Дюна
Book One: Dune
Someonesignalling!
Shetriedtoreadthemessage,butitwasinnocodeshehadeverlearned.
Otherlightshadcomeondownontheplainbeneaththecliffs:littleyellowsspacedoutagainstbluedarkness.Andonelightofftotheirleftgrewbrighter,begantowinkbackatthecliff—veryfast:blinksquirt,glimmer,blink!
Anditwasgone.
Thefalsestarinthecliffwinkedoutimmediately.
Signals...andtheyfilledherwithpremonition.
Whywerelightsusedtosignalacrossthebasin?sheaskedherself.Whycouldn’ttheyusethecommunicationsnetwork?
Theanswerwasobvious:thecommuninetwascertaintobetappednowbyagentsoftheDukeLeto.Lightsignalscouldonlymeanthatmessageswerebeingsentbetweenhisenemies—betweenHarkonnenagents.
TherecameatappingatthedoorbehindthemandthevoiceofHawat’sman:
“Allclear,sir..m‘Lady.Timetobegettingtheyoungmastertohisfather.”
***
ItissaidthattheDukeLetoblindedhimselftotheperilsofArrakis,thathewalkedheedlesslyintothepit.Woulditnotbemorelikelytosuggesthehadlivedsolonginthepresenceofextremedangerhemisjudgedachangeinitsintensity?Orisitpossiblehedeliberatelysacrificedhimselfthathissonmightfindabetterlife?AllevidenceindicatestheDukewasamannoteasilyhoodwinked.
—from“Muad’Dib:FamilyCommentaries”bythePrincessIrulan
THEDUKELetoAtreidesleanedagainstaparapetofthelandingcontroltoweroutsideArrakeen.Thenight’sfirstmoon,anoblatesilvercoin,hungwellabovethesouthernhorizon.
