Over the exit of the Arakeen landing field,crudely carved,as though with a poor instrument,there was an inscription that Muad'Dib was to repeat many times.He saw it that first night on Araakis,having been brought to the ducal command post to participate in his father's first full staff conference.The words of the inscription were a plea to those leaving Arrakis,but they fell with dark import on the eyes of a boy who had just escaped a close brush with death.They said:"O you who know what we suffer here,do not forget us in your prayers."
The Duke seeks to further Paul's education in royal politics, explaining that when your own family gets involved with the calculated risk of warfare that it gets ensared in other things.Meaning that personal feelings may get the better of you.Leto further shows Paul that the burdens of command are indeed great,that the stress of leadership MUST only be shared with those that are closest to you.Hawat's mistake of overlooking the hunter-seeker is defended by Paul,staing that he would not have survived unless he had recieved training from Hawat himself. Hawat enters the room and wishes to remove himself from the Duke's employ and the Duke at this point is very angry at the display of foolishness from Hawat.Further showing Paul that ALL personnel must be salvaged if they have proven their worth. Leto further tells Hawat:"Oh,sit down and stop acting the fool,the Duke said.He waved to the chair across from Paul."If you made a mistake it was in overestimating the Harkonnens.Their simple minds came up with a simple trick.We didn't count on simple tricks.And my son has been at great pains to point out to me that he came through this largely because of your training,You didn't fail there!"He tapped the back of the empty chair."Sit down I say!" Hawat sank into the chair "But--" "I'll hear no more of it,the Duke said."The incident is past.We have more pressing business.Where are the others?" "I asked them to wair outside while I--" "Call them in." Hawat looked into Leto's eyes,"Sire,I--" "I know who my true friends are,Thufir,"the Duke said."Call in the men." Hawat swallowed."At once my Lord." This exchange alone showed Paul that even though somebody may have failed in a task set to them,that any man was not beyond redemption,this later shows up in a later chapter when the Fremen wish Muad'Dib to call out Stilgar.However,that will not be discussed here.
The Duke surveys the men that walk into his command post briefing room and decides to himself that they are all good men,equal to the task that is about to be appointed to them.The Duke seemingly appraises the whole situation from a single galnce around the room.Leto switches from forgiving Lord to the Duke Leto Ateides with seeming ease. "Well,gentlemen,"he said, "our civilization appears to've fallen so deeply into the habit of invasion that we cannot even obey a simple order of the Imperium without the old ways cropping up."Paul realized that his father had said exactly the right thing at the right time to ease the mood.Further showing Paul that command must appear easy,that the right tact at the right time,knowing your subordinates' moods and disposition at all times is crucial to maintaining command no matter what situation may arise.
The Fremen are discussed into detail, as to recruiting them as a fighting force for the duke,population numbers are much larger than expected and that the Fremen are waiting to see if the new duke can be trusted.Intelligence reports are given to see if the new leadership will use the proper force where it is required,the Fremen further supply reliable intelligence.A possible local deity is brought up in the discussion,Liet.
It is open knowledge that the Fremen deal with the smugglers,loaded down with enough supplies for an eighteen day journey in Arrakis's desert,and with a heavy load of spice.Leto further states to the men gathered that smugglers will always operate outside of fief control.Leto is concerned about making a logistical mistake here by stating:"This deserves some careful thought." He knows that these operations will always take place but they will be ignored if they give hime a Ducal tithe.CHOAM profits are jealuosly gaurded by the Emporer,and Leto furhter states:"We'll bank the entire amount openly in the name of Shaddam IV and deduct it legally from our levy support costs.Let the Harkonnens fight that!And we'll be ruining a few more of locals who grew fat under the Harkonnen system.No more graft!"Halleck instantly approves this new plan to further undermine the Harkonnen system,calling it" A beautiful low blow." Surface equipment becomes a problem as well, as profits from the spice.Many machines left from the Harkonnens is in bad repair and the ones that do work are antiques.The Guild situation of the wont of weather satelites is brought into play,and most are crestfallen to discover that it's well beyond the reach of even Ducal coffers. One of the men state that there's no justice in the current situation with the Guild,the Judge of the Change,the costs estimate and outbursts in the discussion.Rather than retaliate to the man in question,Leto tells him that Justice is for those who reach forth and take it,that it will not come to those who sit idly by and wait for it to seek them out.Leto states as well that ANY man may speak out here at this table.Leto wants the truth without his men worrying over reprimands for speaking the truth.
Paul holds himself in check during these discussions,soaking in how both his father and the men respond to the current threat,and bringsup the problems of the Worms.At this the duke cringes and decides that the men MUST face the truth of what they are up against.The de-emphsis on shields concerns the duke but does not speak out on this subject.He only quails at the thought of being unable to escape from Arrakis if all else fails.
Duncan Idaho finally arrives to the discussions to reveals that the Fremen have once again provided help by uncovering a band of Harkonnen agents bent on mischief,then reveals that one of the Fremen has fallen to defend the duke in his ventures,and further reveals that a Chysknife has fallen to him in the process.Stilgar apparently is very angry that the knife was to be revealed to those who had not gone through a cleansing process.The duke is afraid that the new fledgling alliance with the Fremen may hang in the balance of properly handling the current situation at hand,and states to Stilgar that the Duke will respect that which respects him.And that if there is any way to honor the man who died in his service Stilgar has to but name it.At this, Stilgar spits upon the table in front of the duke,in most cultures to be taken as a sign of disrespect,but with the Fremen it is a Water-Bond with those who understand the ways of the deep desert.At this Idaho understands what is taking place and requires all to hold their ground without taking offense to the bond. Idaho is required to form a double allegiance with both Duke Leto and the Fremen,leaving the body of the fallen Fremen behind stating:" Duncan Idaho,your water is our water,Turok's water is to stay with your Duke." Further sealing the water-bond between Leto and the Fremen.
Leto further commands that another command post be set up and all information to be gathered at the new location.Paul realizes that his father is desperate,that his command is somewhat clouded by this fact and that the whole discussion ended in confusion.Leto furhter tells Paul after the men left to rest in the new command post and Paul further realizes his father is acting like a caged animal......and remembers what the Bene Gesserit had promised him,"For the father NOTHING."
I know I glossed over a many key elements here,this chapter is VERY complex and would require many pages to properly dissect it.NO, I DID NOT DO THIS ONE FROM MEMORY!! This chapter required many references to complete, and of course the simple fact of doing the &%$#^^^&^%$# thing five times to post was,to say the least,frustrating.This chapter would require by far more space to dissect than it took to write,There are many problems that have arised from running things PROPERLY.Most of the Duke's adamant refusal to things the "Harkonnen way.",did complicate many issues and Paul began to see that his father was indeed tired,concerned,and cornered.In my own personal opinion Muad'Dib learned more on HOW to govern from this staff meeting than anything else in his education.The many things his father taught him the most important was on how to be a true man,to uphold his word and to honor those who have sacrificed all for the Atriedes way of life.As shall be revealed in later chapters however,Muad'Dib could not always adhere to what he had learned from his father.Driven by revenge,loss,love,and a new culture that Muad'Dib himself had formed,the ways learned from his father was not always practical or the best.Muad'Dib had an EMPIRE to run,not a Ducal fief.As we will see in later chapters many things his father taught him did stay with him but were only the starting grounds,not the final product.As Avatar had once said,"The Atreides were NOT nice" in getting their idealogical theories across.So, here we see the beginning of Muad'Dib's earliest training to be a true Royal............................The spice must flow........Spacemonkey
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