Дюна
Book One: Dune
Thearmretractedandshelookedatwhatithadwatered:aferntree.
Watereverywhereinthisroom—onaplanetwherewaterwasthemostpreciousjuiceoflife.Waterbeingwastedsoconspicuouslythatitshockedhertoinnerstillness.
Sheglancedoutatthefilter-yellowedsun.IthunglowonajaggedhorizonabovecliffsthatformedpartoftheimmenserockupliftingknownastheShieldWall.
Filterglass,shethought.Toturnawhitesunintosomethingsofterandmorefamiliar.Whocouldhavebuiltsuchaplace?Leto?Itwouldbelikehimtosurprisemewithsuchagift,buttherehasn’tbeentime.Andhe’sbeenbusywithmoreseriousproblems.
SherecalledthereportthatmanyArrakeenhousesweresealedbyairlockdoorsandwindowstoconserveandreclaiminteriormoisture.Letohadsaiditwasadeliberatestatementofpowerandwealthforthishousetoignoresuchprecautions,itsdoorsandwindowsbeingsealedonlyagainsttheomnipresentdust.
Butthisroomembodiedastatementfarmoresignificantthanthelackofwatersealsonouterdoors.SheestimatedthatthispleasureroomusedwaterenoughtosupportathousandpersonsonArrakis—possiblymore.
Jessicamovedalongthewindow,continuingtostareintotheroom.Themovebroughtintoviewametallicsurfaceattableheightbesidethefountainandsheglimpsedawhitenotepadandstylustherepartlyconcealedbyanoverhangingfanleaf.Shecrossedtothetable,notedHawat’sdaysignsonit,studiedamessagewrittenonthepad:
“TOTHELADYJESSICA—
Maythisplacegiveyouasmuchpleasureasithasgivenme.
