Mother Superior.” As Fintil and Streggi left the room, Dortujla sat without being invited, a slingchair beside Bellonda. Brief glances at Sheeana and Tamalane on her left, then a hard stare at Odrade. “They will meet with you on Junction. They think the place is their own idea and your Spider Queen is there!”
“How soon?” Sheeana asked.
“They want one hundred Standard days counting from just about now. I can be more precise if you want.”
“Why so long?” Odrade asked.
“My opinion? They will use the time to reinforce their defenses on Junction.”
“What guarantees?” That was Tam, terse as usual.
“Dortujla, what has happened to you?” Odrade was shocked by the trembling weakness apparent in the woman.
“They conducted experiments on me. But that is not important. The arrangements are. For what it’s worth, they promise you safe passage in and out of Junction. Don’t believe it. You are allowed a small entourage of servants, no more than five. Assume they will kill everyone who accompanies you, although … I may have taught them the error in that.”
“They expect me to bring submission of the Bene Gesserit?” Odrade’s voice had never been colder. Dortujla’s words raised a specter of tragedy.
“That was the inducement.”
“The Sisters who went with you?” Sheeana asked.
Dortujla tapped her forehead, a common Sisterhood gesture. “I have them. We agree the Honored Matres should be punished.”
“Dead?” Odrade forced the word between tight lips.
“Attempting to force me into their ranks. ‘You see? We will kill another one if you don’t agree.’ I told them to kill us all and have done with it and to forget about meeting Mother Superior. They did not accept this until they ran out of hostages.”
“You Shared them all?” Tamalane asked. Yes, that would be Tam’s concern as she neared her own death.
“While pretending to assure myself they were dead. You may as well know the whole thing. These women are grotesque! They possess caged Futars. The bodies of my Sisters were thrown into the cages where the Futars ate them. The Spider Queen—an appropriate name—made me watch this.”
“Disgusting!” Bellonda said.
Dortujla sighed. “They did not know, naturally, that I have worse visions in Other Memory.”
“They sought to overwhelm your sensibilities,” Odrade said. “Foolish. Were they surprised when you didn’t react as they wished?”
“Chagrined, I would say. I think they had seen others react as I did. I told them it was as good a way as any to get fertilizer. I believe that angered them.”
“Cannibalism,” Tamalane muttered.
“Only in appearance,” Dortujla said. “Futars definitely are not human. Barely tamed wild animals.”
“No Handlers?” Odrade asked.
“I saw none. The Futars did speak. They said, ‘Eat!’ before they ate and they jibed at Honored Matres around them. ‘You hungry?’ That sort of thing. More important was what happened after they ate.”
Dortujla lapsed into a fit of coughing. “They tried poisons,” she said. “Stupid women!”
When she regained her breath, Dortujla said, “A Futar came to the bars of its cage after their … banquet? It looked at the Spider Queen and it screamed. I have never heard such a sound. Chilling! Every Honored Matre in that room froze and I swear to you they were terrified.”
Sheeana touched Dortujla’s arm. “A predator immobilizing its prey?”
“Undoubtedly. It had qualities of Voice. The Futars appeared surprised that it did not freeze me.”
“The Honored Matres’ reaction?” Bellonda asked. Yes, a Mentat would require that datum.
“A general clamor when they found their voices. Many shouted for Great Honored Matre to destroy the Futars. She, however, took a calmer view. ‘Too valuable alive,’ she said.”
“A hopeful sign,” Tamalane said.
Odrade looked at Bellonda. “I will order Streggi to bring the Bashar here. Objections?”
Bellonda gave a curt nod. They knew the gamble must be taken despite questions about Teg’s intentions.
To Dortujla, Odrade said: “I want you in my own guest quarters. We’ll bring in Suks. Order what you need and prepare for a full Council meeting. You are a special advisor.”
Dortujla spoke while struggling to her feet. “I’ve not slept in almost fifteen days and I will need a special meal.”
“Sheeana, see to that and get the Suks up here. Tam, stay with the Bashar and Streggi. Regular reports. He’ll want to go to the cantonment and take personal charge. Get him a comlink with Duncan. Nothing must impede them.”
“You want me here with him?” Tamalane asked.
“You are his leech. Streggi takes him nowhere without your knowledge. He wants Duncan as Weapons Master. Make sure he accepts Duncan’s confinement in the ship. Bell, any weapons data Duncan requires—priority. Comments?”