Sandworms of Dune - Entry #19

The Epilogue (provides insight in to the next decade).

1. Duncan returns to Qelso with thinking machines to help Liet and Stilgar.
2. Jessica and Dr. Yueh returned to Caladan.  Scytale had grown a ghola of Duke Leto whose memories would one day be awakened so that Jessica and her beloved Duke could be together again. (Yeah, she'll be 20 years older than him but she is Bene Gesserit you know).
3. Mother Superior Sheeana led the small band of settlers on Synchrony where they established an orthodox Bene Gesserit center.  She also had Scytale grow a ghola ... Serena Butler. 
4. Last but not least, Paul and Chani returned to Dune.  There they worked at building a new sietch and starting a new family ... this time with no Irulan to interfere, there were no problems with her pregnancy.  Together, in peace, and in love.

I'll wrap this up with one of the last chapter starters and some good advice:

     Some problems are best solved with an optimistic approach.  Optimism shines a light on alternatives that are otherwise not visible.

-- SHEEANA

Reflections on the New Order

(Sandworms of Dune, p. 516)

Sandworms of Dune - Entry #18

     Technically, there are 44 more pages in the book, but the last scene ending with Erasmus's death is really the meaningful end to one story and, in essence, the beginning of an altogether new chapter in human history.

     In these last pages, we get a glimpse of that future with each of our favorite characters.

     First, Murbella is brought to Synchrony and although the intense love addiction is no more, there is tremendous respect and caring between Duncan and Murbella.  And also between Duncan and Sheeana.

     Duncan assigned the Bene Gesserit group from the Ithaca to settle in Synchrony with Sheeana as their leader. Sheeana embraced the idea and invited any of them to stay who wanted to take on the challenge ... including Scytale.

     Duncan would return to Chapterhouse with Murbella to help "shepherd the reintroduction and integration of superior technology into a thriving society" (Sandworms of Dune, p. 518).  As they began their landing on Chapterhouse, he saw that he wouldn't call it home ... he realized the entire universe was his home.  In that moment, Erasmus spoke to him, much like Other Memory speaks to the Reverend Mother ... and just like Other Memory, he could use Erasmus as a resource, as long as he was in control.  The work he had to do across the universe was a very big undertaking and he had already commissioned Scytale to make another ghola of Miles Teg to help him!

     Everything was woven together in a tighter tapestry than history had ever known, and at last Duncan grasped the extent of his newfound strength.  He was not the first human in history to possess great power, and he vowed not to forget what he had learned as a pawn of the God Emperor, Leto II.
     The human race would never forget the thousands of years under that terrible reign, and Duncan's comprehensive racial memory held a roadmap that showed him where the pitfalls were, thus enabling him to avoid them.  The great Tyrant had suffered from a flaw he hadn't recognized.  Weighed down by his sense of terrible purpose, Leto II had isolated himself from his humanity.
     In contrast, Duncan clung to the knowledge that Murbella would be with him, and Sheeana, too.  He could talk with his daughter Janess as well, and perhaps even his other surviving daughter, Tanidia.  In addition, he had all the memories of great and loyal friends, of dozens of loves, and a succession of comrades, wives, families, joys, and beliefs.
     Though he was the ultimate Kwisatz Haderach with immeasurable power, Duncan had known the best parts of being human.  Life after life.  He didn't need to feel alienated and worried, when he could be filled with love instead.

(Sandworms of Dune, p. 524-525)

   Yeah, it's a little sappy.  But you have to just LOVE Duncan Idaho.