A Day on The Way
Centuries after my death, people's understanding of the Golden Path will keep evolving. They will say, the Tyrant subjugated the human will at unprecedented scale. Which is what I did, but merely as means to an end. Time later, they will say the Golden Path was about setting humans from the yoke of prescience. A thousand years later, it will be something else yet. Let me spare you centuries of indecision. I sought to only achieve one thing: the shaping of humanity into ultimate rebels.
– LETO II, THE DAR ES BALAT DIARIES
Tairasu found going back to training almost liberating. Working for the Matres required toiling endlessly in chores that were best left to servants. Even though her status as Matre-in-training commanded respect and attention wherever else she went. But she was still nothing in the presence of full or Great Matres.
Dorm life on Chapterhouse meant no privacy, that was true, but in the first few weeks she woke curious to learn what a Bene Gesserit life was like. The prana-bindu classes proved to be the hardest and most boring. When can we compare notes on Imprinting?, she asked around, but basic training was only about mind and physical control. Where is Voice training? Great Matres dropped in from time to time, motivating and admonishing them. Not so differently from her old training days on Belasca, Hormu's own school. Matre Angelika visited every week, spending time with the Tutors and trainers behind closed doors. Screams and sounds of heated discussions would seep out of the meeting room. One time she emerged smiling, and proceeded to the kitchens to order the cooks to lace the food with the tiniest amount of spice. Over the course of a few weeks, the much coveted ingredient became unescapable – in the food, in the coffee, even in the air. A worm had been sighted ten miles from Central, among the rapidly encroaching sand dunes south of the School, and new spice blows scattered blue particles in the evening wind.
One morning she woke up, and her face in the mirror showed how her eyes had lost the orange speckles of the laiz drug. She ran to Tutor Gammala, the old failed Bene Gesserit, who for once paid her attention. "Calm down, sister," (her voice was able to convey the subtlety of a lowercase 's'!), "our melange is a jealous mistress. She likes her addiction to be exclusive. The exposure to spice is weaning you off of whatever alternative your order was so fond of." Tairasu had noticed the spite she had used to say 'order'.
"Tutor," Tairasu replied, "is this what the Bene Gesserit in training go through also?" she asked innocently. "Bene Gesserit!" the Tutor exclaimed, ignoring her question. "I wish we could train them still! We just host the hordes of you flowing from countless planets until we burst at the seams. The faster we can set you off, the better!"
Tairasu stepped back, astonished that somebody could speak so lightly of the Matres without facing repercussions. But Gammala seemed to inhabit that uncharted territory between a Matre and a Bene Gesserit one, an authority that did not see it necessary to cultivate respect from her pupils.
Tairasu dropped Celia, the buddy-turned-hostile, only a few days before on account of discovering she was a failed acolyte. Gerta - another Matre-in-training that had joined only three months before - had become a fast friend instead, if only because she proved to be more knowledgeable about local gossip.
"Have you noticed that there are no Bene Gesserit students around?" Tairasu had asked her on their free day as they were hanging out near the main cafeteria, secretly hoping to meet at Angelika, and escape their boredom.
"I heard they shipped them away. Too many altercations with our kind. They are slow," said Gerta looking at the sun, "But do you know what's worse? They closed down Belasca."
"My school of old?"
"No Matres schools anymore. By order of Murbella."
Tairasu gasped. "Is this the end of us?"
"They are merging the Schools. No more laiz. Only spice. Mandatory ordeal for whoever is ready." Was it going to happen this fast?
"That makes me happy. I want it all," replied Tairasu, "I want their Voice, their control over nerves, over body chemistry, I want the mysteries of the Reverend Mothers. Let's get on with it."
"Maybe. Rumors are, there isn't enough spice. That's what Angelika and the Tutors have been fighting about. But hey, let's have fun. Today we are off. I, in fact, have in mind to visit the men's quarters. There must be somebody idle there at this time of the day."
"You only have one thing in mind, Gerta!"
"Come along! My friend Sutica is waiting for us there. This planet is a countryside farm, but the B.G. are as hungry as we are. I hear some of the men are excellent," and she strode off.
"The B.G.?" laughed Tairasu, running to keep up with her.
"Their name is a mouthful, isn't it?"
They walked steadily through The Way, the main avenue of Central, which at that time of the day was the place where the Matres and B.G. of rank went to see and be seen. Murbella made regular appearances there, and Angelika too. They gazed at the women, guards, and operatives walking by, while exchanging the latest gossip. "That's Sister Liomé. She promoted her real-life sister, a total failure. Do you know what happened next? The sister died in the spice ordeal. See how she looks innocent? I bet sent her sister to death on purpose."
"Gerta, so you can die of spice?"
"Like any overdose. I am telling you, it was planned."
And ten feet later: "You see that handsome guard walking with the group?" continued Gerta.
"Mmmh. He looks delicious."
"He comes to visit us at School some nights. Brings his pals. Do you like uniformed men?"
"I like men in uniforms I can take away."
"That one is not bonded, let's approach him now. Hey, beauty!"
"You don't remember his name?" whispered Tairasu.
"Why would I?" The two approached the group of men in uniform, observed the mixed reactions of the soldiers who could not take their gaze away from them, the ones who suppressed the urge to do so, and the ones who did both. Gerta, the more worldly of the two, smiled and gently whispered to the handsome one, so fast she was gone before anybody could say a thing. And on the two girls went, before the startled men could figure out whether they had been subject to a joke, a threat, or, as it were, an open invitation.
"What did you tell him?"
"To come over tonight!"
"Aren't we going to be busy in the men's quarters already?" asked Tairasu.
"For how long though? I have not had a man in days!" smiled her friend, "By the way, that one is Sutica."
The younger Matre-in-training, certainly a second level, had joined them by matching their pace.
"Keeping the men in check, sister?" asked the newcomer.
"Always, my dear Sutica. Meet my friend Tairasu, she is coming along for the ride."
"Have you noticed the kid?" continued Sutica.
"What kid?" asked Tairasu, catching up.
"The boy the men you just approached were escorting?" replied Sutica.
"Why does a boy have bodyguards? Is he Murbella's son?" asked Tairasu, still not making sense.
"Are you a failed nun? That was the legendary Miles Teg!"
"A general? The boy?"
"The one who pushed us in such a corner at Junction, my dear. Read the books."
"I can't believe he is still alive, then," commented Gerta.
"New policy. Don't kill useful slaves," replied Sutica.
"All I see from here," argued Tairasu looking behind her, "is a ten year old boy dressed with a black uniform. He just gave me a stare! Look at those big puppy eyes!"
"Tairasu, it's a ghola! Inside he is centuries old!"
"Yes? Does he still wet the bed too?"
"Feign ignorance. He is still staring at us."
"Let him stare. A grown man's mind has urges. Imagine the craving, looking at all of us beautiful women and not being able to touch us – not without standing on a ladder."
"You are the craver here, Gerta. The men's quarters are near. Will you bond or just be entertained?"
"Always bond the male, my dear Sutica. Devour the energy. Declaw the tiger and turn it into a docile little cat."
It is just a matter of time, Tairasu found herself thinking a few hours later in between the adventures of that long day. The training, the ordeal, and all the men in the world.