God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert Read Free Book Online Page B

transmission. Bowing her head, she prayed silently before concealing the desk within the wall. These actions, she knew, transmitted the message. God himself had implanted a physical device within her head, swearing her to secrecy and warning her that there might come a time when he would speak to her through the thing within her skull. He had never done this. She suspected that Ixians had fashioned the device. It had possessed some of their look. But God Himself had done this thing and she could ignore the suspicion that there might be a computer in it, that it might be prohibited by the Great Convention.

    “Make no device in the likeness of the mind!”

    Nayla shuddered. She stood then and moved her chair to its regular position beside the cot. Her heavy, muscular body strained against the thin blue garment. There was a steady deliberation about her, the actions of someone constantly adjusting to great physical strength. She turned at the cot and studied the place where the desk had been. There was only a rectangular gray panel like all the others. No bit of lint, no strand of hair, nothing caught there to reveal the panel’s secret.

    Nayla took a deep, restorative breath and let herself out of the room’s only door into a gray passage dimly lighted by widely spaced white glowglobes. The machinery sounds were louder here. She turned left and a few minutes later was with Siona in a somewhat larger room, a table at its center upon which things stolen from the Citadel had been arranged. Two silvery glowglobes illuminated the scene—Siona seated at the table, with an assistant named Topri standing beside her.

    Nayla nurtured grudging admiration for Siona, but Topri, there was a man worthy of nothing except active dislike. He was a nervous fat man with bulging green eyes, a pug nose and thin lips above a dimpled chin. Topri squeaked when he spoke.

    “Look here, Nayla! Look what Siona has found pressed between the pages of these two books.”

    Nayla closed and locked the room’s single door.

    “You talk too much, Topri,” Nayla said. “You’re a blurter. How could you know if I was alone in the passage?”

    Topri paled. An angry scowl settled onto his face.

    “I’m afraid she’s right,” Siona said. “What made you think I wanted Nayla to know about my discovery?”

    “You trust her with everything!”

    Siona turned her attention to Nayla. “Do you know why I trust you, Nayla?” The question was asked in a flat, unemotional voice.

    Nayla put down a sudden surge of fear. Had Siona discovered her secret?

    Have I failed my Lord?

    “Have you no response to my question?” Siona asked.

    “Have I ever given you cause to do otherwise?” Nayla asked.

    “That’s not a sufficient cause for trust,” Siona said. “There’s no such thing as perfection—not in human or machine.”

    “Then why do you trust me?”

    “Your words and your actions always agree. It’s a marvelous quality. For instance, you don’t like Topri and you never try to conceal your dislike.”

    Nayla glanced at Topri, who cleared his throat.

    “I don’t trust him,” Nayla said.

    The words popped into her mind and out of her mouth without reflection. Only after she had spoken did Nayla realize the true core of her dislike: Topri would betray anyone for personal gain.

    Has he found me out?

    Still scowling, Topri said, “I am not going to stand here and accept your abuse.” He started to leave but Siona held up a restraining hand. Topri hesitated.

    “Although we speak the old Fremen words and swear our loyalty to each other, that is not what holds us together,” Siona said. “Everything is based on performance. That is all I measure. Do you understand, both of you?”

    Topri nodded automatically, but Nayla shook her head from side to side.

    Siona smiled up at her. “You don’t always agree with my decisions, do you, Nayla?”

    “No.” The word was forced from her.

    “And you have never tried to conceal your