Chapter 37
I never told my own religion nor scrutinized that of another.
I never attempted to make a convert, nor wished to change another's creed.
I am satisfied that yours must be an excellent religion to have produced a life of such exemplary virtue and correctness.
For it is in our lives, and not from our words that our religion must be judged.
Thomas Jefferson - Politician
Dax stepped out on to the outcrop and the sand rippled revealing the presence of his protector. Next to him stood Mick'N and Alexi. "I will return." He promised.
The two nodded in agreement.
Dax reached and touched Alexi's stomach, "And I will return with a name."
Her eyes bored into him and he could resist her no more, he bent and kissed her. That done he descended to the sand where he boarded the worm. "Show me." He said and the worm obeyed.
~*~*~*~*~
A Bene Gesserit Mentat reported to the Mother Superior. "The Spice is in jeopardy. It is projected that these last three months of silence from the Fremen and Empress Arista, is the calm before the storm. Lord Dax controls the Worms of Arakkis of that there is no doubt. Such a force cannot be expected to crawl away and die. A storm is approaching. We must position ourselves to survive it."
~*~*~*~*~
Kyens arrived at the Sietch and stopped the first person he encountered, this happened to be Bastagen.
"Excuse me." Kynes addressed the young woman. "I'm Dr. Tho'Ma Kynes. I'm looking for Lord Dax Atreides. Can you direct me to his quarters?" Kynes had decided that Dax would have more time to listen than a busy warrior Empress.
Bastagen directed him to where he could find Dax then added, "… but he's not here."
Kynes stopped dead in his tracks. "Not here?"
"No… he's gone on a pilgrimage into the deep desert."
Kynes felt himself deflate. "Thank you." He said and prepared himself to wait for the return of Dax. He had no intention of addressing the Harkonnens on this matter. They were not interested in long-term planning only short-term gain.
No, Dax was the one he needed to see.
~*~*~*~*~
It had been a five-thumper ride, except that a thumper was not needed. Dax was passed like a baton from Sand Worm to Sand Worm until finally they delivered him wherever it was they needed him to be. They arrived at the post spice blow just as the second moon rose. There was melange all over the place and the raw smell of cinnamon was everywhere.
Dax descended and looked around. He knew this place! He hadn't been here in years but he remembered like it was yesterday. He, Amasso and their father had come here soon after Amasso had come back from the Mesa that time he had gone to face his drinking problem... the pleasant memory soured - now Amasso was dead.
He looked around.
This was Abu Simbel - a set of two temples constructed by Ramesses Atreides II who reigned for two hundred and sixty seven years, approximately four thousand years ago.
Ramesses had seen the data file on the original Abu Simbel and had proceeded to replicate it in the desert. By coincidence he already had the name of the ruler. Why not his Temple?
The work had withstood both the test of time and the onslaught of the desert.
The Great Temple was dedicated to Ramesses II and a statue of him seated could still be seen though severely weathered. He was seated within the innermost part of the rock-cut temple - the sanctuary. Four enormous seated statues of the Emperor dominated the temple's façade, each over twenty meters high.
There was a smaller Temple, which Ramesses' had dedicated to his favourite wife, Alexandria. And should anyone doubt his devotion, at the entrance stood six ten-meter-high rock-cut statues - two of Ramesses and one of Alexandria on either side of the doorway.
The intense proximity of the spice was affecting him. He slid off his last ride and lay down on the warm sand. His consciousness began to expand as new horizons exploded before him. Again Shai-Hulud heard his call and they came. Thousands of Sand Worms surrounded him as the Planet and the Spice exerted their grip over him.
He stretched out on the bare sand and slipped into a coma-like state as the worms of Dune began to congregate and conduct a vigil around him.
Oblivious to what was happening around him, Dax faced his own unique world within. The kaleidoscope of colours swirled to form a tunnel of light and he floated through. He emerged into a white light in what looked like a room – again all in white. The effect was stark yet dramatic. In there he came face to face with Leto Atreides II, God Emperor, The Tyrant in human form.
"Yes." Leto addressed him. "I am all that and more. I set humans onto the Golden Path and I am your ancestor."
"What is happening to me?" Dax didn't even know how to address Leto. Maybe Uncle would do.
"Yes. Uncle will do fine." Leto replied.
"You can hear my thoughts?" Dax asked.
"You can hear mine if you listen." Leto assured him. "Just listen."
Dax did as he was urged and a myriad of images, experiences, emotions and information flowed. It was awe-inspiring. It all happened in a flash. The overwhelming revelation revealed the link. The connection from Leto to the Worms to Dax to Climate Change to Ozone Erosion to Worm Kill to Spice Production to Dax.
"Every worm to follow me has my consciousness in them." Leto stated. "They – we have waited Millennia for someone to come along to 'link' with us. You are that man."
"Why me?!" Dax demanded. "I've a twin, why not him." He corrected, "Had a twin."
Leto shrugged "I was a twin too. Looked what happened to me! I found myself turned into a worm."
"That was your choice you could have turned from it." Dax said.
"No more than you can turn from your destiny." Leto snapped. "I heard you pray for the cup to pass, but in true Atreides form – you will not dodge this. Dune is in need of House Atreides, to hell with the Spice – the Worms of Dune are in need of House Atreides. We are the only ones with the Fremen to care for them and see past the by-product. This you must do, Dax."
"I know." Dax surrendered. "I had hoped…"
"I know. I know." Leto empathized. "Be aware that they will call you The Maud'Dib"
"THE Maud'Dib?" Dax was perplexed.
"As in saviour. You are not Maud'Dib, that was my father" Leto explained as Dax chuckled. "But it will be conferred upon you as a title. Accept it with grace… Now it is time to leave."
As Dax prepared to leave Leto had one last word. "Dax."
"Sir?"
"House Atreides is vulnerable right now. Until your daughter is born and grows to stand at your side you ARE House Atreides. I know you will do right by us."
Dax nodded. "I'll do my best … Uncle"
Leto smiled and waved his descendant away.
~*~*~*~*~
House Harkonnen had no interest in restoring schools, museums, or basic infrastructure. As such the basic amenities ravaged by the invasion were allowed to remain in their dilapidated condition.
They were there for one thing and one thing only – The Spice and it would flow!
~*~*~*~*~
Valcyn had been drifting along as he usually did. This night had brought him to a wondrous sight – The birth of The Maud'Dib. Of that Valcyn was sure. Who else caused worms to converge in peace?
He watched as Dax stood.
He listened as in one voice of praise the thousands of Shai-Huluds that had gathered roared their blessing and approval. They had The Maud'Dib – now there would be balance in the Universe or there would be Jihad!
I never told my own religion nor scrutinized that of another.
I never attempted to make a convert, nor wished to change another's creed.
I am satisfied that yours must be an excellent religion to have produced a life of such exemplary virtue and correctness.
For it is in our lives, and not from our words that our religion must be judged.
Thomas Jefferson - Politician
Dax stepped out on to the outcrop and the sand rippled revealing the presence of his protector. Next to him stood Mick'N and Alexi. "I will return." He promised.
The two nodded in agreement.
Dax reached and touched Alexi's stomach, "And I will return with a name."
Her eyes bored into him and he could resist her no more, he bent and kissed her. That done he descended to the sand where he boarded the worm. "Show me." He said and the worm obeyed.
~*~*~*~*~
A Bene Gesserit Mentat reported to the Mother Superior. "The Spice is in jeopardy. It is projected that these last three months of silence from the Fremen and Empress Arista, is the calm before the storm. Lord Dax controls the Worms of Arakkis of that there is no doubt. Such a force cannot be expected to crawl away and die. A storm is approaching. We must position ourselves to survive it."
~*~*~*~*~
Kyens arrived at the Sietch and stopped the first person he encountered, this happened to be Bastagen.
"Excuse me." Kynes addressed the young woman. "I'm Dr. Tho'Ma Kynes. I'm looking for Lord Dax Atreides. Can you direct me to his quarters?" Kynes had decided that Dax would have more time to listen than a busy warrior Empress.
Bastagen directed him to where he could find Dax then added, "… but he's not here."
Kynes stopped dead in his tracks. "Not here?"
"No… he's gone on a pilgrimage into the deep desert."
Kynes felt himself deflate. "Thank you." He said and prepared himself to wait for the return of Dax. He had no intention of addressing the Harkonnens on this matter. They were not interested in long-term planning only short-term gain.
No, Dax was the one he needed to see.
~*~*~*~*~
It had been a five-thumper ride, except that a thumper was not needed. Dax was passed like a baton from Sand Worm to Sand Worm until finally they delivered him wherever it was they needed him to be. They arrived at the post spice blow just as the second moon rose. There was melange all over the place and the raw smell of cinnamon was everywhere.
Dax descended and looked around. He knew this place! He hadn't been here in years but he remembered like it was yesterday. He, Amasso and their father had come here soon after Amasso had come back from the Mesa that time he had gone to face his drinking problem... the pleasant memory soured - now Amasso was dead.
He looked around.
This was Abu Simbel - a set of two temples constructed by Ramesses Atreides II who reigned for two hundred and sixty seven years, approximately four thousand years ago.
Ramesses had seen the data file on the original Abu Simbel and had proceeded to replicate it in the desert. By coincidence he already had the name of the ruler. Why not his Temple?
The work had withstood both the test of time and the onslaught of the desert.
The Great Temple was dedicated to Ramesses II and a statue of him seated could still be seen though severely weathered. He was seated within the innermost part of the rock-cut temple - the sanctuary. Four enormous seated statues of the Emperor dominated the temple's façade, each over twenty meters high.
There was a smaller Temple, which Ramesses' had dedicated to his favourite wife, Alexandria. And should anyone doubt his devotion, at the entrance stood six ten-meter-high rock-cut statues - two of Ramesses and one of Alexandria on either side of the doorway.
The intense proximity of the spice was affecting him. He slid off his last ride and lay down on the warm sand. His consciousness began to expand as new horizons exploded before him. Again Shai-Hulud heard his call and they came. Thousands of Sand Worms surrounded him as the Planet and the Spice exerted their grip over him.
He stretched out on the bare sand and slipped into a coma-like state as the worms of Dune began to congregate and conduct a vigil around him.
Oblivious to what was happening around him, Dax faced his own unique world within. The kaleidoscope of colours swirled to form a tunnel of light and he floated through. He emerged into a white light in what looked like a room – again all in white. The effect was stark yet dramatic. In there he came face to face with Leto Atreides II, God Emperor, The Tyrant in human form.
"Yes." Leto addressed him. "I am all that and more. I set humans onto the Golden Path and I am your ancestor."
"What is happening to me?" Dax didn't even know how to address Leto. Maybe Uncle would do.
"Yes. Uncle will do fine." Leto replied.
"You can hear my thoughts?" Dax asked.
"You can hear mine if you listen." Leto assured him. "Just listen."
Dax did as he was urged and a myriad of images, experiences, emotions and information flowed. It was awe-inspiring. It all happened in a flash. The overwhelming revelation revealed the link. The connection from Leto to the Worms to Dax to Climate Change to Ozone Erosion to Worm Kill to Spice Production to Dax.
"Every worm to follow me has my consciousness in them." Leto stated. "They – we have waited Millennia for someone to come along to 'link' with us. You are that man."
"Why me?!" Dax demanded. "I've a twin, why not him." He corrected, "Had a twin."
Leto shrugged "I was a twin too. Looked what happened to me! I found myself turned into a worm."
"That was your choice you could have turned from it." Dax said.
"No more than you can turn from your destiny." Leto snapped. "I heard you pray for the cup to pass, but in true Atreides form – you will not dodge this. Dune is in need of House Atreides, to hell with the Spice – the Worms of Dune are in need of House Atreides. We are the only ones with the Fremen to care for them and see past the by-product. This you must do, Dax."
"I know." Dax surrendered. "I had hoped…"
"I know. I know." Leto empathized. "Be aware that they will call you The Maud'Dib"
"THE Maud'Dib?" Dax was perplexed.
"As in saviour. You are not Maud'Dib, that was my father" Leto explained as Dax chuckled. "But it will be conferred upon you as a title. Accept it with grace… Now it is time to leave."
As Dax prepared to leave Leto had one last word. "Dax."
"Sir?"
"House Atreides is vulnerable right now. Until your daughter is born and grows to stand at your side you ARE House Atreides. I know you will do right by us."
Dax nodded. "I'll do my best … Uncle"
Leto smiled and waved his descendant away.
~*~*~*~*~
House Harkonnen had no interest in restoring schools, museums, or basic infrastructure. As such the basic amenities ravaged by the invasion were allowed to remain in their dilapidated condition.
They were there for one thing and one thing only – The Spice and it would flow!
~*~*~*~*~
Valcyn had been drifting along as he usually did. This night had brought him to a wondrous sight – The birth of The Maud'Dib. Of that Valcyn was sure. Who else caused worms to converge in peace?
He watched as Dax stood.
He listened as in one voice of praise the thousands of Shai-Huluds that had gathered roared their blessing and approval. They had The Maud'Dib – now there would be balance in the Universe or there would be Jihad!
