aza’s Reviews > Children Of Dune > Status Update

“In the Bene Gesserit Way, he opened his mind to Jacurutu, seeking to know nothing about it. Knowing was a barrier which prevented learning. For a few moments he allowed himself merely to resonate, making no demands, asking no questions.”

“It is wise to have decisions of great moment monitored by generalists. Experts and specialists lead you quickly into chaos. They are a source of useless nit-picking, the ferocious quibble over a comma.”

“‘We’re toying now with the idea of accepting your offer, Lady Jessica, but Duncan Idaho should be sent back to his loving wife.’
Pain is a function of nerves, Idaho reminded himself. Pain comes as light comes to the eyes. Effort comes from the muscles, not from nerves.”

“And he thought: This is the correct path; we do the right thing. But he knew how dangerous it was to be right in this universe.”

This is the fallacy of power: ultimately it is effective only in an absolute, a limited universe. But the basic lesson of our relativistic universe is that things change. Any power must always meet a greater power. Paul Muad’Dib taught this lesson to the Sardaukar on the Plains of Arrakeen. His descendants have yet to learn the lesson for themselves.

If only Alia were the target! If only assassins could get to her! For an instant, he rested his hand on his own knife, but it was not in him to do this. Far better, though,that she die a martyr than live to be discredited and hounded into a sandy grave.
“Yes,” Alia said,misinterpreting his expression as concern for her. “You’d best hurry back to Tabr.” And she thought: How foolish of me to suspect
Duncan!

“Don’t take that tone with me!” Alia snapped.
Idaho’s eyes went wide. For an instant, he’d seen the alien on Alia’s face, and it was a disconcerting sight. He turned his attention to Irulan, but she had not seen—or gave that appearance.
“I don’t need an elementary education,” Alia said, her voice still edged with alien anger.
Idaho managed a rueful smile, but his breast ached.

“Very odd,” he said, “the Regent Governor of Caladan running errands here on Arrakis.”
“Why not?” Alia demanded. “He’s her lover—in his dreams if not in fact.”
“Yes, of course.” And he wondered that she did not hear the insincerity in his voice.

“She arose from her mirror, crossed to where Idaho stood beside the window, put a hand on his arm.
He repressed a shiver, reduced this reaction to a mentat computation. Something in her revolted him.
Something in her.
He could not bring himself to look at her. He smelled the melange of her cosmetics, cleared his throat.”

He cleared his throat, asked: “And the third path?”
“I am called to reduce my father to human stature.”
“He was my friend, Muad’Dib,” Stilgar muttered.
“He was your god! I must undeify him.”