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of youth had been drained from her。
Harishka placed a sinewy hand on Anirul's forearm in a sudden and surprising display of closeness。 〃We all have our primal superstitions； but we must master them。 For now； worry about nothing except this child。 The Sisterhood needs a healthy daughter； with a powerful future。〃
Medical personnel checked equipment and took up their positions around Mohiam； who reclined on a bed； inhaling deeply； her cheeks flushed red with exertion。 Two of the midwives propped her up in the ages…old delivery position。 The pregnant woman began to hum to herself； allowing only a flicker of disfort to cross her face as she experienced increasingly severe contractions。
Standing aloof； yet sharply observant； Anirul considered what Mother Superior had just told her。 Secretly； Anirul had consulted a Feng Shui master about the old birthing facility。 A withered old man with Terrasian features； he was a practitioner of an ancient Zensunni philosophy which held that architecture； furniture placement； and maximum utilization of color and light all worked to promote the well…being of a facility's inhabitants。 With a sage nod； he declared that the old facility had been set up incorrectly； and showed Anirul what needed to be done。 They'd had only a month before the expected delivery date； and the Kwisatz Mother had had not a moment to lose。
Now as she observed the abundance of light flowing down upon Mohiam's bed from actual windows and skylights； rather than from clusters of artificial glowglobes； Anirul assured herself she hadn't been 〃superstitious。〃 Feng Shui was about aligning oneself properly with Nature and being intensely aware of one's surroundings a philosophy that was； ultimately； very much in the Bene Gesserit way of thinking。
Too much rode on this single birth。 If there was a chance； even a small one； Anirul wanted no part in denying it。 Using the power of her position； she had demanded a new birthing facility； built according to the Feng Shui master's remendations。 Then she'd sent the old man away； letting the other Sisters believe he had merely been a visiting gardener。
Now she glided closer to Mohiam's bed； looking down at her patient as the time neared。 Anirul hoped the old man was right。 This daughter was their last； best chance。
IT HAPPENED QUICKLY； the moment Mohiam set her mind to it。 A baby's insistent crying filled the chamber； and Anirul lifted a perfect girl…child in the air for Mother Superior to see。 Even the voices in Other Memory cheered at the victory。 Everyone beamed triumphantly； delighted with the long…anticipated birth。 Agitated； the child kicked and flailed。
Sisters toweled off infant and mother； giving Mohiam a long drink of juice to restore her body fluids。 Anirul handed the baby to her。 Still breathing hard from the exertion of the delivery； Mohiam took the girl and looked at her； allowing an uncharacteristically proud smile to cross her face。
〃This child shall be named Jessica； meaning 'wealth；' 〃 Mohiam announced proudly； still panting。 When other Sisters moved away； Mohiam stared at Anirul and Harishka； who stood close to her。 In a directed whisper that only they could hear； she said； 〃I know this child is part of the Kwisatz Haderach program。 The voices in Other Memory have told me。 I have seen a vision； and I know the terrible future if we fail with her。〃
Anirul and Mother Superior exchanged uneasy glances。 In a whisper Harishka responded； looking sidelong as if hoping the spontaneous revelation might weaken the Kwisatz Mother's hold over the program。 〃You are manded to secrecy。 Your child is to be the grandmother of the Kwisatz Haderach。〃
〃I suspected as much。〃 Mohiam sank back on her pillow to consider the immensity of this revelation。 〃So soon。 。 。〃
Outside the building； clapping and cheering rang out as news of the birth passed quickly around the training areas。 Balconies above the library enclaves and discussion chambers overflowed with acolytes and teachers celebrating the felicitous event； though only a handful knew the full significance of this child in the breeding program。
Gaius Helen Mohiam gave the child to the midwives； refusing to form any sort of parental bond that was forbidden by the Bene Gesserit。 Though she maintained her posure； she felt drawn； bone…weary； and old。 This Jessica was her tenth daughter for the Sisterhood； and she hoped her childbearing duties were now at an end。 She looked at young Reverend Mother Anirul Sadow Tonkin。 How could she do better than she had already done？ Jessica。。。their future。
I am indeed fortunate to participate in this moment； Anirul thought as she looked down at the exhausted new mother。 It struck her as odd that of all the Sisters who had worked toward this goal for thousands of years； of all those who now watched eagerly in Other Memory； she was the one to supervise the birth of Jessica。 Anirul herself would guide this child through years of training toward the critically important sexual union she must have； to carry the breeding program to its penultimate step。
Wrapped in a blanket； the baby girl had finally stopped crying and lay peacefully in the sheltering warmth of its enclosed bed。
Squinting down through the protective plaz； Anirul tried to imagine what this Jessica would look like as a grown woman。 She envisioned the baby's face elongating and thinning； and could visualize a tall lady of great beauty； with the regal features of her father Baron Harkonnen； generous lips； and smooth skin。 The Baron would never meet his daughter or know her name； for this would be one of the most closely guarded secrets of the Bene Gesserit。
One day； when Jessica was of age； she would be manded to bear a daughter； and that child must be introduced to the son of Abulurd Harkonnen； the Baron's youngest demibrother。 At the moment Abulurd and his wife had only one son； Rabban…but Anirul had set in motion a means of suggesting that they have more。 This would improve the odds of one male surviving to maturity； it would also improve the gene selection； and improve the odds of good sexual timing。
A vast jigsaw puzzle remained apparent to Anirul； each of its pieces a separate event in the incredible Bene Gesserit breeding program。 Only a few more ponents needed to slip into place now； and the Kwisatz Haderach would bee a reality in flesh and blood the all…powerful male who could bridge space and time； the ultimate tool to be wielded by the Bene Gesserit。
Anirul wondered now； as she often had without daring to speak of it； if such a man could cause the Bene Gesserit to once again find genuine religious fervor； like the fanaticism of the crusading Butler family。 What if he made others revere him as a god？
Imagine that； she thought。 The Bene Gesserit who used religion only to manipulate others ensnared by their own messianic leader。 She doubted that could ever happen。
Reverend Mother Anirul went out to celebrate with her Sisters。
The surest way to keep a secret is to make people believe they already know the answer。
…Ancient Fremen Wisdom
Umma Kynes； you have acplished much；〃 said one…eyed Heinar as the two men sat on a rocky promontory above their sietch。 The Naib treated him as an equal now； even with overblown respect。 Kynes had stopped bothering to argue with the desert people every time they called him 〃Umma；〃 their word for 〃prophet。〃
He and Heinar watched the coppery sunset spill across the sweeping dunefield of the Great Erg。 Far in the distance； a fuzzy haze hung on the horizon； the last remnants of a sandstorm that had passed the previous day。
Powerful winds had washed the dunes clean； scrubbed their surfaces； recontoured the landscape。 Kynes relaxed against the rough rock； sipping from a pungent cup of spice coffee。
Seeing her husband about to go above ground； outside the sietch； a pregnant Frieth had hurried after the two men as they waited to bid the sun farewell for another day。 An elaborate brass coffee service sat between them on a flat stone。 Frieth had brought it； along with a selection of the crunchy sesame cakes Kynes loved so well。 By the time he remembered to thank her for her kind attentiveness； Frieth had already vanished like a shadow back into the caves。
After a long moment； Kynes nodded distractedly at the Naib's ment。 〃Yes； I've acplished much； but I still have plenty to do。〃 He thought of the remarkably plex plans required to plete his dream of a reborn Dune； a planetary name little known in the Imperium。
Imperium。 He rarely thought of the old Emperor now his own priorities； the emphasis of his life； had changed so greatly。 Kynes could never go back to being a mere Imperial Planetologist； not after all he'd been through with these desert people。
Heinar clasped his friend's wrist。 〃It is said that sunset is a time for reflection and assessment； my friend。 Let us look to what we have done； rather than permit the empty gulf of the future to overwhelm us。 You have been on this planet for only a little more than a year； yet already you have found a new tribe； a new wife。〃 Heinar smiled。 〃And soon you will have a new child； a son perhaps。〃
Kynes returned the smile wistfully。 Frieth was nearly through her gestation period。 He was somewhat surprise