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Kynes returned the smile wistfully。 Frieth was nearly through her gestation period。 He was somewhat surprised that the pregnancy had happened at all； since he was gone so frequently。 He still wasn't certain how to react to his impending role as a first…time father。 He had never thought about it before。
However； the birth would fit in neatly with the overall plan he had for this astounding planet。 His child； growing up to lead the Fremen long after Kynes himself was gone； could help continue their efforts。 The master plan was designed to take centuries。
As a Planetologist； he had to think in the long term； something the Fremen were not in the habit of doing though； given their long； troubled past； they should have been accustomed to it。 The desert people had an oral history going back thousands of years； tales told in the sietch describing their endless wanderings from planet to planet； a people enslaved and persecuted； until finally they had made a home here where no one else could bear to live。
The Fremen way was a conservative one； little changed from generation to generation； and these people were not used to considering the broad scope of progress。 Assuming their environment could not be adapted； they remained its prisoners； rather than its masters。
Kynes hoped to change all that。 He had mapped out his great plan； including rough timetables for plantings and the accumulation of water； milestones for each successive achievement。 Hectare by hectare； Dune would be rescued from the wasteland。
His Fremen teams were scouring the surface； taking core samples from the Great Bled； geological specimens from the Minor Erg and the Funeral Plain but many terraforming factors still remained unknown variables。
Pieces fell into place daily。 When he expressed a desire for better maps of the planet's surface； he was astonished to learn that the Fremen already had detailed topographical charts； even climatic surveys。 〃Why is it that I couldn't get these before？〃 Kynes said。 〃I was the Imperial Planetologist； and the maps I received from satellite cartography were woefully inaccurate。〃
Old Heinar had smiled at him； squinting his one eye。 〃We pay a substantial bribe to the Spacing Guild to keep them from watching us too closely。 The cost is high； but the Fremen are free and the Harkonnens remain in the dark； along with the rest of the Imperium。〃
Kynes was astonished at first； then simply pleased； to have much of the geographical information he needed。 Immediately he dispatched traders to deal with smugglers and obtain genetically engineered seeds of vigorous desert plants。 He had to design and build an entire ecosystem from scratch。
In large council meetings； the Fremen asked their new 〃prophet〃 what the next step might be； how long each process would take； when Dune would bee green and lush。 Kynes had tallied up his estimates and calmly looked down at the number。 In the manner of a teacher answering a child who has asked an absurdly simple question； Kynes shrugged and told them； 〃It will take anywhere from three hundred to five hundred years。 Maybe a little more。〃
Some of the Fremen bit back groans of despair； while the rest listened stoically to the Umma； and then set about doing what he asked。 Three hundred to five hundred years。 Long…term thinking； beyond their personal lifetimes。 The Fremen had to alter their ways。
Seeing a vision from God； the would…be assassin Uliet had sacrificed himself for this man。 From that moment on； the Fremen had been fully convinced of Kynes's divine inspiration。 He had only to point； and any Fremen in the sietch would do as he bid。
The feeling of power might have been abused by any other person。 But Pardot Kynes simply took it in stride and continued his work。 He envisioned the future in terms of eons and worlds； not in terms of individuals or small plots of land。
Now； as the sun vanished below the sands in a brassy symphony of color； Kynes drained the last drops of his spice coffee； then wiped a forearm across his sandy beard。 Despite what Heinar had said； he found it difficult to reflect patiently on the past year。。。the demands of the labors for centuries to e seemed so much more significant； so much more demanding of his attention。
〃Heinar； how many Fremen are there？〃 he asked； staring across the serene open desert。 He'd heard tales of many other sietches； had seen isolated Fremen in the Harkonnen towns and villages。。。but they seemed like the ghosts of an endangered species。 〃How many in the whole world？〃
〃Do you wish us to count our numbers； Umma Kynes？〃 Heinar asked； not in disbelief； simply clarifying an order。
〃I need to know your population if I'm to project our terraforming activities。 I must understand just how many workers we have available。〃
Heinar stood up。 〃It shall be done。 We shall number our sietches； and rally the people in them。 I will send sandriders and distrans bats to all the munities； and we shall have an accounting for you soon。〃
〃Thank you。〃 Kynes picked up his cup； but before he could gather the dishes himself； Frieth rushed out of the cave shadows she must have been waiting there for them to finish and gathered up the pieces of the coffee service。 Her pregnancy hadn't slowed her down at all。
The first Fremen census； Kynes thought。 A momentous occasion。
BRIGHT…EYED AND EAGER； Stilgar came to Kynes's cavern quarters the next morning。 〃We are packing for your long journey； Umma Kynes。 Far to the south。 We have important things to show you。〃
Since his recovery from the Harkonnen knife wound； Stilgar had bee one of Kynes's most devoted followers。 He seemed to draw status from his relationship with the Planetologist； his brother…in…law。 Stilgar served not for himself； though； but for the greater good of the Fremen。
〃How long will the journey be？〃 Kynes inquired。 〃And where are we going？〃
The young man's grin sparkled； a broad display of white。 〃A surprise！ This is something you must see； or you may not believe。 Think of it as a gift from us to you。〃
Curious； Kynes looked over at his work alcove。 He would bring along his notes to document this journey。 〃But how long will it take？〃
〃Twenty thumpers；〃 Stilgar answered in the terminology of the deep desert； then called over his shoulder as he left； 〃Far to the south。〃
Kynes's wife Frieth； now enormously pregnant； nevertheless spent long hours working the looms and the stillsuit…repair benches。 This morning Kynes finished his coffee and breakfasted at her side； though they spoke little to each other。 Frieth simply watched him； and he felt he didn't understand a thing。
Fremen women seemed to have their own separate world； their own place in the society of these desert dwellers； with no connection to the interaction Kynes had found elsewhere in the Imperium。 It was said； though； that Fremen women were among the most vicious of fighters on the battlefield； and that if an enemy were left wounded and at the mercy of these ferocious women； he would be better served to kill himself outright。
Then； too； there was the unanswered mystery of the Sayyadinas； the holy women of the sietch。 Thus far Kynes had seen only one of their number； dressed in a long black robe like that of a Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother and no Fremen seemed willing to tell him much about them。 Different worlds； different mysteries。
Someday； Kynes thought it might be interesting to pile a sociological study of how different cultures reacted and adapted to extreme environments。 He wondered what the harsh realities of a world could do to the natural instincts and traditional roles of the sexes。 But he already had too much work to do。 Besides； he was a Planetologist； not a sociologist。
Finishing his meal； Kynes leaned forward and kissed his Fremen wife。 Smiling； he patted her rounded belly beneath her robes。 〃Stilgar says I must acpany him on a journey。 I'll be back as soon as I can。〃
〃How long？〃 she inquired； thinking of the baby's impending birth。 Apparently Kynes； obsessed with his long view of events on this planet； had not noted his own child's expected due date and had forgotten to allow for it in his plans。
〃Twenty thumpers；〃 he said； though he wasn't exactly certain how much distance that meant。
Frieth raised her eyebrows in quiet surprise； then lowered her gaze and began to clean up their breakfast dishes。 〃Even the longest journey may pass more quickly when the heart is content。〃 Her tone betrayed only the slightest disappointment。 〃I shall await your return； my husband。〃 She hesitated； then said； 〃Choose a good worm。〃
Kynes didn't know what she meant。
Moments later； Stilgar and eighteen other young Fremen decked out in full desert garb led Kynes through the tortuous passages down and out of the barrier mountain and onto the enormous western sea of sands。 Kynes felt a pang of worry。 The parched expanse seemed too far and too dangerous。 Now he was glad he wasn't alone。
〃We're going across the equator and below； Umma Kynes； to where we Fremen have other lands； our own secret projects。 You shall see。〃
Kynes's eyes widened； he had heard only grim and terrible stories about the uninhabitable southern regions。 He stared into the forbidding distance as Stilgar rapidly checked ov