Chapter 15 Chapter fifteen

"It would be better for me not to be emperor," Leto said. "Oh, I don't mean that I've made my father's mistakes and seen the future through spices. I'm saying that out of selfishness. I It takes some free time with my sister to really get to know ourselves." He stopped talking and looked at Mrs. Jessica inquiringly.He had said what he and Ghanima had agreed to say.How would their grandmother respond? Jessica watches her grandson in the dim light of a spherical lamp illuminating her room in Teb's cave.It was early morning on the second day of her arrival, but she had already received disturbing reports that the twins had spent the night in the desert outside the burrow.what are they doingShe didn't sleep well last night and felt sore all over.This is the body's request to her to get out of the current state of high concentration.She'd been in this state since the scene at the landing field, taking care of what was necessary.This is the cave that appeared in her nightmares—but the outside is not the desert in her memory.Where did those flowers come from?Also, the air around feels so humid.Among young people, the discipline of wearing still suits is gradually relaxing.

"Son, what do you need time to know about yourself?" she asked. He shook his head slightly.He knew it must feel weird for a child's body to perform this fully adult movement.He secretly warned himself that he must take the initiative. "First of all, I'm not a child. Oh..." He pointed to his chest. "It's a child's body, no doubt about it. But I'm not a child." Jessica bit her upper lip.This action would expose her heart, but she didn't care.Her duke, who had died years ago on this cursed planet, had mocked her for the gesture. "The only reaction you can't control," he said. "It tells me you're upset. Let me kiss those lips so they stop trembling."

Now, this grandson who inherited her Duke's name also said something with a smile, which surprised her so much that her heart seemed to stop beating.He said, "You're disturbed, I can see it on your lips." Thanks to the strong self-control ability trained by Bee Geist, she regained her composure somewhat.Jessica barely opened her mouth and said, "Are you laughing at me?" "Mocking you? I would never laugh at you. But I must make you understand how different we are from the rest. Please think of that tribal orgy long ago, when the old Mother gave her life and memory to You. She aligned her consciousness with yours and gave you a long chain of memories, each link of which is the entire memory of a person. These memories are still preserved in your consciousness. So, you Should be able to appreciate what me and Ghanima are going through."

"Is that what Alia went through?" Jessica asked, intending to test him. "Didn't you talk to Ghanima about her?" "I wish to speak with you." "Very well. Alia refused to accept the fact that she was different, and ended up becoming what she feared most, unable to channel the past life in her body into her subconscious. That's a lot to anyone. It's all very dangerous, and for those of us with memories before birth, it's worse than death. That's all I can say about Alia." "Then you're not a child," said Jessica. "I'm millions of years old. It forces me to make huge adjustments that normal people would never make."

Jessica nodded, feeling much calmer.She was much more vigilant now than when she was alone with Ghanima.Where is Ghanima?Why was Leto the only one here? "Tell me, Grandmother," he said, "are we evil spirits, or the hope of House Atreides?" Jessica ignored the question. "Where is your sister?" "She went to distract Alia so she wouldn't bother us. It had to be done. But Ganima wouldn't say more than I did. Didn't you observe yesterday?" "My observation yesterday is my business. Why did you mention the evil spirit?" "Mention? Don't speak in your Bee Geist mask, Grandmother. I'll look directly into your memory and unmask your tricks word for word. I've got more than your quivering lips."

Jessica shook her head, feeling the indifference of this... individual who inherited her blood.He has too many resources, which makes her terrified.She imitated his tone and asked, "Do you know what my intention is?" He snorted, "You don't need to ask me if I've made the same mistakes as my father. I haven't peeked beyond our time—at least not actively. Everyone can have hallucinations about the future, when When the future becomes reality, it feels like a familiar reality. I know the dangers of knowing the future. My father's life has taught me. No, grandmother, to fully grasp the future is to be completely trapped in the future. It destroys time, and now will become the future, and I demand freedom."

Jessica's words had already reached her lips, and she almost escaped, but she managed to control it in the end.What can she say?Said that his attitude is very similar to someone?But he didn't know.How to ask her to speak?It's unbelievable!He is my dear Leto!The thought shocked her.For a split second, she wondered if the child's mask would turn into that dear face of hers, resurrected again... No! Leto lowered his head, secretly squinting at her.Yes, she can still be manipulated.He said: "When you want to predict the future - and I hope that rarely happens - you are pretty much indistinguishable from anyone else. Most people think it's good to know what the price of whale skin will be tomorrow, or want to be sure that the Haniken family Whether or not they will rule their home planet, Jedi Prime, again. But we are different, we don't need to predict, and we know the details of the Haniken family, don't we, Grandma?"

She refuses to fall for his hook.Of course he knew that Haniken's blood was in his ancestry. "Who is Haniken?" he said defiantly. "And who is Rabin the Beast? Who are we, eh? I digress. I'm talking about the myth of predicting the future: total control of the future! control of everything!" What a fortune it will bring—at a great cost, of course. The lower classes believe in it. They believe that if it is good to know a little about the future, then it is better to know more. How nice! If you put All the variables of a man's life tell him, point out a path that never changes until death--this is a gift from hell. Infinite weariness! Everything that happens in life repeats what he already knew. No Variables. He knew all the answers in advance, all the opinions—over and over, over and over again..."

Leto shook his head. "Ignorance has its advantages, and a universe full of surprises is what I'm after!" As Jessica listened to the tirade, she was amazed to see that his language was strikingly similar to that of his father—her missing son.Even the thoughts are similar: Paul could have said something similar. "You remind me of your father," she said. "Are you sad?" "A little bit, but it's nice to know he's alive inside you." "But you are completely ignorant of his life inside me." Jessica felt that his tone was calm, but there was a hint of bitterness.She looked directly at him.

"And how your duke lives in me," said Leto. "Grandmother, Ghanima is you! She can be you, even to the point that, to her, you are pregnant There are no secrets to what our father has done since. You are me too! What a physical recording machine I am! Sometimes I think the records are too much for me. You are here to judge us ? Judging Alia? Why not let us judge you!" Jessica wanted to find the answer in her heart, but couldn't find it.what is he doingWhy does he emphasize these differences?Did he deliberately want her to repel him?Has he reached Alia's state—the evil spirit?

"My words disturb you," he said. "Yes." She allowed herself to shrug. "Yes, it bothers me—you know exactly why. I'm sure you've gone over my Bi-Gist training." Ghanima admits Did it. I know Alia... did it too. There are many consequences of being different in you, and I'm sure you know what those consequences are." He glanced at her with intent, nervous eyes. "Yes, but we didn't want to do it." He said, his voice seemed to carry Jessica's tiredness, "We know the secret of your trembling lips like your lover, and we can always recall it The kind words your Duke spoke to you in bed. You have no doubt admitted this intellectually. But I warn you, intellectual admission is not enough. If any of us become evil spirits— —It is quite possible that it was you in us who made it! Or my father . Jessica felt her chest burn and her eyes watered. "Leto..." She finally forced herself to call out his name, and found that calling it again was less painful than she thought, "What do you want from me?" "I hope to teach my grandmother." "Teach me what?" "Last night, Ganima and I played mother and father and almost ruined us, but we learned a lot. We can grasp a lot of situations and predict the future a little bit if we just adjust our consciousness to the right state .and Alia—she's most likely plotting to kidnap you." Jessica blinked, shocked by the accusation he had blurted out.She knew his trick very well, and had used it many times herself: first let a person reason in one direction, and then suddenly released a startling fact in another direction.After a deep breath, she calmed down again. "I know what Alia is doing... what she is, but..." "Grandmother, have pity on her. Not only with your wits, but with your heart. You've done it before. You're a threat, and Alia wants her empire—at least, what she's become That's what I thought." "How do I know it's not another evil spirit speaking to me?" He shrugged. "This is where you have to judge with your heart. Ghanima and I know how she feels. It's not easy to get used to the din of a lot of life inside: suppress them even for a while, but as long as you recall What, they'll scramble to come. One day—" He swallowed, "a strong inner life will feel that the time has come to share the body." "Can't you do something?" she asked the question, but she was afraid to hear the answer. "We believe in something that can be done... yes. It's not subservient to the spice; that's very important. Also, you can't just suppress the past. We have to use it, integrate it. Ultimately integrate them with us. We are no longer who we used to be - but we are not diabolical either." "You said just now that there was a conspiracy to kidnap me." "It's obvious. Vincia is ambitious and wants her son to do something. Alia has ambitions for herself, and..." "Alia and Falcon want to join forces?" "There is little sign of that," he said, "but Aria and Vincia are advancing on two parallel roads. Vincia has a sister in Alia's palace. There is nothing more important than passing the news." Is it something simple—" "Did you know that such news was passed?" "It's like I saw it and read it verbatim." "But you haven't seen it yourself?" "It's not necessary. All I need to know is that the Atreides are gathered on Arrakis. All the water is gathered in one pool." He gestured and drew the shape of a planet. "The Corino family dare not attack here!" "If they do attack, Alia will benefit from it." His sarcasm angered her. "I will not ask my grandson to shield me!" she said. "Damn it, woman, don't think of me as your grandson anymore! Think of me as your Duke Leto!" His tone, facial expression, and even his spontaneous temper and his gestures were simply Just like her duke.She was overwhelmed and fell silent. Leto said in an indifferent tone: "I'm helping you and getting you ready. You must at least cooperate with me." "Why did Alia kidnap me?" "Of course it's planted on the Corino family." "I don't believe it. It's hard for her to do such absurd behavior! It's too dangerous! How could she do it! I don't believe it." "You believe it when it happens. Well, Grandma, Ghanima and I just eavesdropped on our hearts and we knew it. It was just simple self-preservation." "I never believe that Alia would plan to kidnap..." "God! How can you, a Bee Geist, be so stupid? The whole empire is guessing why you came here. Vincia's propaganda machine is ready to slander you at any time. Alia can't Sit by and let this happen. Once your reputation is ruined, it will be a fatal blow to the Atreides." "What is the whole empire guessing?" She tried her best to say this sentence in a cold tone, knowing that she could not use the magic sound method to deceive this person who is not a child. "Mrs. Jessica is going to mate the twins!" he snapped. "Sisterhood wants to. Incest!" She blinked. "Frivolous rumors." She swallowed, "Bee Geist will not allow such rumors to spread freely in the empire. Don't forget, we still have influence." "Rumors? What rumors? Of course you have the desire to let us mate." He shook his head and signaled her to stop talking, "Don't deny it." "Do you believe we're that stupid?" Jessica asked. "I do. Your sisterhood are nothing more than a bunch of stupid old women who have never been able to think beyond the breeding program! Ghanima and I know the cards in their hands. Do you think we are fools?" "Card?" "They know you're a descendant of Haniken! It's recorded in their catalog of relatives: Tanidia Nalus bore Jessica to Baron Vladimir Harkeny. Once that record is accidentally Make it public, and you'll..." "You think the sororities will descend to terrorize me?" "I knew they would. Oh, they would sugar-coat intimidation. They told you to investigate rumors about your daughter. They fed your curiosity and your concerns. Feeling guilty. Plus, they gave you a chance to save your grandson." Jessica could only look at him wordlessly.It was as if he had overheard her exchange with the sorority dean.Feeling completely overwhelmed by his words, she began to admit that his plans for Alia's kidnapping might be true. "You see, Grandmother, I have a very difficult decision to make," he said, "One, maintain the aura of mystery of the Atreides family, live for my people...and die for them; two, choose another path , a road that can allow me to live for thousands of years." Jessica flinched involuntarily.The words casually uttered by the other party touched Bee Geist's taboo.Many Our Lady could have chosen that path...or made the attempt.After all, the founder of the sorority knew a way to control the chemistry in the body.Once someone starts trying, sooner or later, everyone goes down that path.The ever-increasing number of women who are perpetually youthful cannot be concealed.But they are sure that this path will eventually destroy them.Short-lived humans will deal with them.No - it's a big no-no. "I don't like your way of thinking," she said. "You don't understand my train of thought," he said. "Ganima and I..." He shook his head. "Alia could have done it, but she gave up." "Are you sure? I've informed the Sorority that Alia is practicing Taboo. Look at her! She hasn't aged a day since I left here..." "Oh, that's what you're talking about!" He waved a hand to show that he wasn't talking about a sorority's taboo on the quest for immortality, "I'm talking about something else—something no one else has ever achieved. As good as it gets." Jessica remained silent, horrified at how easily he could wring the secret out of her.Of course he knew that this kind of news was equivalent to a death sentence for Alia.Although he changed the subject, what he said was the same great crime of risking the world's shame.Did he not know that his words were extremely dangerous? "Explain your words," she said at last. "How?" he asked. "Unless you understand that time is nothing like what it appears to be, I can't explain it. My father wondered about it. He once stood on the edge of an epiphany, but he flinched. Now it's time." Ghanima and I." "I insist on an explanation," Jessica said, touching the needle hidden in the folds of her robe.It is a gorm thorn, extremely deadly, a single sting can kill a person in seconds.They warned me that I might use it.The thought made the muscles in her arms tremble slightly, but the robes thankfully concealed it. "Okay." He sighed, "First, as far as time is concerned, there is no difference between 10,000 years and a year, and there is no difference between 100,000 years and a heartbeat. There is no difference in time. First fact. Second fact: The time of the entire universe is inside me." "Nonsense," she said. "How? You don't understand. Then I'll try to explain it in another way." He gestured with his right hand, waving it from side to side as he said, "We're going forward, we're coming back." "These words explain nothing!" "True," he said, "some things cannot be explained in words. You have to experience it yourself. But you are not ready for such a risk, just as you are looking at me but can't see me too." "But... I was looking at you. Of course I saw you!" She stared at him.His words were the real Sunny sophistry she had learned in Bee Geist's school: playing with words to confuse people's minds. "Some things happen that are out of your control," he said. "How does this sentence explain that... that kind of perfection that no one has ever achieved?" He nodded. "If someone uses spices to delay aging and death, or adjust the chemical balance of the flesh through the way you Bee Gist fears, the delay is just a control of nothingness. Whether one moves quickly or slowly through the hole Earth, he has to go through after all. The journey through time can only be perceived by the heart." "Why play with words? I stopped believing in this nonsense long before your father was born." "Trust can be rebuilt," he said. "Wordplay! Wordplay!" "Aha, you're getting close!" "Humph!" "grandmother?" "what?" There was a long silence before he said, "Got it? You can still respond to external stimuli as you, not as a sorority." He smiled at her, "But you can't see through shadows, and I In the shadows." He smiled again, "My father was very close to this realm. When he lived, he lived, but when he died, he didn't die." "what are you saying?" "Where's his body?" "You think that missionary..." "Possibly, but even so, it's not his body." "You haven't explained anything," she reproached. "I said you wouldn't understand." "Then why..." "Because you asked me to explain, I had to tell you. Now, let's get back to Alia and her kidnapping plan—" "Do you want to do the dreadful thing?" she asked, grabbing the poisonous gormish spines inside her robes. "Will you be her executioner yourself?" he asked, very softly and deceptively.He pointed to her hand hidden in the robe, "Do you think she will let you have it? Or do you think I will let you have it?" Jessica found she couldn't even swallow her spit. "As for your question," he said, "I didn't mean to violate your taboos. I'm not that stupid. But you astonished me. How dare you come to judge Alia. She certainly violated Bee Ji. The commandment of ster! What do you expect? You stay away from her and let her be the de facto queen here. What a power it is! You hide in Kaladan and lie in Gurney's arms to soothe your wounds. Very good .but who are you to judge Alia?" "I tell you, I won't..." "Shut up!" He looked away from her in disgust.But his words were spoken in a special way of Bee Geist - the magic sound method that can control people's minds.She fell silent, as if a hand was over her mouth.She thought: Who can use the magic sound method more skillfully and use it to attack me?This self-comforting thought made her feel better.She has used the magic sound method on others many times, but she never thought that one day she would fall under it... There can be no second time... Ever since she graduated from school... He looked at her again. "I'm sorry. I just saw how blind you are—" "Blind? Me?" Hearing this, she was even more annoyed than being attacked by the magic sound Dafa. "You," he said, "blind. If you have any sincerity in you, you should see something in your own reaction. I called you grandmother just now, and your answer was 'what.' I locked your tongue , Inspire all the Bee Geist secret skills you have mastered. Use the methods you have learned to examine your own heart. You can at least do..." "How dare you! What do you know..." She swallowed the rest of the sentence.Of course he knows! "Examine your heart and do as I tell you!" His voice was extremely domineering. His voice startled her again.She felt that her senses had ceased to function, and her breathing suddenly became short of breath.In her consciousness, there was only a beating heart and panting...Suddenly, she found that her Bee Geist training could not bring her heartbeat and breathing back to normal levels.Her eyes widened in shock, feeling her body executing commands that weren't her own.Slowly, she regained her composure, but her discovery still lingered in consciousness.Throughout this conversation, the non-child entity manipulated her like a piano. "Now you should know what your precious sister has set for you," he said. She can only nod.Her trust in language was completely shattered.Leto forced her to examine her inner world thoroughly, made her tremble, and brought new life to her consciousness. "You'd get yourself kidnapped," Leto said. "but--" "I don't want to discuss this with you," he said. "You're going to get yourself kidnapped. Take my words as orders from the duke. You'll see what I mean by the end of the matter. You'll see a very interesting student." Leto stood up, nodded, and said, "Some actions have results but no beginnings, and some actions have beginnings but no results. It all depends on where the observer is." He turned and left the room. In the No. 2 vestibule, Leto saw Ghanima hurrying to their private quarters. Seeing him, she stopped. "Alia is busy with the Faithful Church." She looked inquiringly at the passage leading to Jessica's room. "It worked," Leto said.