Dortujla showed her first strong emotion, deep revulsion that drew her mouth into a tight line.
It was a pattern the Sisterhood had long recognized: the inevitable failure of slavery and peonage. You created a reservoir of hate. Implacable enemies. If you had no hope of exterminating all of these enemies, you dared not try. Temper your efforts by the sure awareness that oppression will make your enemies strong. The oppressed will have their day and heaven help the oppressor when that day comes. It was a two-edged blade. The oppressed always learned from and copied the oppressor. When the tables were turned, the stage was set for another round of revenge and violence—rotes reversed. And reversed and reversed ad nauseam.
“Will they never mature?” Odrade asked.
Dortujla had no answer but she did have an immediate suggestion. “I must return to Buzzell.”
Odrade considered this. Once more, the banished Reverend Mother was ahead of Mother Superior. As disagreeable as the decision was, they both knew it as their best move. Futars and Handlers would return. More important, with a planet Honored Matres desired, odds were high that visitors from the Scattering had been observed. Honored Matres would have to make a move and that move could reveal much about them.
“Of course, they think Buzzell is bait for a trap,” Odrade said.
“I could let it be known that I was banished by my Sisters,” Dortujla said. “It can be verified.”
“Use yourself as bait?”
“Mother Superior, what if they could be tempted into a parley?”
“With us?” What a startling idea!
“I know their history is not one of reasonable negotiations but still .. ”
“It’s brilliant! But let us make it even more enticing. Say I am convinced I must come to them with a proposal for submission of the Bene Gesserit.”
“Mother Superior!”
“I have no intention of surrendering. But what better way to get them to talk?”
“Buzzell is not a good place for a meeting. Our facilities are very poor.”
“They are on Junction in force. If they suggested Junction as a meeting place, could you let yourself be persuaded?”
“It would take careful planning, Mother Superior.”
“Oh, very careful.” Odrade’s fingers flickered in her console. “Yes, tonight,” she said answering a visible question, and then, speaking to Dortujla across the cluttered worktable: “I want you to meet with my Council and others before you return. We will brief you thoroughly but I give you my personal assurance you will have an open assignment. The important thing is to get them to a meeting on Junction … and I hope you know how much I dislike using you as bait.”
When Dortujla remained deep in thought and not responding, Odrade said: “They may ignore our overtures and wipe you out. Still, you’re the best bait we have.”
Dortujla showed she still had her sense of humor. “I don’t much like the idea of dangling on a hook myself, Mother Superior. Please keep a firm grip on the line.” She stood and with a worried look at the work on Odrade’s table, said: “You have so much to do and I fear I have kept you far past lunch.”
“We will dine here together, Sister. For the moment, you are more important than anything else.”
All states are abstractions.
—Octun Politicus, BG Archives
Lucilla cautioned herself not to assume too familiar a feeling about this acid-green room and the recurring presence of Great Honored Matre. This was Junction, stronghold of the ones who sought extermination of the Bene Gesserit. This was the enemy. Day seventeen.
The infallible mental clock that had been set ticking during the Spice Agony told her she had adapted to the planet’s circadian rhythms. Awake at dawn. No telling when she would be fed. Honored Matre confined her to one meal a day.
And always that Futar in its cage. A reminder: Both of you in cages. This is how we treat dangerous animals. We may let them out occasionally to stretch their legs and give us pleasure but back to the cage afterward.
Minimal amounts of melange in the food. Not being parsimonious. Not with their wealth. A small show of “what could be yours if you would only be reasonable.”
When will she come today?
Great Honored Matre arrivals had no set time. Random appearances to confuse the captive? Probably. There would be other demands on a commander’s time. Fit the dangerous pet into the regular schedule wherever you could.
I may be dangerous, Spider Lady, but I am not your pet.
Lucilla felt the presence of scanning devices, things that did more than