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d the limits as they saw them； Leto had manded her to obey。
He'd manded her！
Leto had recognized what Alia was doing； that much was obvious。 Both twins had spoken of their aunt's 〃affliction；〃 even when defending her。 Alia was gambling on the rightness of her position in the Regency。 Demanding custody of the twins confirmed that。 Jessica found a harsh laugh shaking her own breast。 The Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam had been fond of explaining this particular error to her student； Jessica。 〃If you focus your awareness only upon your own rightness； then you invite the forces of opposition to overwhelm you。 This is a mon error。 Even I； your teacher； have made it。〃
〃And even I； your student； have made it；〃 Jessica whispered to herself。
She heard fabrics whispering in the passage beyond the curtain。 Two young Fremen entered； part of the entourage they'd picked up during the night。 The two were obviously awed at being in the presence of Muad'Dib's mother。 Jessica had read them pletely： they were non…thinkers； attaching themselves to any fancied power for the identity which this gave them。 Without a reflection from her they were empty。 Thus； they were dangerous。
〃We were sent ahead by al…Fali to prepare you；〃 one of the young Fremen said。
Jessica felt an abrupt clenching tightness in her breast； but her voice remained calm。 〃Prepare me for what？〃
〃Stilgar has sent Duncan Idaho as his messenger。〃
Jessica pulled her aba hood up over her hair； an unconscious gesture。 Duncan？ But he was Alia's tool。
The Fremen who'd spoken took a half step forward。 〃Idaho says he has e to take you to safety； but al…Fali does not see how this can be。〃
〃It seems passing strange； indeed；〃 Jessica said。 〃But there are stranger things in our universe。 Bring him。〃
They glanced at each other but obeyed； leaving together with such a rush that they tore another rent in the worn curtain。
Presently Idaho stepped through the curtain； followed by the two Fremen and al…Fali bringing up the rear； hand on his crysknife。 Idaho appeared posed。 He wore the dress casuals of an Atreides House Guard； a uniform which had changed little in more than fourteen centuries。 Arrakis had replaced the old gold…handled plasteel blade with a crysknife； but that was minor。
〃I'm told you wish to help me；〃 Jessica said。
〃As odd as that may seem；〃 he said。
〃But didn't Alia send you to abduct me？〃 she asked。
A slight raising of his black eyebrows was the only mark of surprise。 The many…faceted Tleilaxu eyes continued to stare at her with glittering intensity。 〃Those were her orders；〃 he said。
Al…Fali's knuckles went white on his crysknife； but he did not draw。
〃I've spent much of this night reviewing the mistakes I made with my daughter；〃 she said。
〃There were many；〃 Idaho agreed； 〃and I shared in most of them。〃
She saw now that his jaw muscles were trembling。
〃It was easy to listen to the arguments which led us astray；〃 Jessica said。 〃I wanted to leave this place。。。You。。。you wanted a girl you saw as a younger version of me。〃
He accepted this silently。
〃Where are my grandchildren？〃 she demanded； voice going harsh。
He blinked。 Then： 〃Stilgar believes they have gone into the desert hiding。 Perhaps they saw this crisis ing。〃
Jessica glanced at al…Fali； who nodded his recognition that she had anticipated this。
〃What is Alia doing？〃 Jessica asked。
〃She risks civil war；〃 he said。
〃Do you believe it'll e to that？〃
Idaho shrugged。 〃Probably not。 These are softer times。 There are more people willing to listen to pleasant arguments。〃
〃I agree；〃 she said。 〃Well and good； what of my grandchildren？〃
〃Stilgar will find them if。。。〃
〃Yes； I see。〃 It was really up to Gurney Halleck then。 She turned to look at the rock wall on her left。 〃Alia grasps the power firmly now。〃 She looked back at Idaho。 〃You understand？ One uses power by grasping it lightly。 To grasp too strongly is to be taken over by power； and thus to bee its victim。〃
〃As my Duke always told me；〃 Idaho said。
Somehow Jessica knew he meant the older Leto； not Paul。 She asked： 〃Where am I to be taken in this。。。abduction？〃
Idaho peered down at her as though trying to see into the shadows created by the hood。
Al…Fali stepped forward： 〃My Lady； you are not seriously thinking。。。〃
〃Is it not my right to decide my own fate？〃 Jessica asked。
〃But this。。。〃 Al…Fali's head nodded toward Idaho。
〃This was my loyal guardian before Alia was born；〃 Jessica said。 〃Before he died saving my son's life and mine。 We Atreides always honor certain obligations。〃
〃Then you will go with me？〃 Idaho asked。
〃Where would you take her？〃 al…Fali asked。
〃Best that you don't know；〃 Jessica said。
Al…Fali scowled but remained silent。 His face betrayed indecision； an understanding of the wisdom in her words but an unresolved doubt of Idaho's trustworthiness。
〃What of the Fedaykin who helped me？〃 Jessica asked。
〃They have Stilgar's countenance if they can get to Tabr；〃 Idaho said。 Jessica faced al…Fali： 〃I mand you to go there； my friend。 Stilgar can use Fedaykin in the search for my grandchildren。〃
The old Naib lowered his gaze。 〃As Muad'Dib's mother mands。〃
He's still obeying Paul； she thought。
〃We should be out of here quickly；〃 Idaho said。 〃The search is certain to include this place； and that early。〃
Jessica rocked forward and arose with that fluid grace which never quite left the Bene Gesserit； even when they felt the pangs of age。 And she felt old now after her night of flight。 Even as she moved； her mind remained on that peculiar interview with her grandson。 What was he really doing？ She shook her head； covered the motion by adjusting her hood。 It was too easy to fall into the trap of underestimating Leto。 Life with ordinary children conditioned one to a false view of the inheritance which the twins enjoyed。
Her attention was caught by Idaho's pose。 He stood in the relaxed preparedness for violence； one foot ahead of the other； a stance which she herself had taught him。 She shot a quick look at the two young Fremen； at al…Fali。 Doubts still assailed the old Fremen Naib and the two young men felt this。
〃I trust this man with my life；〃 she said； addressing herself to al…Fali。 〃And it is not the first time。〃
〃My Lady；〃 al…Fali protested。 〃It's just。。。〃 He glared at Idaho。 〃He's the husband of the Coan…Teen！〃
〃And he was trained by my Duke and by me；〃 she said。
〃But he's a ghola！〃 The words were torn from al…Fali。
〃My son's ghola；〃 she reminded him。
It was too much for a former Fedaykin who'd once pledged himself to support Muad'Dib to the death。 He sighed； stepped aside； and motioned the two young men to open the curtains。
Jessica stepped through； Idaho behind her。 She turned； spoke to al…Fali in the doorway。 〃You are to go to Stilgar。 He's to be trusted。〃
〃Yes。。。〃 But she still heard doubts in the old man's voice。
Idaho touched her arm。 〃We should go at once。 Is there anything you wish to take？〃
〃Only my mon sense；〃 she said。
〃Why？ Do you fear you're making a mistake？〃
She glanced up at him。 〃You were always the best 'thopter pilot in our service； Duncan。〃
This did n