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assembly chamber with attendant rooms for weapons storage； kitchen； a dining hall； maintenance shops。 He had also seen other things behind the inadequate privacy of the hangings； things which fed his rage。
Moneo turned at Idaho's approach。 The woman to whom Moneo had been talking retreated and let the hanging drop； but not before Idaho glimpsed an older face with an air of mand about it。 Idaho did not recognize that particular mander。
Moneo nodded as Idaho stopped two paces away。
〃The guards say you've been looking for me；〃 Moneo said。
〃Where is he； Moneo？〃
〃Where is who？〃
Moneo swept his gaze up and down Idaho's figure； noting the old…fashioned Atreides uniform； black with a red hawk at the breast； the high boots glistening with polish。 There was a ritual look about the man。
Idaho took a shallow breath and spoke through clenched teeth： 〃Don't you start that game with me！〃
Moneo took his attention away from the sheathed knife at Idaho's waist。 It looked like a museum piece with its jeweled handle。 Where had Idaho found it？〃
〃If you mean the God Emperor。。。〃 Moneo said。
〃Where？〃
Moneo kept his voice mild。 〃Why are you so anxious to die？〃
〃They said you were with him。〃
〃That was earlier。〃
〃I'll find him； Moneo！〃
〃Not right now。〃
Idaho put a hand on his knife。 〃Do I have to use force to make you talk？〃
〃I would not advise that。〃
〃Where。。。is。。。he？〃
〃Since you insist； he is out in the desert with Siona。〃
〃With your daughter？〃 〃Is there another Siona？〃 〃What're they doing？〃 〃She is being tested。〃 〃When will they return？〃 Moneo shrugged； then： 〃Why this unseemly anger； Duncan？〃 〃What's this test of your。。
。〃
〃I don't know。 Now； why are you so upset？〃
〃I'm sick of this place！ Fish Speakers！〃 He turned his head and spat。
Moneo glanced down the corridor behind Idaho； recalling the man's approach。 Knowing the Duncans； it was easy to recognize what had fed his current rage。
〃Duncan；〃 Moneo said； 〃it's perfectly normal for adolescent females as well as males to have feelings of physical attraction toward members of their own sex。 Most of them will grow out of it。〃
〃It should be stamped out！〃
〃But it's part of our heritage。〃
〃Stamped out！ And that's not。。
。〃
〃Oh； be still。 If you try to suppress it； you only increase its power。〃
Idaho glared at him。 〃And you say you don't know what's going on up there with your own daughter！〃
〃Siona is being tested； I told you。〃
〃And what's that supposed to mean？〃
Moneo put a hand over his eyes and sighed。 He lowered the hand； wondering why he put up with this foolish； dangerous； antique human。
〃It means that she may die out there。〃
Idaho was taken aback； some of his anger cooling。 〃How can you allow。。 。〃
〃Allow？ You think I have a choice？〃
〃Every man has a choice！〃
A bitter smile flitted across Moneo's lips。 〃How is it that you are so much more foolish than the other Duncans？〃
〃Other Duncans！〃 Idaho said。 〃How did those others die； Moneo？〃
〃The way we all die。 They ran out of time。〃
〃You lie。〃 Idaho spoke past gritted teeth； his knuckles white on the knife handle。
Still speaking mildly； Moneo said： 〃Have a care。 There are limits even to what I will take； especially just now。〃
〃This place is rotten！〃 Idaho said。 He gestured with his free hand at the corridor behind him。 〃There are some things I'll never accept！〃
Moneo stared down the empty corridor without seeing。 〃You must mature； Duncan。 You must。〃
Idaho's hand tensed on the knife。 〃What does that mean？〃
〃These are sensitive times。 Anything unsettling to him； anything。。。must be prevented。〃
Idaho held himself on the edge of violence； his anger restrained only by something puzzling in Moneo's manner。 Words had been spoken； though； which could not be ignored。
〃I'm not some damned immature child you can。。。〃
〃Duncan！〃 It was the loudest sound Idaho had ever heard from the mild…mannered Moneo。 Surprise stayed Idaho's hand while Moneo continued： 〃If the demands of your flesh are for maturity； but something holds you in adolescence； quite nasty behavior develops。 Let go。〃
〃Are。。。you。。。accusing 。。。 me 。。。 of。；
〃No！〃 Moneo gestured at the corridor。 〃Oh； I know。 what you must've seen back there； but it。 。 。〃
〃Two women in a passionate kiss！ You think that's not。 。 。〃
〃It's not important。 Youth explores its potential in many ways。〃
Idaho balanced himself on the edge of an explosion； rocking forward on his toes。 〃I'm glad to learn about you； Moneo。〃
〃Yes； well； I've learned about you； several times。〃
Moneo watched the effect of these words as they twisted through Idaho； tangling him。 The gholas could never avoid a fascination with the others who had preceded them。
Idaho spoke in a hoarse whisper： 〃What have you learned？〃
〃You have taught me valuable things；〃 Moneo said。 〃All of us try to evolve； but if something blocks us； we can transfer our potential into pain…seeking it or giving it。 Adolescents are particularly vulnerable。〃
Idaho leaned close to Moneo。 〃I'm talking about sex！〃
〃Of course you are。〃
〃Are you accusing me of adolescent。 。 。〃
〃That's right。〃
〃I should cut your。。
。〃
〃Oh； shut up！〃
Moneo's response did not have the training nuances of Bene Gesserit Voice control； but it had a lifetime of mand behind it。 Something in Idaho could only obey。
〃I'm sorry；〃 Moneo said。 〃But I'm distracted by the fact that my only daughter。 。 。〃 He broke off and shrugged。
Idaho inhaled two deep breaths。 〃You're crazy； all of you！ You say your daughter may be dying and yet you。。 。〃
〃You fool！〃 Moneo snapped。 〃Have you any idea how your petty concerns appear to me！ Your stupid questions and your selfish。 。 。〃 He broke off； shaking his head。
〃I make allowances because you have personal problems；〃 Idaho said。 〃But if you。 。 。〃
〃Allowances？ You make allowances？〃 Moneo took a trembling breath。 It was too much！
Idaho spoke stiffly： 〃I can forgive you for。 。 。〃
〃You！ You prattle about sex and forgiving and pain and。。。you think you and Hwi Noree 。 。 。〃
〃Leave her out of this！〃
〃Oh； yes。 Leave her out。 Leave out that pain！ You share sex with her and you never think about parting。 Tell me； fool； how do you give of yourself in the face of that？〃
Abashed； Idaho inhaled deeply。 He had not suspected such passion smoldering in the quiet Moneo； but this attack； this could not be 。 。 。
〃You think I'm cruel？〃 Moneo demanded。 〃I make you think about things you'd rather avoid。 Hah！ Crueler things have been done to the Lord Leto for no better reason than the cruelty！〃
〃You defend him？ You。。。〃
〃I know him best！〃
〃He uses you！〃
〃To what ends？〃
〃You tell me！〃
〃He's our best hope to perpetuate。 。 。〃
〃Perverts don't perpetuate！〃
Moneo spoke in a soothing tone； but his words shook Idaho。 〃I will tell you this only once。 Homosexuals have been among the best warriors in our history； the berserkers of last resort。 They were among our best priests and priestesses。 Celibacy was no accident in religions。 It is also no accident that adolescents make the best soldiers。〃
〃That's perversion！〃
〃Quite right。 Military manders have known about the perverted displa