On that first day when Muad'Dib rode through the streets of Arrakeen with his family, some of the people along the way recalled the legends and the prophecy and they ventured to shout: "Mahdi!" But their shout was more a question than a statement, for as yet they could only hope he was the one foretold as the Lisan al-Gaib, the Voice from the Outer World. Their attention was focused, too, on the mother, because they had heard she was a Bene Gesserit and it was obvious to them that she was like the other Lisan al-Gaib. ~ from "Manual of Muad'Dib" by the Princess Irulan
This little quote at the beginning - who is the other Lisan al-Gaib? Who is the other Voice from the Outer World whom Jessica is like?
This is a short chapter, but it is important in showing the love Leto had for Jessica.
At the beginning of the chapter, Leto and Thufir Hawat had gone off by themselves after the conference, leaving Paul to rest.
Leto orders an Atreides raid on the Harkonnen homeworld, Giedi Prime, to destroy any Spice stockpiles. Leto thinks that the Emperor will not mind a bit of humiliation given to the Harkonnen.
Leto can tell that Hawat is troubled but tells him of the two reports of traitors anyway. In fact, Leto thinks that his telling of the reports of traitors will calm down Hawat, show Leto's confidence in him.
Instead, Leto's report only makes Hawat even more upset.
Hawat tells Leto of a scrap of a note taken from a Harkonnen courier and intended for the head Harkonnen spy on Arrakis. The note makes Hawat suspect that the Lady Jessica is the traitor.
Leto simply knows that it is not true, and that Jessica would never betray either himself or her son. He has great faith in her.
Nonetheless, Hawat is not convinced and asks to have Jessica watched. Leto goes along with this, and agrees to leave it in Hawat's hands.
Hawat gives Leto a report about the Fremen religion, and tells him that the Fremen think that Paul might be a match for one of their prophecies.
At the end, an enraged Leto watches the light of the sunrise on the cliffs, burning in a multitude of glowing colors. He sees the pools of the quick growing red wild flowers of Arrakis. For the first time he sees the awesome beauty of the place, and thinks that it might be a good home for his son. Then he sees people gathering the dew from the flowers, and thinks that it could also be a hideous place.
And now for some spoilers from the Dune houses books:
There are spoilers here! You are warned!! Spoilers!! Spoilers!!
In the Dune Houses we learn that the Atreides have lamentable luck with their women. Leto's father was assassinated in a bizarre way by his mother. The Duchess had come from an enemy house.
Leto himself had had a concubine before he met Jessica. This concubine (a well born princess from an allied house) turned on him, and also tried to assassinate him - he obviously made it, but another Atreides family member was killed in the attempt.
Thufir Hawat was chief of Atreides security when both of these assassiantions happened.
Knowing that, who could blame him for being so willing to suspect Lady Jessica? ******************************************************
Our lives are the songs that sing the universe into existence.~David Zindell <i>Edited by: Duchess of Malfi at: 10/6/06 11:29 pm </i>
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