Дюна
Book One: Dune
“‘Behold,asawildassinthedesert,goIforthtomywork.’”Heturned,strodetothecenteroftheroom,pausedtorelayhisorders,hurriedonthroughthemen.
Letoshookhisheadattheretreatingback.Halleckwasacontinualamazement—aheadfullofsongs,quotations,andfloweryphrases...andtheheartofanassassinwhenitcametodealingwiththeHarkonnens.
Presently,Letotookaleisurelydiagonalcourseacrosstothelift,acknowledgingsaluteswithacasualhandwave.Herecognizedapropagandacorpsman,stoppedtogivehimamessagethatcouldberelayedtothementhroughchannels:thosewhohadbroughttheirwomenwouldwanttoknowthewomenweresafeandwheretheycouldbefound.Theotherswouldwishtoknowthatthepopulationhereappearedtoboastmorewomenthanmen.
TheDukeslappedthepropagandamanonthearm,asignalthatthemessagehadtopprioritytobeputoutimmediately,thencontinuedacrosstheroom.Henoddedtothemen,smiled,tradedpleasantrieswithasubaltern.
Commandmustalwayslookconfident,hethought.Allthatfaithridingonyourshoulderswhileyousitinthecriticalseatandnevershowit.
Hebreathedasighofreliefwhentheliftswallowedhimandhecouldturnandfacetheimpersonaldoors.
Theyhavetriedtotakethelifeofmyson!
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OvertheexitoftheArrakeenlandingfield,crudelycarvedasthoughwithapoorinstrument,therewasaninscriptionthatMuad‘Dibwastorepeatmanytimes.HesawitthatfirstnightonArrakis,havingbeenbroughttotheducalcommandposttoparticipateinhisfather’sfirstfullstaffconference.
