Mentats of Dune

Chapter 48 (Evil is apparent to all)

After the uprising, Baridge was suitably chastened — Anari Idaho had seen to it, and she sent a report back to Manford. Even now, the faithful on Lampadas would be celebrating. And when she returned, she would tell Manford in person what she had discovered about Directeur Venport’s monstrous Navigators and the true reason for his stranglehold on spice.

Anari would have preferred to make a more drawn-out example of Deacon Kalifer, forcing him to endure a long trial and public humiliation before his execution. But the people had been too eager. The mayhem surrounding the deacon’s demise, as well as the spectacle of the mutant Navigator’s body, were satisfying enough.

Directeur Rolli Escon, who had kept himself sheltered from the violence, did not venture into the smoldering city until after the riots were over. Anari faced him in the town square in the shadow of the giant captured VenHold spacefolder. “Our people hold their beliefs in their hearts and are not afraid to act on them,” she said. “Baridge is a good lesson for all to see, a message from Leader Torondo, reminding all loyal planets of their pledge.”

Escon straightened, eager to show his dedication. “My ships will deliver the message everywhere Leader Torondo wishes.”

She indicated the ransacked spacefolder. “Have your foldspace pilots ensured that the captured vessel is ready for its journey to Lampadas?”

“We have to check the foldspace engines and repair some of the piloting controls.” Escon sounded uneasy. “Part of the control deck was torn apart. Your followers impaired some of the systems in their … enthusiasm.”

“They killed a mutated monster, and I myself destroyed computers there. We don’t need those things to fly a spaceship. The mind of man is holy.”

“Of course, Swordmaster.” He didn’t sound entirely certain.

The following afternoon, when the systems were pronounced ready, Anari watched the scattered crew board the seized VenHold vessel. Of the hundred followers that had come with her from Lampadas, she selected two Swordmaster comrades and five fervent Butlerians, along with one of Escon’s pilots, to send aboard the spacefolder back to Manford, where it would be added to his fleet.

Anari Idaho and Rolli Escon watched the massive ship lift off from the square. As the giant, angular shape hovered above the city, Anari and her avid followers chanted a loud prayer into the smoke-filled air. Then the pilot activated the foldspace engines, and the ship vanished with a thunderous boom.

ANARI REMAINED ON Baridge for several more days to continue the work, while the Butlerians hunted down enclaves of Machine Apologists, supporters of Deacon Kalifer, or anyone who simply didn’t seem passionate enough about Manford’s cause. Some nervous shopkeepers smashed their own businesses just to demonstrate their priorities and to avoid extreme retaliation.

At night the auroras blazed brighter, as if in a celestial celebration of the righteous victory. By daylight, the air of Baridge seemed to crackle, but Anari’s followers weren’t afraid of harmful solar radiation. God provided them with better protection than any technology could.

Rolli Escon prepared his own ship to return the Swordmaster to Lampadas. He claimed he was anxious to spread Manford’s message, although Anari suspected he merely wanted to get away from Baridge. But she, too, needed to get back to see Manford. She worried about him when she wasn’t there to protect him, and she had important news for him.

THE CAPTURED VENHOLD warship never arrived at Lampadas. Eventually, as days dragged out into a week after it was due, the conclusion grew inescapable: The seized spacefolder had vanished en route, as so many EsconTran vessels did. Anari was disappointed at the loss of the ship, which she considered a spoil of war, but she had other priorities.

When she arrived back at the capital city, she hoped for a private debriefing with Manford, and time to catch up with him, but the Butlerian leader wanted the rest of his inner circle to hear her report about Baridge. Manford called a meeting in his home, and the housekeeper, Ellonda, bustled around to prepare the main room, then attended the guests.

Deacon Harian refused to sit, and Anari was happy to let the bald man stand there and be uncomfortable. Sister Woodra listened to the Swordmaster’s every word with narrowed eyes, assessing and analyzing her report for accuracy. Anari lifted her chin, ready to slaughter this haughty Sister if she so much as suggested that she was shading the truth.

Focused only on Manford, Anari described the mob uprising and the punitive actions she had taken. He approved of everything she’d done, as she knew he would. The only image she brought to show Manford — and the other curious onlookers, including the horrified old housekeeper — was of the humanoid Navigator.

“It’s a demon!” Deacon Harian said.

“Worse than that. It was human once,” Manford said. “This creature shows the vile pact Josef Venport made. Look what he has done to this poor being.” He touched his forehead, said reverently, “The mind of man is holy.”

Manford looked so disturbed that Anari wanted to hold and comfort him, and give him all of her strength, should he need it.

“Appalling,” Harian said. “How can they create such monsters?”

“It lived in a tank filled with concentrated melange gas,” Anari said. “No human could survive that much spice exposure, but the Navigator relied upon it, immersed himself in it. The VenHold ship was also carrying a cargo of spice from Arrakis. Half the Imperium is addicted to it, and I believe Deacon Kalifer was more interested in maintaining his access to melange than to any medical supplies. That was the bribe Venport used.”

“Spice is an insidious drug,” Manford said. “Even the Emperor uses it.”

Woodra looked intense, distracted. “I received a message from Reverend Mother Dorotea on Salusa Secundus. She has uncovered remarkable connections to Venport Holdings, including the secret but absolute control of spice production and distribution — right under the Emperor’s nose.”

Ellonda picked up the dishes, clattering cups on the tray and dithering about the room. Frowning at the noisy interruption, Anari said, “EsconTran can provide necessary commodities to our planets, but he can’t get supplies of melange. Combined Mercantiles has an exclusive arrangement with VenHold.”

Sister Woodra said, “Melange has seeped into many aspects of life throughout the Imperium. It is a popular additive to beverages and foods, a stimulant, and it’s said that those who consume it on a regular basis live longer, healthier lives. Other companies have tried harvesting spice on Arrakis, but Venport Holdings and Combined Mercantiles have a ruthless monopoly.”

She narrowed her gaze, looked at Manford. “Now we know that Venport needs spice — a lot of it — for his Navigators. And he has a great many Navigators. If we break that monopoly, we severely weaken him.”

Manford followed the argument, nodding slowly. “Then I must make a journey to Arrakis and convert those spice workers to our cause, deny Venport what he needs most.”

“It is too dangerous for you to travel there,” Anari said, putting her foot down.

He dismissed her concern. “All important battles are dangerous. But we must not fear.”

“You cannot go, Manford. We discussed this before — EsconTran’s safety record is too poor. We just lost another ship in foldspace. Until the navigational problems are solved, it’s too dangerous for you to travel.”

Manford admitted he was deeply troubled by the loss of the commandeered vessel. He shook his head. “It would have made a satisfying trophy, but it was a demon ship.”

“I destroyed the computers on board, Manford,” Anari said. “It should have been safe.”

“But you couldn’t destroy the taint of thinking machines. Maybe a hidden computer presence rose up from within the machinery and threw the vessel off course.”

Deacon Harian said, “So many EsconTran ships have disappeared. His company must be cursed.”

Anari couldn’t argue with that, but she drove home her main point. “Let me go to Arrakis first, to reconnoiter. I will be your eyes, and I will report back. You know you can trust me.”

Manford resisted. “They need to hear my words, see my face.”

“They can’t hear you or see you if you disappear into empty space!” She crossed her arms over her chest. Finally she said, in a small compromise, “Write your speech and rehearse it with your double. I’ll take him with me and carry him on my shoulders. The people will never notice the difference, but I’ll know you’re safe. With that confidence, I can do a better job.”

Manford’s shoulders slumped in acquiescence. “Very well, take my double to Arrakis and report back. It is critically important for us to learn how we can destroy all Venport operations there.”