Since the Butlerian Jihad, each society has sought its own way to maintain perfect records: the Ixians with their recording machines, the Bene Gesserit and the Mentats with superior mental abilities, and more recently the Bene Tleilaxu with their gholas. The Bene Gesserit learned in time that memory was as inconsistent as any other form of record keeping. This is a lesson the Tleilaxu have yet to learn.
-Bene Gesserit Cultural Analyses
Bellonda hurried through the halls of the archives. It was not that she assigned any special importance to the task that Murbella had currently assigned her to, she simply wished to be done with it and move on. It was so hard for her to think of this honored matre whore as mother superior. In the instant of Odrade's death, Bellonda's entire world had become separated into tasks that must be hurriedly completed so as to move on to the next task.
Chapterhouse was swarming with the whores being trained in Bene Gesserit techniques. The extinction of the Sisterhood through the natural course of battle would have been a superior alternative to this cultural assimilation, Bell thought. The powers that be… So much in that ancient expression, and yet only a fraction of what would be lost if Murbella's gamble failed to pay off.
As much as she feared to admit it, Reverend Mother Alicia Norvina's defection and theft of a Duncan Idaho embryo, might be the salvation of the sisterhood. Though Bellonda couldn't see the motives behind it, Alicia's private rebellion made a certain sense. Alicia was a direct descendant of the Kwisatz Mother, Anirul, who presided over the breeding program in the final days of the old empire.
Bell glanced at a monitor to her left and saw in it a young Duncan Idaho training within the confines of a no-room. At least they weren't keeping him in a ship this time. Hindsight always reveals the most obvious mistakes. The sisterhood had only learned of Miles Teg's ability to see no ships after he had fled with the previous Idaho ghola, and only imagined Duncan's flight when the ship had left the ground.
Seven years had been lost; more would be lost before their plans would be back on track. While the Sisterhood was rapidly teaching the countless honored matres to protect from the outside enemy, the structure of the known universe was crumbling from the inside.
Bell opened the door before her and walked onto the practice floor, greeted by the smiling face of a young Duncan Idaho with a slightly smaller Miles Teg standing beside him. The air smelled of the sweat worked up by the two young sparing partners.
"Mother Superior, has requested the presence of the two of you."
Duncan perked up, "Is it about our memories?"
"I don't believe so."
The three-year-old Teg pulled on Duncan's shirtsleeve to get his attention then whispered in his ear. It was a pointless gesture, even at this early age Teg knew that the com-eyes could hear everything that was said, but he did it anyway. It was his way of paying homage to a simpler time that was locked away in the recesses of his mind.
Duncan nodded in agreement to Teg's silent comment, then smiled sweetly at Bellonda. In the most prim and proper tone of voice his young vocal cords could muster, he stated simply, "If our presence is requested, we will of course be prompt in providing it."
Teg seemed to be suppressing a giggle. Bellonda suddenly felt overwhelmed with discomfort, and remembered once again her stern objections to the idea of bringing these two up together. These were dangerous times indeed.
* * *
Murbella stood behind a technician seated in front of a screen showing Teg whispering to Duncan. After manipulating the controls for nearly five minutes the technician confirmed Murbella's earlier suspicions.
"He didn't say anything, he didn't make any noise at all, and his lips didn't move."
Murbella pondered this for a few seconds then left the control center and returned to her quarters to prepare for her meeting with these two gholas. The technician was left with no explanation for Teg's behavior; there was no reason.
-Bene Gesserit Cultural Analyses
Bellonda hurried through the halls of the archives. It was not that she assigned any special importance to the task that Murbella had currently assigned her to, she simply wished to be done with it and move on. It was so hard for her to think of this honored matre whore as mother superior. In the instant of Odrade's death, Bellonda's entire world had become separated into tasks that must be hurriedly completed so as to move on to the next task.
Chapterhouse was swarming with the whores being trained in Bene Gesserit techniques. The extinction of the Sisterhood through the natural course of battle would have been a superior alternative to this cultural assimilation, Bell thought. The powers that be… So much in that ancient expression, and yet only a fraction of what would be lost if Murbella's gamble failed to pay off.
As much as she feared to admit it, Reverend Mother Alicia Norvina's defection and theft of a Duncan Idaho embryo, might be the salvation of the sisterhood. Though Bellonda couldn't see the motives behind it, Alicia's private rebellion made a certain sense. Alicia was a direct descendant of the Kwisatz Mother, Anirul, who presided over the breeding program in the final days of the old empire.
Bell glanced at a monitor to her left and saw in it a young Duncan Idaho training within the confines of a no-room. At least they weren't keeping him in a ship this time. Hindsight always reveals the most obvious mistakes. The sisterhood had only learned of Miles Teg's ability to see no ships after he had fled with the previous Idaho ghola, and only imagined Duncan's flight when the ship had left the ground.
Seven years had been lost; more would be lost before their plans would be back on track. While the Sisterhood was rapidly teaching the countless honored matres to protect from the outside enemy, the structure of the known universe was crumbling from the inside.
Bell opened the door before her and walked onto the practice floor, greeted by the smiling face of a young Duncan Idaho with a slightly smaller Miles Teg standing beside him. The air smelled of the sweat worked up by the two young sparing partners.
"Mother Superior, has requested the presence of the two of you."
Duncan perked up, "Is it about our memories?"
"I don't believe so."
The three-year-old Teg pulled on Duncan's shirtsleeve to get his attention then whispered in his ear. It was a pointless gesture, even at this early age Teg knew that the com-eyes could hear everything that was said, but he did it anyway. It was his way of paying homage to a simpler time that was locked away in the recesses of his mind.
Duncan nodded in agreement to Teg's silent comment, then smiled sweetly at Bellonda. In the most prim and proper tone of voice his young vocal cords could muster, he stated simply, "If our presence is requested, we will of course be prompt in providing it."
Teg seemed to be suppressing a giggle. Bellonda suddenly felt overwhelmed with discomfort, and remembered once again her stern objections to the idea of bringing these two up together. These were dangerous times indeed.
* * *
Murbella stood behind a technician seated in front of a screen showing Teg whispering to Duncan. After manipulating the controls for nearly five minutes the technician confirmed Murbella's earlier suspicions.
"He didn't say anything, he didn't make any noise at all, and his lips didn't move."
Murbella pondered this for a few seconds then left the control center and returned to her quarters to prepare for her meeting with these two gholas. The technician was left with no explanation for Teg's behavior; there was no reason.