Chapter 21

At dusk in Gammu’s overgrown forests, Teg keeps Lucilla and the Duncan ghola hidden under a life-shield before leading them along “Patrin’s memory-path,” a secret route Patrin taught him. Teg wrestles with Taraza’s strategy, Schwangyu’s rebellion, and the limits of Mentat logic, concluding he must act through the unexpected.

As they move, Teg mourns Patrin, recognizing that Patrin deliberately became the decoy to protect their escape. Lucilla worries about Schwangyu’s pursuit and Taraza’s orders, while Duncan, newly alert and suspicious about his fate, listens and follows, intent on Teg’s promise of sanctuary and answers.

The trio navigates dangerous open rock under the life-shield, evading an overhead ornithopter. Teg reflects on Bene Gesserit designs—Lucilla’s imprinting skills, possible links to Odrade, and the long Sisterhood game with the Tleilaxu over Duncan gholas—and marks trees with secret symbols only his trainees and Taraza would recognize.

Accepting that Patrin is likely dead under Schwangyu’s interrogation, Lucilla recognizes the audacity of Patrin’s no-ship decoy trail. Teg silently decides to block Lucilla’s imprinting until after Duncan’s memories are restored, even considering lethal contingencies if necessary, but choosing to mask his opposition.

Reaching a volcanic barrier and a crawlspace, Teg reveals their destination: an ancient, intact Harkonnen no-globe stocked with supplies. Nearby, Patrin’s fake launch-scorch cements the deception that they fled by no-ship, while the hidden no-globe offers true sanctuary and a staging point for Teg’s plan to awaken Duncan ahead of Lucilla’s assignment.