Mentats of Dune

Chapter 75 (I only hope I have enough time)

The Sisterhood possessed layer upon layer of secrets, and Valya Harkonnen was the sole custodian of the most important secret of all. Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen.

Explaining Dorotea’s death involved meticulous choreography, and Valya attended to the details with intense focus. No mistakes. The scenario was obvious to the Sisters who ran into Mother Superior Raquella’s chamber and saw the two women dead. And Dorotea’s own Truthsayers were there to announce the veracity of Valya’s account.

The following morning, she stood alongside Sister Fielle and Sister Olivia on the grass of the commons, watching as gray smoke curled from the top of the masonry crematorium structure. Dull gray clouds overhead matched the color of the smoke. Valya shivered as a chill wind cut through her robe.

Prior to her death, Mother Superior Raquella had left instructions that she wanted no funeral for herself and no mourning. Back on Rossak, the body of any dead Sister would have been cast into the jungle, for nature to reclaim. Here on Wallach IX she had asked to be cremated without fanfare, her ashes scattered in the central commons of the school complex.

Since Dorotea, overcome with grief, guilt, and despair, had purportedly killed herself after the Mother Superior’s death, Valya seized the opportunity to suggest that they be cremated together. It was fitting, she said, since their bodies had fallen together in the end. She chose her words with great care to make the point without lying — especially in the company of the six orthodox Sisters who had come from Salusa Secundus. “It is a perfect symbol of what we agreed to do, to show that Dorotea truly and fundamentally rejoined our Sisterhood.”

Since Valya was now the Mother Superior, the other Sisters did not challenge her suggestion. She watched the smoke continue to dance out of the chimney. Both bodies were fully consumed now, along with any lingering evidence of Dorotea’s murder.

And what evidence could there be? Those last moments were locked inside Valya’s mind. “Dorotea took her own life,” she asserted, standing firm with her story. “Just before she died, Mother Superior Raquella did something to Dorotea’s mind, changed her somehow. Dorotea was distraught, overwhelmed. She took the knife in her hands and plunged it into her own throat. I saw it myself.”

The visiting Salusan Sisters were appalled and outraged at the turn of events, suspicious that Valya might have murdered her rival, possibly even the old Mother Superior, too. But three of Dorotea’s companions were also skilled Truthsayers. They had faced Valya with their veiled accusations, scrutinized her as she repeated her story. “Listen to my words.” She allowed just the right mix of anger and indignation to mingle with deep, heartfelt sadness, and added a customized edge to her powerful Voice. “Dorotea took her own life. She stabbed herself with the knife. I did not touch her.”

Even the most skeptical of the Truthsayers could detect no falsehood in her words — and Valya reminded them of the promises they had made to the revered Raquella Berto-Anirul. They must all accept Valya as the next Mother Superior.

Now, as the last smoke wafted out of the crematorium chimney, Valya said, “Although Mother Superior Raquella disdained emotional involvement, I can’t help feeling great sadness. But she died knowing we had reached an agreement, that the schism was healed and the two factions of the Sisterhood could go forward united, stronger than ever. I intend to follow those wishes and do everything possible to ensure the extraordinary future Raquella envisioned.”

Fielle and Olivia nodded, remaining close beside her. The other Sisters had lined up on the commons, including the six orthodox visitors, all enduring the cold wind.

Fielle said, “Mother Superior had faith that you would both do what is best for the Sisterhood. Dorotea must have had her own insight, a tragic one that led to her suicide. Was that a failure, or a radical decisive action? Maybe she knew that, despite the best intentions, having two Mother Superiors would eventually lead to division again.”

Valya liked the sound of that. “I choose to believe Dorotea wanted to prevent further chaos.”

Sister Olivia was shaking her head, deeply bothered. She kept both hands in the large side pockets of her robe, accentuating the pear shape of her body. Valya realized that the Sister Mentat was waiting to be formally recognized by her Mother Superior. “Yes, Olivia?”

“I was following a projection. Raquella was the founder of our order, and Dorotea led the other Sisters on Salusa. Now we’ve lost both of them, our best chance for reconciliation.” Her expression grew agitated, and she fidgeted. “What will become of us now? I want to do as Mother Superior Raquella would have wished.”

“I am the Mother Superior now,” Valya said, firm but not angry. “And you are overwrought. I need you, as a Mentat and a Sister, to control your emotions. Only in that manner can we succeed against all of our challenges. We must work harder to master our feelings. Look what despair did to Dorotea.”

A startled expression. Then: “Yes, Mother Superior! I’m sorry, Mother Superior. I shouldn’t be worried about our Sisterhood, with you leading us. Perhaps I should go to the pharmacy for a sedative?”

“I’ll leave that to you,” Valya smiled gently. With a quick bow, Olivia hurried away.

“Your friend has a tendency to be nervous,” Valya said to Fielle. “We cannot afford hysteria or rash decisions. Raquella worried about the survival of the Sisterhood when she chose her successor. That part is past now, and I have even bigger dreams. As Mother Superior, I will change the emphasis of our teachings, focusing on allied mental and physical disciplines. Sisters must learn how to fight and defend themselves on a personal and collective basis — but we can’t let outsiders suspect just how powerful we are. We have a great deal of work to do, momentous challenges to face.”

And Valya knew she would also have to keep the secret of the breeding-record computers from all but her inner circle of Sisters. It had been done before.

Fielle lifted her chin. “I will aid you with my Mentat projections. What do you plan, Mother Superior?”

“Our Sisters will train here on Wallach IX, and they will also serve on Salusa Secundus, all loyal to the Mother Superior. I would like to post them in each of the noble houses of the Landsraad as well. As our influence spreads, the Sisterhood will grow stronger. Those who remain at the Imperial Court will reassure the Emperor so that he continues to accept our order.”

Fielle coughed in the dry, cold air. “I would like to be more than a Sister Mentat, Mother Superior. With your permission, I feel I am ready to face the Agony. If I become a Reverend Mother, the Sisterhood will grow even stronger.”

Valya stared hard at her for a moment. “That is not a decision to make lightly … and even with the refined Rossak drug, many candidates still die in the attempt. Sister Fielle, in you I see not just a possible Reverend Mother, but a possible leader. I think Raquella saw that as well.”

“But how could I lead other Reverend Mothers without being one myself?”

“You are a Sister Mentat, an essential element of our organization. I will depend on you for advice. I need Sisters I can rely on. You were there when Mother Superior Raquella died. You saw that she put her faith in me, and I put my faith in you now. The Sisterhood needs you, Fielle. I need you at this critically important time in our history.”

“As you wish, Mother Superior.” For a moment the Sister Mentat seemed disappointed, but she mastered her emotions, and Valya saw her features relax in acceptance. “I will do as you command.”

As Valya watched the gray smoke dissipate, she thought of her own rapid ascension here. The library of ancient experiences and knowledge in Other Memories had made her wise beyond her years.

She also knew that the resources of the Sisterhood gave her a clearer path to advance House Harkonnen. She could accomplish both of the goals that had consumed her for so long. As she co-opted the Salusan Sisters, she would gain greater influence with the Imperial throne, find and expand opportunities, seek ways to increase Harkonnen participation in the Landsraad. Maybe find a place for Danvis, maybe use Tula as a breeding mistress …

Griffin would have been proud of Valya. She knew that her beloved brother would have agreed with what she intended to do next.

The last wisps of smoke from the crematorium washed away in the morning breeze. It was over now. Both Dorotea and Raquella had been reduced to fine ash. Valya inhaled a long, deep breath of cold air, but didn’t allow herself a smile. She would continue to control her emotions.

“After we scatter the ashes,” she said, “I will make preparations to go to the Imperial Court and inform the orthodox Sisters of the deaths of both Raquella and Dorotea, as well as the good news that we are once again unified, and that I am the new Mother Superior. The six Salusan Sisters who came with Dorotea will accompany me to vouch for what they witnessed here.”

Fielle added, “And you must arrange for a new Truthsayer for the Emperor, now that Dorotea is gone.”

Valya had already been considering possibilities, reluctant to let one of Dorotea’s original followers take such an important role, though Salvador might insist on it. Valya needed her own loyal Truthsayers. “I will take Sister Olivia with me on this visit, and three or four other Wallach Sisters as well. I want you to remain here and manage the school in my absence.”

Fielle lowered her voice. “We dare not share the knowledge of the computers with the Salusan Sisters. That would shatter the Sisterhood again.”

“We kept that secret on Rossak, and we will keep it here, too.” Valya took a deep breath, as she pondered the future of the Sisterhood before her. “We will be a long time recovering from what the Emperor did to us on Rossak, and we must take great care not to incite extreme reactions. We will not become fanatical Butlerians, but we will quietly demonstrate that our human abilities are superior. And after generations of carefully modeled, studied, and manipulated breeding, we will advance humanity even further.”

When she visited the Imperial Court, Valya would take stock of the women there, assigning some of them back to Wallach IX, where they could be closely watched, while others might be more malleable and left on Salusa. She would also assign some of her faithful Sisters from Wallach IX to fill certain roles on Salusa. It would be a gradual process, requiring years, maybe even generations. Mother Superior Raquella had taught her how to think in the very long term.

“Our task will be easier, and far less dangerous, once the Butlerian hysteria quiets down,” Valya mused.

“Without Manford Torondo, the movement will fracture and fade away,” Fielle said. “I’m surprised he hasn’t been assassinated yet — by Josef Venport or someone else.”

Valya’s voice was completely even. “Are you volunteering for the assignment?”

“No, Mother Superior! I didn’t mean to suggest the Sisterhood would condone anything like that.”

Valya arched her eyebrows. “You should make a Mentat projection on the possibilities and probabilities. We might be better off if the Butlerian leader were out of the way.”

“Or worse off, if someone even more dangerous took his place.”

Two black-robed Sisters emerged from the crematorium, each carrying an urn. The ashes would still be warm, reminding Valya of how a body’s warmth lingered even after the heart had stopped beating. In time, the memory of the traitor Dorotea would grow as cold as her ashes that were soon to be spread on the ground. Valya would make sure that Dorotea was not revered, her actions not emulated. Perhaps even her name would be forgotten.

Raquella, though, was a different matter. There would be statues erected in her honor, and her memory would endure as long as the Sisterhood. And Valya Harkonnen would forever be known as her chosen successor, the bearer of her eternal torch.

Valya knew she was also much more than that.…