Chapter 38
The probability of failure is directly proportional
to the number and importance of the people watching.
Zumwalt's Law
Dax had returned.
He had given all Fremen two days to gather at Sietch Paxtang. Now hundreds of thousands of his people, some would say a million had gathered here. No matter, the fact remained that they had come.
The Naibs were gathered at the front of the throng and Mick'N indicated to Dax that he had the floor.
"Once again we find our home world under the control of the Harkonnens." His voice carried to all corners. "He who can kill a thing controls it - We must stop spice production. And…" He paused for dramatic effect. "We will kill until no Harkonnen breathes Arrakeen air."
As had occurred once before they chanted: "Maud'Dib! Maud'Dib! Maud'Dib!" They had The Maud'Dib – now there would be balance in the Universe or there would be Jihad!
He held up his hand and silence descended. "I have no need for the Water of Life. I have been given the Essence of Life by Shai-Hulud and this time the Universe will understand that one does not go against the will of God!"
~*~*~*~*~
Dax made a simple statement to Shai-Hulud. "Spice production must stop." It was a mere statement, there was no emotion behind it, just pure resolve, but the worms had come to him and they would do the will of The Maud'Dib.
~*~*~*~*~
Any Fremen who had fought two battles with Dax was familiar with the modus operandi. The soldiers would return whether victorious or beaten and Dax would find his way to Alexi. Like a piece of metal to a magnet; there was no turning left or right or pausing or shedding of still suits. He would head for the Command Room where she would be waiting for him.
She never met him out in the open always in the Command and Control Room. If his lifeless body came back to her she wanted a moment's peace. If he came back alive she wanted a modicum of privacy for his return.
This day was no different. The militia arrived – victorious and Dax went in search of Alexi. Kynes had chosen that moment to intercept Dax for his interview. Dax sidestepped him. Kynes kept following. Finally a Fremen grabbed him from behind. "It will wait." He was told. He attempted to object. The eyes of the man hardened. "IT WILL WAIT!"
Dax entered the C and C and spotted Alexi with the Naibs N'Gia and Mick'N. "Good." She said, she had not seen him yet, so intent was her focus. "But we need to adjust the spacing. Make them a meter closer that way the cascading effect will be more effective."
She turned suddenly. She had sensed his arrival. She moved to meet him halfway. In one motion he slipped his arm around her waist and kissed her. A kiss she returned with equal passion. That done they returned to the maps on the desk. No words were ever exchanged – none were needed. He was home and alive, all further demonstrations were conducted in private.
"It was a victory Maud'Dib." N'Gia wasn't asking.
"A victory." Dax confirmed.
"I still say that you should not be out there." Mick'N "If something happens to you then that is the end of House Atreides." The old man could not bring himself to express his concerns any more bluntly than that.
"We discussed this." Alexi reminded him.
"I must be out there." Dax said gently. " I am the eye around which this tempest swirls." Mick'N nodded to say 'I know. I know.' "If I am not there as the rallying point Arakkis will remain Harkonnen." Dax ended.
N'Gia came to his friend's defense. "We know… it's just that it is a risk."
"For the ultimate prize one must take the ultimate risk." Dax replied.
~*~*~*~*~
A Third Stage Guild Navigator arrived unannounced.
Vlad quickly rallied his sons and they appeared before the Navigator.
The translation device kicked into action as the Navigator spoke. "You have found no Thinking Machines…"
"Time…" Vlad oozed. "These things take time…"
"SILENCE!" The Guild Representative stopped him. "You are clear to us. The throne is yours as long as the Guild's Spice supply is guaranteed."
"Oh it is! It is!" The former Baron assured the Navigator.
"Do not let me return for this matter." He was warned. The Navigator left, he had no confidence in the man's ability to guarantee the flow of the spice. Alternate allegiances were needed.
~*~*~*~*~
Finally Dax and Alexi had arrived in their quarters. Unless there was an emergency they would not be disturbed further that night.
By this time they had both clean up, shed their day clothes and never got into their nightclothes. It seemed that with every venture out onto the battlefield that their lovemaking became more intense.
Completely relaxed Alexi sat up with Dax's head in her lap. Idly she ran her fingers though his hair. "I could stay like this forever." Dax announced. "Just you and me – no Empire and no family to avenge."
"A recipe for getting fat." She teased.
"May be." He said and fell silent.
The silence hovered for a while then she broke it. "What did Kynes want?"
"You know him?" Dax was intrigued
"One cannot help but know Dr. Tho'am Keyens, Imperial Planetologist." She replied. "He's been hovering about try to met with you - no one else but you. The Fedaykin had been delaying him but I see he caught up with you."
"Do I detect sarcasm there, M'Lady?" he teased.
"Only love I assure you, M'Lord." She shook him by moving her legs. "Well?"
Dax got serious. "He may have the answer as to why the worms are sick. Remember I told you?"
"You are not the only one. There are stories everywhere about it." She said. "…and?"
"He is linking it to the increased heat. He suggests that there is a climate change occurring and that the heat and the sick worms are the indicators of the change."
She began to scrutinize the hypothesis. "Did this not happen when Dune was green in the time of the God Emperor? Climate Change I mean."
"In a way… but that time the worms didn't get sick." Dax replied.
"No they just died. If it were not for Leto there would be no Dune Revenant." Alexi pointed out. "So what is his solution? The Convention?"
"He did mention it." Dax admitted.
"The Landsaard Framework Convention on Climate Change." She rattled. "Yet to make any difference anywhere – in my humble opinion."
"Not so humble when you consider that the good Doctor is of the same view."
"So now what?"
"Now nothing." He admitted. "I am a Fremen in the desert with his mate. If I ever ascend the Throne ask me again."
~*~*~*~*~
Bastagen entered the Command Quarters. "Maud'Dib…" She said.
Dax sighed. Would they never stop calling him that? Even if Leto had predicted it, it still felt odd. "Yes, I will meet the Guild Representative, have him wait."
"And that is why they will continue to call you Maud'Dib" Alexi answered his unspoken question.
He grimaced at her in reply. She stood. "I will meet with him."
"He came to see me." He pointed out though he did not object.
"You have much to do. Besides you cannot be expected to meet all who want to see you and I am curious as to how the Guild knows where to find us. Where they go others may yet follow."
"My thoughts exactly." He confirmed.
Alexi left to meet the Guild Liaison while Dax headed out on a mission, he and a platoon were going out to hunt some Harkonnen.
~*~*~*~*~
With each Harkonnen defeat the production of the vital melange dwindled and with it the Baron's power base.
In a desperate attempt at consolidation Vlad gave his sons cart blanche to squeeze the spice out of the planet. The rumours that production had stopped did not help matters. The Universe evolved around the spice, which was now affecting the political stability of the Empire.
In his growing desperation, there were increased cruelties by his sons.
The probability of failure is directly proportional
to the number and importance of the people watching.
Zumwalt's Law
Dax had returned.
He had given all Fremen two days to gather at Sietch Paxtang. Now hundreds of thousands of his people, some would say a million had gathered here. No matter, the fact remained that they had come.
The Naibs were gathered at the front of the throng and Mick'N indicated to Dax that he had the floor.
"Once again we find our home world under the control of the Harkonnens." His voice carried to all corners. "He who can kill a thing controls it - We must stop spice production. And…" He paused for dramatic effect. "We will kill until no Harkonnen breathes Arrakeen air."
As had occurred once before they chanted: "Maud'Dib! Maud'Dib! Maud'Dib!" They had The Maud'Dib – now there would be balance in the Universe or there would be Jihad!
He held up his hand and silence descended. "I have no need for the Water of Life. I have been given the Essence of Life by Shai-Hulud and this time the Universe will understand that one does not go against the will of God!"
~*~*~*~*~
Dax made a simple statement to Shai-Hulud. "Spice production must stop." It was a mere statement, there was no emotion behind it, just pure resolve, but the worms had come to him and they would do the will of The Maud'Dib.
~*~*~*~*~
Any Fremen who had fought two battles with Dax was familiar with the modus operandi. The soldiers would return whether victorious or beaten and Dax would find his way to Alexi. Like a piece of metal to a magnet; there was no turning left or right or pausing or shedding of still suits. He would head for the Command Room where she would be waiting for him.
She never met him out in the open always in the Command and Control Room. If his lifeless body came back to her she wanted a moment's peace. If he came back alive she wanted a modicum of privacy for his return.
This day was no different. The militia arrived – victorious and Dax went in search of Alexi. Kynes had chosen that moment to intercept Dax for his interview. Dax sidestepped him. Kynes kept following. Finally a Fremen grabbed him from behind. "It will wait." He was told. He attempted to object. The eyes of the man hardened. "IT WILL WAIT!"
Dax entered the C and C and spotted Alexi with the Naibs N'Gia and Mick'N. "Good." She said, she had not seen him yet, so intent was her focus. "But we need to adjust the spacing. Make them a meter closer that way the cascading effect will be more effective."
She turned suddenly. She had sensed his arrival. She moved to meet him halfway. In one motion he slipped his arm around her waist and kissed her. A kiss she returned with equal passion. That done they returned to the maps on the desk. No words were ever exchanged – none were needed. He was home and alive, all further demonstrations were conducted in private.
"It was a victory Maud'Dib." N'Gia wasn't asking.
"A victory." Dax confirmed.
"I still say that you should not be out there." Mick'N "If something happens to you then that is the end of House Atreides." The old man could not bring himself to express his concerns any more bluntly than that.
"We discussed this." Alexi reminded him.
"I must be out there." Dax said gently. " I am the eye around which this tempest swirls." Mick'N nodded to say 'I know. I know.' "If I am not there as the rallying point Arakkis will remain Harkonnen." Dax ended.
N'Gia came to his friend's defense. "We know… it's just that it is a risk."
"For the ultimate prize one must take the ultimate risk." Dax replied.
~*~*~*~*~
A Third Stage Guild Navigator arrived unannounced.
Vlad quickly rallied his sons and they appeared before the Navigator.
The translation device kicked into action as the Navigator spoke. "You have found no Thinking Machines…"
"Time…" Vlad oozed. "These things take time…"
"SILENCE!" The Guild Representative stopped him. "You are clear to us. The throne is yours as long as the Guild's Spice supply is guaranteed."
"Oh it is! It is!" The former Baron assured the Navigator.
"Do not let me return for this matter." He was warned. The Navigator left, he had no confidence in the man's ability to guarantee the flow of the spice. Alternate allegiances were needed.
~*~*~*~*~
Finally Dax and Alexi had arrived in their quarters. Unless there was an emergency they would not be disturbed further that night.
By this time they had both clean up, shed their day clothes and never got into their nightclothes. It seemed that with every venture out onto the battlefield that their lovemaking became more intense.
Completely relaxed Alexi sat up with Dax's head in her lap. Idly she ran her fingers though his hair. "I could stay like this forever." Dax announced. "Just you and me – no Empire and no family to avenge."
"A recipe for getting fat." She teased.
"May be." He said and fell silent.
The silence hovered for a while then she broke it. "What did Kynes want?"
"You know him?" Dax was intrigued
"One cannot help but know Dr. Tho'am Keyens, Imperial Planetologist." She replied. "He's been hovering about try to met with you - no one else but you. The Fedaykin had been delaying him but I see he caught up with you."
"Do I detect sarcasm there, M'Lady?" he teased.
"Only love I assure you, M'Lord." She shook him by moving her legs. "Well?"
Dax got serious. "He may have the answer as to why the worms are sick. Remember I told you?"
"You are not the only one. There are stories everywhere about it." She said. "…and?"
"He is linking it to the increased heat. He suggests that there is a climate change occurring and that the heat and the sick worms are the indicators of the change."
She began to scrutinize the hypothesis. "Did this not happen when Dune was green in the time of the God Emperor? Climate Change I mean."
"In a way… but that time the worms didn't get sick." Dax replied.
"No they just died. If it were not for Leto there would be no Dune Revenant." Alexi pointed out. "So what is his solution? The Convention?"
"He did mention it." Dax admitted.
"The Landsaard Framework Convention on Climate Change." She rattled. "Yet to make any difference anywhere – in my humble opinion."
"Not so humble when you consider that the good Doctor is of the same view."
"So now what?"
"Now nothing." He admitted. "I am a Fremen in the desert with his mate. If I ever ascend the Throne ask me again."
~*~*~*~*~
Bastagen entered the Command Quarters. "Maud'Dib…" She said.
Dax sighed. Would they never stop calling him that? Even if Leto had predicted it, it still felt odd. "Yes, I will meet the Guild Representative, have him wait."
"And that is why they will continue to call you Maud'Dib" Alexi answered his unspoken question.
He grimaced at her in reply. She stood. "I will meet with him."
"He came to see me." He pointed out though he did not object.
"You have much to do. Besides you cannot be expected to meet all who want to see you and I am curious as to how the Guild knows where to find us. Where they go others may yet follow."
"My thoughts exactly." He confirmed.
Alexi left to meet the Guild Liaison while Dax headed out on a mission, he and a platoon were going out to hunt some Harkonnen.
~*~*~*~*~
With each Harkonnen defeat the production of the vital melange dwindled and with it the Baron's power base.
In a desperate attempt at consolidation Vlad gave his sons cart blanche to squeeze the spice out of the planet. The rumours that production had stopped did not help matters. The Universe evolved around the spice, which was now affecting the political stability of the Empire.
In his growing desperation, there were increased cruelties by his sons.
