Riding the Worm

[Paul Atreides]

Paul nodded, “I come from a place where water is worth more than Spice.” He said, implying some special reverence for the substance.He was clearly equating it to a valuable commodity, like gold, but the term was oddly placed.

“But I was born on a blue planet known as Caladan in a castle upon the sea.”

Paul paused, smiling in quiet reflection for a moment after mentioning Caladan.

“However... it doesn’t matter what it is. Men will fight and kill for whatever fuels their greed. Spice, land, gold, hard currency- it doesn’t matter. These men were animals- unable to control their bestial urges and were put down.”

There was a harshness to the way he spoke but also... remorse. He clearly didn’t relish the thought of killing the men as he had- Paul seemed far more concerned with their actions.

“It’s a plague on the lands. Men are driven mad in times where there wants cannot be meet. I have not been to this ‘Vasty Deep’, but it seems like a land of plenty. I was in Camelot recently and even there there can be found excess. The trail of a man is not what they do under the best of times but under the worst. Here in the Endless Dunes we see what men are really willing to do. Who are men and who are beasts.”