Heretics of Dune

The giant sandworm continues its trek across the desert with Odrade, Waff, and Sheeana on its back. Odrade delves into her Other Memories and remarks on how long it’s been since an Atreides has ridden a worm like the Fremen. The Rakian priests resent Odrade for taking over Sheeana’s upbringing and allying with the Tleilaxu. In an earlier meeting with Albertus, a senior priest, Odrade detected his plan to assassinate her. She warns him that Sheeana sees and hears everything and commands him to obey her or endure Shaitan’s wrath. Albertus scurries away in fear, and Odrade confirms that the Bene Gesserit can manipulate religious fear into a “directed hysteria” that spreads like a disease.

Duncan and Teg continue to prevent Lucilla from completing her orders to imprint. Duncan resists her use of Voice, and Lucilla realizes that her last resort is the truth. She tells Duncan she has no idea why she must imprint, but she believes it has something to do with Sheeana and the worms. Teg theorizes that the Bene Gesserit needs Duncan to control the worms and revive the old religion. He surmises that Duncan’s ancient genes are valuable and Lucilla’s task is to make Duncan desirable to women.