Destination: Void: Prequel to the Pandora Sequence (23 page)

“How did we get here?” Bickel asked. “Is it possible for me to understand?”

“Your understanding is limited,” said the vocoder. “The symbols that you have given me possess strange variance with nonsymbolized reality.”

“But
you
understand it,” Bickel said.

The vocoder seemed to take on a chiding tone: “My understanding transcends all possibilities of this universe. I do not need to
know
this universe because
I possess
this uni-verse as a direct experience.”

“Can’t you hear it?” Flattery demanded, his grip on Bickel’s arm tightening.

Bickel ignored the distraction, remembered that moment in the force of the field generator when he had faltered and fallen back from a transcendental awareness. He had not possessed the capacity. It was a built-in lack, functional.

He could only accept the accomplished fact because the evidence was visible on the viewscreen. They were coming down through clouds—a meadow with trees beyond it and a snowcapped mountain lifted in the background. He could feel the G-pull increasing, steadying as the ship came to rest.

“You will find the gravity just a fraction less than that of Earth,” said the vocoder. “I am now awakening colonists in hybernation. Remain where you are until all are awake. You must be together when you make your decision.”

His voice rasping in a suddenly dry throat, Bickel glanced up at the vocoder, said: “Decision? What decision?”

“Flattery knows,” said the vocoder. “You must decide how you will WorShip Me.”

The End

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Frank Herbert, the visionary author of
Dune
, wrote more than twenty other novels, including
Hellstrom’s Hive
,
The White Plague
,
The Green Brain
, and
The Dosadi Experi-ment
. During his life, he received great acclaim for his sweeping vision and the deep philosophical underpinnings in his writings. His life is detailed in the Hugo-nominated bio-graphy
Dreamer of Dune
, by Brian Herbert.

Other Frank Herbert novels available from WordFire Press include
Destination: Void
,
The Heaven Makers
,
Direct Descent
,
The Jesus Incident
(with Bill Ransom), and his last published novel,
Man of Two Worlds
, coauthored with his son Brian Herbert.