terriblepurpose: (26)
Paul Atreides ([personal profile] terriblepurpose) wrote in [community profile] deercountry 2021-12-26 04:53 am (UTC)

[It's always interesting to observe the patterns of other people's thoughts. The questions they ask are as telling as the answers they give, and Paul is already thinking of how he'll sketch out the broad strokes of history for Palamedes some other time. The Butlerian Jihad alone will take at least half a day. So much of it is economics and bitter secrecy, and Paul can't help but compare this world's seeming much more open sharing of knowledge with his own.

On the other hand, all the academic sharing here ended in bloodshed as well. Maybe that's the fate of scholars: to carve each other up for their secrets.]


It's been long enough, centuries, more - we should know. Know how the spice renews itself, know how the sand worms seek it out, and why. But anyone who asked those questions ended up never asking another question again. [Paul slicks his hair back from his face, shaking his head.] At first, all anyone wanted to do was kill them. It's almost impossible, but they tried. Then once the spice was discovered, all that mattered was finding ways around them to harvest it.

And you would think they were horrifying, but they aren't. I've seen one up close. [And there is a soft awe in his voice, even now.] It was like looking into the universe's eye, Palamedes. The dark circular void of its throat feathered with teeth like an iris, wide enough to swallow a hundred man troop without one touching the sides. When they move, the sand flows like water, and the spice shines in it like bronze.

[Paul can remember it so clearly. That's what makes him think of what he does next, as he half-closes his eyes and hums to himself, rubbing what remains of the blood under his nails between his fingertips. As watery as it is, it's enough for this: tiny metallic flecks dancing out of nothingness between the raindrops, bringing the scent of cinnamon with them. The shallow puddles shiver, although the ground itself is still.]

That's what Arrakis is like. An unanswered question, an open eye full of teeth. [He says it like someone else might say it's beautiful.] I wish you could see it. You'd have the right kind of questions.

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