in his voice。
〃When will you abduct her？〃 Alia asked。
〃It's better that you don't know。〃
〃Yes。。。yes； I see。 Where'll you take her？〃
〃Where she cannot be found。 Depend upon it； she won't be left here to threaten you。〃
The glee in Alia's eyes could not be mistaken。 〃But where will。。。〃
〃If you do not know； then you can answer before a Truthsayer； if necessary； that you do not know where she is。〃
〃Ahhh； clever； Duncan。〃
Now she believes I will kill the Lady Jessica； he thought。 And he said： 〃Goodbye； beloved。〃
She did not hear the finality in his voice； even kissed him lightly as he left。
And all the way down through the sietchlike maze of Temple corridors； Idaho brushed at his eyes。 Tleilaxu eyes were not immune to tears。
You have loved Caladan