[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.""Agreed.But treat those refugees with courtesy.""Now, get off my projections.You've blinded me and that was foolish!""You have everything well in hand, Bashar.During this hiatus another of ourships accepted four Futars.They came asking that we take them to Handlers butI ordered them confined.Treat them with extreme caution."The bay's projections resumed battle status.Teg once more called in his force.He was seething and it was minutes before he restored a sense of command.DidMurbella know how she undermined his authority? Or should he take this as ameasure of the importance she attached to the refugees?When the situation was secure, he turned the bay over to an aide and, riding onStreggi's shoulders, went to see these important refugees.What was so vitalabout them that Murbella risked interference?They were in a troop-carrier hold, a congealed party held apart by a cautiouscommander.Who knows what may be concealed among these unknowns?The Rabbi, identifiable because he was being deferred to by the field commander,stood with a brown-robed woman at the near side of his people.He was a small,bearded man wearing a white skullcap.Cold light made him appear ancient.Thewoman shielded her eyes with a hand.The Rabbi was speaking and his wordsbecame audible as Teg approached.The woman was under verbal attack!"The prideful one will be brought low!"Without removing her hand from its defensive position, the woman said: "I amnot proud of what I carry.""Nor of the powers this knowledge may bring you?"With knee pressure, Teg ordered Streggi to stop them about ten paces away.Hiscommander glanced at Teg but stayed in position, ready to act defensively ifthis should prove to be a diversion.Good man.The woman bent her head even lower and pressed her hand against her eyes whenshe spoke."Are we not offered knowledge that we might use it in holy service?""Daughter!" The Rabbi held himself stiffly erect."Whatever we may learn thatwe may better serve, it never can be a great thing.All we call knowledge, wereit to encompass everything a humble heart could hold, all of that would be nomore than one seed in the furrows."Teg felt reluctant to interfere.What an archaic way of speaking.This pairfascinated him.The other refugees listened to the exchange with raptattention.Only Teg's field commander appeared aloof, keeping his attention onthe strangers and giving an occasional hand-signal to aides.The woman kept her head respectfully lowered and the shielding hand in place butshe still defended herself."Even a seed lost in the furrows may bring forthlife."The Rabbi's lips tightened into a grim line, then: "Without water and care,which is to say, without the blessing and the word, there is no life."A great sigh shook the woman's shoulders but she held herself in that oddlysubmissive position when she responded: "Rabbi, I hear and obey.Still, I musthonor this knowledge that has been thrust upon me because it contains the veryadmonition you have just voiced."The Rabbi placed a hand on her shoulder."Then convey it to those who want itand may no evil enter where you go."Silence told Teg the argument had ended.He urged Streggi forward.Before shecould move, Murbella strode past and nodded to the Rabbi while keeping her gazeon the woman."In the name of the Bene Gesserit and our debt to you, I welcome you and giveyou sanctuary," Murbella said.The brown-robed woman lowered her hand and Teg saw contact lenses glittering inthe palm.She lifted her head then and there were gasps all around.Thewoman's eyes were the total blue of spice addiction but they also held thatinner force marking one who had survived the Agony.Murbella made instant identification.A wild Reverend Mother! Not since Dune'sFremen days had one of these been known.The woman curtsied to Murbella."I am called Rebecca.And I am filled with joyto be with you.The Rabbi thinks I am a silly goose but I have a golden egg forI carry Lampadas: seven million six hundred twenty-two thousand and fourteenReverend Mothers and they are rightfully yours."Answers are a perilous grip on the universe.They can appear sensible yetexplain nothing.-The Zensunni WhipAs the wait for their promised escort lengthened, Odrade became first angry andthen amused.Finally, she began following lobby robos, interfering with theirmovements.Most were small and none appeared humanoid.Functional.Hallmark of Ixian servos.Busy, busy, busy little accompanimentsto a sojourn at Junction or its equivalent anywhere.They were so commonplace that few people noticed them.Since they were notcapable of dealing with deliberate interference, they subsided into motionlesshumming."Honored Matres have little or no sense of humor." I know, Murbella.I know.But do they get my message?Dortujla obviously did.She came out of her funk and watched these antics witha wide grin.Tam looked disapproving but tolerant.Suipol was delighted.Odrade had to restrain her from helping to immobilize the devices [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]