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The Lord Leto then commanded her, "Look toward my Festival City and tell me what you see."
Sister Chenoeh looked toward O
The Lord Leto said, "We have cluttered this landscape! Trees are a clutter. Houses, gardens... You ca
Sister Chenoeh, emboldened by Lord Leto's assurances, asked, "Does the Lord truly want mysteries?"
The Lord Leto said, "There is no outward spiritual freedom in such a landscape. Do you not see it? You have no open universe here with which to share. Everything is closures-doors, latches, locks!"
Sister Chenoeh asked, "Has mankind no longer any need for privacy and protection?"
The Lord Leto said, "When you return, tell your Sisters that I will restore the outward view. Such a landscape as this one turns you inward in search for whatever freedom your spirits can find within. Most humans are not strong enough to find freedom within."
Sister Chenoeh said, " will report your words accurately, Lord. "
The Lord Leto said, "See that you do. Tell your Sisters also that the Bene Gesserit of all people should know the dangers of breeding for a particular characteristic, of seeking a defined genetic goal."
Sister Chenoeh says this was an obvious reference to the Lord Leto's father, Paul Atreides. Let it be noted that our breeding program achieved the Kwisatz Haderach one generation early. In becoming Muad'Dib, the leader of the Fremen, Paul Atreides escaped from our control. There is no doubt that he was a male with the powers of a Reverend Mother and other powers for which humankind still is paying a heavy price. As the Lord Leto said:
"You got the unexpected. You got me, the wild card. And I have achieved Siona."
The Lord Leto refused to elaborate on this reference to the daughter of his majordomo, Moneo. The matter is being investigated.
In other matters of concern to the Chapter House, our investigators have supplied information on:
The Fish Speakers The Lord Leto's female legions have elected their representatives to attend the Dece
None of our efforts to form an alliance between Fish Speakers and Bene Gesserit succeeded during this period. Lord Leto continues to increase certain garrison sizes. He also continues to emphasize the alternative missions of the Fish Speakers, de-emphasizing their military missions. This has had the expected result of increasing local admiration and respect and gratitude for the presence of the Fish Speaker garrisons. (See attached list for garrisons which were increased in size. Editor's note: The only pertinent garrisons were those on the home planets of the Bene Gesserit, Ixians and Tleilaxu. Spacing Guild monitors were not increased.)
Priesthood
Except for the few natural deaths and replacements which are listed in attachments, there have been no significant changes. Those consorts and officers delegated to perform the ritual duties remain few, their powers abridged by continuing requirement for consultation with Arrakis before taking any important action. It is the opinion of the Reverend Mother Syaksa and some others that the religious character of the Fish Speakers is slowly being devolved.
Breeding Program
Other than the unexplained reference to Siona and to our failure with his father, we have nothing significant to add to our continued monitoring of the Lord Leto's breeding program. There is evidence of a certain randomness in his plan which is reinforced by the Lord Leto's statement about genetic goals, but we ca
The Lord Leto continues to prohibit our participation in his
breeding program. His monitors from our Fish Speaker garrison remain adamant in "weeding out" our births to which they object. Only by the most stringent controls were we able to maintain the level of Reverend Mothers during this reporting period. Our protests are not answered. In response to a direct question from Sister Chenoeh, the Lord Leto said:
"Be thankful for what you have."
This warning is duly noted here. We have transmitted a gracious letter of thankfulness to the Lord Leto.
Economics
The Chapter House continues to maintain its solvency. but the measures of conservation ca
The Lord Leto has denied our petition for an increase in our melange allotment. No reason was given.
Our relationship with the Combine Ho
Great Houses
Thirty-one former Great Houses suffered economic disaster in this reporting period. Only six managed to maintain House Minor status. (See attached list.) This continues the general trend noted over the past thousand years where the once Great Houses melt gradually into the background. It is to be noted that the six who averted total disaster were all heavy investors in CHOAM and that five of these six were deeply involved in the Star Jewel project. The lone exception held a diversified
portfolio, including a substantial investment in antique whale fur from Caladan. (Our ponji rice reserves were increased almost twofold in this period at the expense of our whale fur holdings. The reasons for this decision will be reviewed in the next period.) Family Life As has been observed by our investigators over the preceding two thousand years, the homogenization of family life continues unabated. The exceptions are those you would expect: the Guild, the Fish Speakers, the Royal Courtiers, the shape-changing Face Dancers of the Tleilaxu (who are still mules despite all efforts to change that condition), and our own situation, of course.
It is to be noted that familial conditions grow more and more similar no matter the planet of residence, a circumstance which ca
We remind you of a statement from the Lord Leto which was reported here almost eight generations ago:
"I am the only spectacle remaining in the Empire."
Reverend Mother Syaksa has proposed a theoretical explanation for this trend, a theory which many of us are begi