Duke Leto’s Choice

Scene: an audience chamber on Planet Caladan, home of House Atreides. There is a lineup of beautiful women in Austro-Hungarian out-of-seraglio slinky daywear.

Duke Leto enters.

Aide: These are the shortlist of concubines for your final choice, Sir!

Duke Leto: I must have a son, or my line ends. Are they fertile?

Aide: Of course! They all have been tested.

Duke Leto: Good in bed?

Aide: Trained to be so, your grace.

Duke Leto: I like the look of that one. What’s her name?

Aide (looks at clipboard): Jessica, Sir.

Duke Leto: Any issues, anything I should know about?

Aide: Er…she’s a top ranking Bene Gesserit witch, trained by the Reverend Mother herself. Apart from that, clean as a whistle.

Duke Leto: The Bene Gesserit Sisterhood? Don’t they have this centuries-long plan to create a superbeing?

Aide: Yes, so I’ve heard. They also have this test…details aren’t clear but every man who attempts it dies.

Duke Leto: That’s a lot of baggage. I prefer a simple life. What about the one next to her?

Aide: Helen, from minor house, specialising in ore extraction. Could be economically beneficial.

Duke: I’ll take her. Dismiss the rest.