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〃To make things easier on you； I have the ability to control my bodily functions；〃 Mohiam said； sounding reasonable。 〃I can ovulate at will； and I guarantee that this unpleasant task will not need to be repeated。 From a single encounter with you； I can guarantee the birth of a girl…child。 You need not worry about us again。〃
The Bene Gesserit always had plans afoot； wheels within wheels； and nothing with them was ever as clear as it seemed。 The Baron frowned； running through the possibilities。 With this daughter they wanted so badly； did the witches in spite of their denials intend to create an illegitimate heir and claim House Harkonnen in the following generation？ That was preposterous。 He was already grooming Rabban for that position； and no one would question it。
〃I。。。〃 He fumbled for words。 〃I need a moment to consider this； and I must speak with my advisors。〃
Reverend Mother Mohiam all but rolled her eyes at the suggestion； but granted him leave； gesturing for the Baron to take his time。 Tossing aside a bloodstained towel； she lounged back on the divan； fortable to wait。
Despite his despicable personality； Vladimir Harkonnen was an attractive man； well built with pleasant features： reddish hair； heavy lips； pronounced widow's peak。 However； the Bene Gesserit instilled in all their Sisters the critical belief that sexual intercourse was a mere tool for manipulating men and for obtaining offspring to add to the genetically connected web of the Sisterhood。 Mohiam never intended to enjoy the act； no matter her orders。 Nevertheless； she did find it pleasurable to have the Baron under her thumb； to be able to force him into submission。
The Reverend Mother sat back； closed her eyes； and concentrated on the flow and ebb of hormones in her body； the inner workings of her reproductive system。。。preparing herself。
She knew what the Baron's answer had to be。
〃PITER！〃 THE BARON strode down the halls。 〃Where's my Mentat？〃
De Vries slipped out of an adjoining hall； where he'd been intending to use the hidden observation holes he'd placed in the Baron's private chambers。
〃I'm here； my Baron；〃 he said； then swigged from a tiny vial。 The sapho taste triggered responses in his brain； firing his neurons； stoking his mental capabilities。 〃What did the witch request？ What is she up to？〃
The Baron wheeled； finally finding an appropriate target for his rage。 〃She wants me to impregnate her！ The sow！〃
Impregnate her？ de Vries thought； adding this to his Mentat database。 At hyper speed he reassessed the problem。
〃She wants to bear my girl…child！ Can you believe it？ They know about my spice stockpiles； too！〃
De Vries was in Mentat mode。 Fact： The Baron would never have children any other way。 He loathes women。 Besides； politically； he is too careful to spread his seed indiscriminately。
Fact： The Bene Gesserit have broad genetic records on Wallach IX； numerous breeding plans； the results of which are open to interpretation。 Given a child by the Baron a daughter instead of a son？ what could the witches hope to acplish？
Is there some flaw or advantage in Harkonnen genetics they wish to exploit？ Do they simply wish to do this because they consider it the most humiliating punishment they can inflict upon the Baron？ If so； how has the Baron personally offended the Sisterhood？
〃The thought of it disgusts me！ Rutting with that broodmare；〃 the Baron growled。 〃But I'm nearly mad with curiosity。 What can the Sisterhood possibly want？〃
〃I'm unable to make a projection； Baron。 Insufficient data。〃
The Baron looked as if he wanted to strike de Vries； but refrained。 〃I'm not a Bene Gesserit stud！〃
〃Baron；〃 de Vries said calmly； 〃if they truly have information about your spice…stockpiling activities； you cannot afford to have that exposed。 Even if they were bluffing； your reaction has no doubt already told them all they need to know。 If they offer proof to Kaitain； the Emperor will bring his Sardaukar here to exterminate House Harkonnen and set up another Great House in our stead on Arrakis； just as they removed Richese before us。 Elrood would like that； no doubt。 He and CHOAM can withdraw their contracts from any of your holdings at any time。 They might even give Arrakis and the spice production to； say； House Atreides。。。just to spite you。〃
〃Atreides！〃 The Baron wanted to spit。 〃I'd never let my holdings fall into their hands。〃
De Vries knew he had struck the right chord。 The feud between Harkonnen and Atreides had started many generations before； during the tragic events of the Battle of Corrin。
〃You must do as the witch demands； Baron；〃 he said。 〃The Bene Gesserit have won this round of the game。 Priority： Protect the fortunes of your House； your spice holdings； and your illicit stockpiles。〃 The Mentat smiled。 〃Then get your revenge later。〃
The Baron looked gray； his skin suddenly blotched。 〃Piter； from this instant forward I want you to begin erasing the evidence and dispersing our stockpiles。 Spread them to places where no one will think to look。〃
〃On the planets of our allies； too？ I wouldn't remend that； Baron。 Too many plexities setting it up。 And alliances change。〃
〃Very well。〃 His spider…black eyes lit up。 〃Put most of it on Lankiveil； right under the nose of my stupid half brother。 They'll never suspect Abulurd's collusion in any of this。〃
〃Yes； my Baron。 A very good idea。〃
〃Of course it's a good idea！〃 He frowned； looked around。 Thinking of his half brother had reminded him of his cherished nephew。 〃Where is Rabban？ Maybe the witch can use his sperm instead。〃
〃I doubt it； Baron；〃 de Vries said。 〃Their genetic plans are usually specific。〃
〃Well； where is he anyway？ Rabban！〃 The Baron spun about and paced the hall； as if looking for something to stalk。 〃I haven't seen him in a day。〃
〃Off on another one of his silly hunts； up at Forest Guard Station。〃 De Vries suppressed a smile。 〃You are on your own here； my Baron； and I think you'd better get to your bedchamber。 You have a duty to perform。〃
The basic rule is this： Never support weakness； always support strength。
…The Bene Gesserit Azhar Book；
pilation of Great Secrets
The light cruiser soared out over a night wasteland unmarked by Giedi Prime's city lights or industrial smoke。 Alone in a holding pen in the belly of the aircraft； Duncan Idaho watched through a plaz port as the expanse of Barony prison dropped behind them like a geometrical bubo； festering with trapped and tortured humanity。
At least his parents were no longer prisoners。 Rabban had killed them； just to make him angry and willing to fight。 Over the past several days of preparations； Duncan's anger had indeed increased。
The bare metal walls of the cruiser's lower hold were etched with a verdigris of frost。 Duncan was numb； his heart leaden； his nerves shocked into silence； his skin an unfeeling blanket around him。 The engines throbbed through the floor plates。 On the decks above； he could hear the restive hunting party shuffling about in their padded armor。 The men carried guns with tracking scopes。 They laughed and chatted； ready for the evening's game。
Rabban was up there； too。
In order to give young Duncan what they called 〃a sporting chance；〃 the hunting party had armed him with a dull knife （saying they didn't want him to hurt himself）； a handlight； and a small length of rope： everything an eight…year…old child should need to elude a squadron of professional Harkonnen hunters on their own well…scouted ground 。。。。
Above； in a warm and padded seat； Rabban smiled at the thought of the terrified； angry child in the hold。 If this Duncan Idaho were bigger and stronger； he would be as dangerous as any animal。 The kid was tough for his size； Rabban had to admit。 The way he had eluded elite Harkonnen trainers inside the bowels of Barony was admirable； especially that trick with the suspensor tube。
The cruiser flew far from the prison city； away from the oil…soaked industrial areas； to a wilderness preserve on high ground； a place with dark pines and sandstone bluff faces； caves and rocks and streams。 The tailored wilderness even hosted a few examples of genetically enhanced wildlife； vicious predators as eager for a boy's tender flesh as the Harkonnen sportsmen themselves。
The cruiser alighted in a boulder…strewn meadow； the deck canted at a steep angle； then shifted to norm as stabilizers leveled the craft。 Rabban sent a signal from the control band at his waist。
The hydraulic door in front of the boy hissed open； freeing him from his cage。 The chill night air stung his cheeks。 Duncan considered just dashing out into the open。 He could run fast and take refuge in the thick pines。 Once there； he would burrow beneath the dry brown needles and drift into a self…protective slumber。
But Rabban wanted the boy to run and hide； and he knew he wouldn't get very far。 For the moment Duncan had to act on instinct tempered with cleverness。 It wasn't the time for an unexpected； reckless action。 Not yet。
Duncan would wait at the cruiser until the hunters explained the rules to him； though he could certainly guess what he was supposed to do。 It was a bigger arena； a longer chase； higher stakes。。。but in essence the same game he had tr