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dy pressed against it； threatening to break through。 Holding her hands protectively over her womb； she felt a frantic desire to live； and for her unborn child to thrive and her thoughts went beyond the parochial concerns of a mother and child； to a much larger significance。
She wondered if her suspicions might be totally in error。 What if some higher force than either she or her Sisters could possibly imagine was behind this？ Were the Bene Gesserit； through their breeding program； playing God？ Did a real God regardless of the Sisterhood's cynicism and skepticism toward religion in fact exist？
What a cruel joke that would be。
The deformities of her first child； and now the impending death of this fetus and Mohiam； too。。。it all seemed to add up to something。 But if so； who or what was behind this emergency？
The Bene Gesserit did not believe in accidents or coincidences。
〃 'I must not fear；' 〃 she intoned； her eyes closed。 〃 'Fear is the mind…killer。 Fear is the little…death that brings total obliteration。 I will face my fear。 I will permit it to pass over me and through me。 And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path。 Where the fear has gone there will be nothing。 Only I will remain。' 〃
It was the Litany Against Fear； conceived in ancient times by a Bene Gesserit Sister and passed on to generation after generation。
Mohiam took a deep breath； and felt her trembling subside。
The shuttle held position momentarily； with her window pointed planetward。 The engine sputtered again。 She saw the continental mass approaching fast； and made out the sprawling Mother School plex； a labyrinthine white…stuccoed city with sienna roof tiles。
Was the shuttle being sent out of control into the main school； with some terrible explosive force aboard？ A single crash could wipe out the heart of the Sisterhood。
Mohiam struggled against the safety field； but could not break free。 The shuttle shifted； and the land disappeared from view。 The window cocked upward to reveal the blue…white sun on the edge of the atmosphere。
Then her safety field grew clear； and Mohiam realized that the shuttle had righted itself。 The engine was on again； a sweet flow of machinery。 In the front partment； the robo…pilot moved with apparent efficiency； as if nothing had happened。 One of its programmed emergency routines must have worked。
As the shuttle set down smoothly on the ground in front of the grand plaza； Mohiam breathed a long sigh of relief。 She rushed to the doorhatch； meaning to flee into the safety of the nearest building。。。but she paused； took a moment to pose herself； and then strode calmly out。 A Reverend Mother had to maintain appearances。
When she glided down the ramp； Sisters and acolytes swarmed protectively around her。 Mother Superior demanded that the shuttle be impounded for a plete overhaul and investigation； seeking evidence of sabotage or confirmation of a simple malfunction。 A brusque radio transmission from the Heighliner above； however； prevented this。
Reverend Mother Anirul Sadow Tonkin stood waiting to greet Mohiam； beaming with pride； looking very young with her doelike face and short bronze hair。 Mohiam had never understood Anirul's importance； though even the Mother Superior often showed her deference。 The two women nodded to each other。
In the midst of her fellow Sisters； Mohiam was escorted to a safe building； a large contingent of armed female guards had been posted to watch her。 She would be pampered and observed carefully until the baby was due。
〃There will be no more travel for you； Mohiam；〃 Mother Superior Harishka said。 〃You must remain safely here until we have your daughter。〃
You of fearful heart； be strong and fear not。 Behold； your God will e with a vengeance； He will e and save you from the worshipers of machines。
…The Orange Catholic Bible
In the concubines' wing of the Imperial Palace； throbbing massage machines slapped and kneaded bare skin； using scented oils to caress every glorious contour of the Emperor's women。 Sophisticated physical…maintenance devices extracted cellulite； improved muscle tone； tautened abdomens and chins； and made tiny injections to soften the skin。 Every detail had to be the way old Elrood preferred； though he didn't seem much interested anymore。 Even the eldest of the four women； the septuagenarian Grera Cary； had the figure of a woman half her age； sustained in part through frequent imbibing of spice。
Dawn's light was tinged amber by passing through the bank of thick armor…plaz windows。 When Grera's massage was plete； the machine wrapped her in a warm towel of karthan weave and placed a refreshing cloth soaked with eucalyptus and juniper over her face。 The concubine's bed changed into a sensiform chair that conformed perfectly to her body。
A mechanized manicure station dropped from the ceiling； and Grera whispered through her daily meditations as her fingernails and toenails were trimmed； polished； and painted a lush green。 The machine slid back up into its overhead partment； and the woman stood and dropped her towel。 An electric field passed over her face； arms； and legs； removing barely discernible and unwanted hairs。
Perfect。 Perfect enough for the Emperor。
Of the current retinue of concubines； only Grera was old enough to remember Shando； a plaything who had left Imperial service to marry a war hero and settle down into a 〃normal life。〃 Elrood hadn't paid Shando much attention when she'd been among his numerous women； but once she'd left； he had railed at the others and moaned about his loss。 Most of his favorite concubines chosen in succeeding years looked a great deal like Shando。
As she watched the other concubines go through similar body…toning procedures； Grera Cary thought of how things had changed for all the Emperor's harem。 Less than a year earlier； these women had congregated only rarely； since Elrood was with one of them so often； performing what he called his 〃royal duty。〃 One of the concubines； an Elaccan； had secretly given the old goat a nickname that stuck 〃Fornicario；〃 a reference from one of the Old Terran languages to his sexual prowess and appetites。 The women only used it among themselves； and snickered。
〃Has anyone seen Fornicario？〃 asked the taller of the two youngest concubines at the other end of the room。
Grera exchanged a smile with her； and the women giggled like schoolgirls。 〃I'm afraid our Imperial oak has turned into a drooping willow。〃
The old man rarely came to the concubines' wing anymore。 Though Elrood spent as much time in bed now as ever； it was for an entirely different reason。 His health had declined rapidly； and his libido had already died。 His mind was the next thing likely to go。
Suddenly the chattering women grew silent； turning with alarm toward the main entrance of the concubines' wing。 Without announcing himself； Crown Prince Shaddam entered with his ever…present panion； Hasimir Fenring； whom they often called 〃the Ferret〃 because of his narrow face and pointed chin。 The women covered themselves quickly and stood at attention to show their respect。
〃What's so funny in here； hm…m…m…m…ah？〃 Fenring demanded。 〃I heard giggling。〃
〃The girls were just enjoying a little joke；〃 Grera said； in a cautious tone。 Senior among them； she often spoke for the concubines。
It was rumored that this undersized man had stabbed two of his lovers to death； and from his slithery demeanor Grera believed it。 Through her years of experience； she had learned how to recognize a man capable of extreme cruelty。 Fenring's genitals were supposedly malformed and sterile； though sexually functional。 She had never slept with him herself； nor did she wish to。
Fenring studied her with overlarge； soulless eyes； then moved past her to the two new blondes。 The Crown Prince remained behind him； near the doorway to the solarium。 Slim and red…haired； Shaddam wore a gray Sardaukar uniform with silver…and…gold trim。 Grera knew the Imperial heir loved to play military games。
〃Please share your little joke with us；〃 Fenring insisted。 He addressed the smaller blonde； a petite girl barely beyond her teens who was only slightly shorter than he was。 Her eyes resembled Shando's。 〃Prince Shaddam and I both enjoy humor。〃
〃It was just a private conversation；〃 Grera responded； stepping forward protectively。 〃Personal things。〃
〃Can't she speak for herself？〃 Fenring snapped； glaring back at the elder woman。 He wore a black tunic trimmed in gold； and many rings on his hands。 〃If this one's been chosen to entertain the Padishah Emperor； I'm sure she knows how to relay a simple joke； ah…mm…m…m…m？〃
〃It was as Grera said；〃 the young blonde insisted。 〃Just a girl thing。 Not worth repeating。〃
Fenring took hold of one of the edges of the towel she had been gripping tightly about her curvaceous body。 Surprise and fear covered her face。 He jerked at the towel； exposing one of her breasts。
Angrily； Grera said； 〃Cease this nonsense； Fenring。 We are royal concubines。 No one but the Emperor may touch us。〃
〃Lucky you。〃 Fenring gazed across the room at Shaddam。
The Crown Prince nodded stiffly。 〃She's right； Hasimir。 I'll share one of my concubines with you； if you like。〃
〃But I didn't touc