按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Here； upon this plain； her son had wrested the Imperium from the late Shaddam IV。 A convulsion of history had imprinted this place into men's minds and beliefs。
She heard the restless stirring of the entourage behind her and again she sighed。 They must wait for Alia； who had been delayed。 Alia's party could be seen now approaching from the far edge of the throng； creating a human wave as a wedge of Royal Guards opened a passage。
Jessica scanned the landscape once more。 Many differences submitted to her searching stare。 A prayer balcony had been added to the landing field's control tower。 And visible far off to the left across the plain stood the awesome pile of plasteel which Paul had built as his fortress his 〃sietch above the sand。〃 It was the largest integrated single construction ever to rise from the hand of man。 Entire cities could have been housed within its walls and room to spare。 Now it housed the most powerful governing force in the Imperium； Alia's 〃Society of the Faithful；〃 which she had built upon her brother's body。
That place must go； Jessica thought。
Alia's delegation had reached the foot of the exit ramp and stood there expectantly。 Jessica recognized Stilgar's craggy features。 And God forfend！ There stood the Princess Irulan hiding her savagery in that seductive body with its cap of golden hair exposed by a vagrant breeze。 Irulan seemed not to have aged a day； it was an affront。 And there； at the point of the wedge； was Alia； her features impudently youthful； her eyes staring upward into the hatchway's shadows。 Jessica's mouth drew into a straight line and she scanned her daughter's face。 A leaden sensation pulsed through Jessica's body and she heard the surf of her own life within her ears。 The rumors were true！ Horrible！ Horrible！ Alia had fallen into the forbidden way。 The evidence was there for the initiate to read。 Abomination！
In the few moments it took her to recover； Jessica realized how much she had hoped to find the rumors false。
What of the twins？ she asked herself。 Are they lost； too？
Slowly； as befitted the mother of a god； Jessica moved out of the shadows and onto the lip of the ramp。 Her entourage remained behind as instructed。 These next few moments were the crucial ones。 Jessica stood alone in full view of the throng。 She heard Gurney Halleck cough nervously behind her。 Gurney had objected： 〃Not even a shield on you？ Gods below； woman！ You're insane！〃
But among Gurney's most valuable features was a core of obedience。 He would say his piece and then he would obey。 Now he obeyed。
The human sea emitted a sound like the hiss of a giant sandworm as Jessica emerged。 She raised her arms in the benedictory to which the priesthood had conditioned the Imperium。 With significant pockets of tardiness； but still like one giant organism； the people sank to their knees。 Even the official party plied。
Jessica had marked out the places of delay； and she knew that other eyes behind her and among her agents in the throng had memorized a temporary map with which to seek out the tardy。
As Jessica remained with her arms upraised； Gurney and his men emerged。 They moved swiftly past her down the ramp； ignoring the official party's startled looks； joining the agents who identified themselves by handsign。 Quickly they fanned out through the human sea； leaping knots of kneeling figures； dashing through narrow lanes。 A few of their targets saw the danger and tried to flee。 They were the easiest： a thrown knife； a garrote loop and the runners went down。 Others were herded out of the press； hands bound； feet hobbled。
Through it all； Jessica stood with arms outstretched； blessing by her presence； keeping the throng subservient。 She read the signs of spreading rumors though； and knew the dominant one because it had been planted： 〃The Reverend Mother returns to weed out the slackers。 Bless the mother of our Lord！〃
When it was over a few dead bodies sprawled on the sand； captives removed to holding pens beneath the landing tower Jessica lowered her arms。 Perhaps three minutes had elapsed。 She knew there was little likelihood Gurney and his men had taken any of the ringleaders； the ones who posed the most potent threat。 They would be the alert and sensitive ones。 But the captives would contain some interesting fish as well as the usual culls and dullards。
Jessica lowered her arms and； cheering； the people surged to their feet。
As though nothing untoward had happened； Jessica walked alone down the ramp； avoiding her daughter； singling out Stilgar for concentrated attention。 The black beard which fanned out across the neck of his stillsuit hood like a wild delta contained flecks of grey； but his eyes carried that same whiteless intensity they'd presented to her on their first encounter in the desert。 Stilgar knew what had just occurred； and approved。 Here stood a true Fremen Naib； a leader of men and capable of bloody decisions。 His first words were pletely in character。
〃Wele home； My Lady。 It's always a pleasure to see direct and effective action。〃
Jessica allowed herself a tiny smile。 〃Close the port； Stil。 No one leaves until we've questioned those we took。〃
〃It's already done； My Lady；〃 Stilgar said。 〃Gurney's man and I planned this together。〃
〃Those were your men； then； the ones who helped。〃
〃Some of them； My Lady。〃
She read the hidden reservations； nodded。 〃You studied me pretty well in those old days； Stil。〃
〃As you once were at pains to tell me； My Lady； one observes the survivors and learns from them。〃
Alia stepped forward then and Stilgar stood aside while Jessica confronted her daughter。
Knowing there was no way to hide what she had learned； Jessica did not even try concealment。 Alia could read the minutiae when she needed； could read as well as any adept of the Sisterhood。 She would already know by Jessica's behavior what had been seen and interpreted。 They were enemies for whom the word mortal touched only the surface。
Alia chose anger as the easiest and most proper reaction。
〃How dare you plan an action such as this without consulting me？〃 she demanded； pushing her face close to Jessica's。
Jessica spoke mildly： 〃As you've just heard； Gurney didn't even let me in on the whole plan。 It was thought。。。〃
〃And you； Stilgar！〃 Alia said； rounding on him。 〃To whom are you loyal？〃
〃My oath is to Muad'Dib's children；〃 Stilgar said； speaking stiffly。 〃We have removed a threat to them。〃
〃And why doesn't that fill you with joy。。。daughter？〃 Jessica asked。
Alia blinked； glanced once at her mother； suppressed the inner tempest； and even managed a straight…toothed smile。 〃I am filled with joy。。。mother；〃 she said。 And to her own surprise； Alia found that she was happy； experiencing a terrible delight that it was all out in the open at last between herself and her mother。 The moment she had dreaded was past and the power balance had not really been changed。 〃We will discuss this in more detail at a more convenient time；〃 Alia said； speaking both to her mother and Stilgar。
〃But of course；〃 Jessica said； turning with a movement of dismissal to face the Princess Irulan。
For a few brief heartbeats； Jessica and the Princess stood silen