Contents
Chapter 62
Overview
The Preacher appears at the Temple, denounces Alia, and is assassinated by priests—confirming to Jessica and Alia that he was Paul. Leto and Ghanima storm Alia’s chambers; Leto unlocks Ghanima, foils Alia’s plot against Farad’n, and overpowers Alia. Possessed and cornered, Alia chooses suicide, clearing the path for Leto’s Golden Path.
Summary
From her aerie, Alia surveys pilgrim dancers and anticipates presenting Farad’n to Ghanima, expecting Ghanima to kill him and cement Alia’s control. She relishes that Stilgar and Irulan are imprisoned below. A crowd floods the plaza chanting for The Preacher, whose presence alarms Alia but she delays using force.
Jessica, Farad’n, and Tyekanik arrive to watch. The Preacher denounces offworld corruption and finally names Alia as blasphemy, turning the crowd tense. Alia’s priests surge through the press and stab The Preacher. A cry rises that Muad’Dib has been slain; Alia, shaken, declares Paul dead. Jessica recognizes the truth and reels.
Alia orders Ghanima brought, but the plasteel door crashes inward. Leto and Ghanima enter; Leto’s trigger words unlock Ghanima’s suppressed awareness. Leto reveals Alia’s plot to have Ghanima kill Farad’n and declares the Golden Path. When guards refuse to engage, Leto effortlessly subdues Alia, displaying terrifying strength.
Leto offers Alia a Trial of Possession or the window. Alia’s personas erupt—most dominantly the Baron Harkonnen—while Jessica and the others witness her fragmentation. With the window shattered, Alia staggers under inner conflict and, choosing, climbs over the sill and falls to her death on the Temple steps.
The crowd reacts below. Leto tells Jessica, “We told you to pity her,” as the family absorbs the simultaneous loss of Paul and Alia, and Leto’s authority and Golden Path come to the fore.
Who Appears
- Alia AtreidesRegent plotting Farad’n’s death; denounced by The Preacher; overpowered by Leto; possessed and ultimately commits suicide.
- Leto Atreides IIReturns transformed; unlocks Ghanima’s mind; foils Alia’s scheme; displays superhuman power; forces Alia’s final choice; asserts the Golden Path.
- Ghanima AtreidesArrives in betrothal garb; awakened by Leto’s triggers; resists inner voices; witnesses and denounces the demon in Alia.
- The Preacher (Paul Muad’Dib)Publicly condemns Alia; identified as Paul; assassinated by Temple Priests on the Temple steps.
- Lady JessicaWitnesses Paul’s murder and Alia’s collapse; protects Farad’n; devastated yet composed through Bene Gesserit training.
- Prince Farad’n CorrinoArrives to observe The Preacher; nearly target of Alia’s plot; spared by Leto; shows compassion toward Jessica.
- ZiaAlia’s aide; coordinates invitations to The Preacher and Ghanima; ensures Ghanima is armed as ordered.
- Temple PriestsIncite and execute the stabbing of The Preacher amid the crowd, triggering the pivotal revelation.
- TyekanikSardaukar commander guarding Farad’n; present during the confrontation in Alia’s aerie.