Дюна
Book One: Dune
Heknewtheactualno-holds-barredconventionthatruledinkanly,butthiswasthesortofmovethatcoulddestroythemevenasitgavethemvictory.
“‘Ihavebeenastrangerinastrangeland,’”Halleckquoted.
Paulstaredathim,recognizingthequotationfromtheO.C.Bible,wondering:DoesGurney,too,wishanendtodeviousplots?
TheDukeglancedatthedarknessoutthewindows,lookedbackatHalleck.
“Gurney,howmanyofthosesandworkersdidyoupersuadetostaywithus?”
“Twohundredeighty-sixinall,Sire.Ithinkweshouldtakethemandconsiderourselveslucky.They’reallinusefulcategories.”
“Nomore?”TheDukepursedhislips,then:“Well,passthewordalongto—”
Adisturbanceatthedoorinterruptedhim.DuncanIdahocamethroughtheguardthere,hurrieddownthelengthofthetableandbentovertheDuke’sear.
Letowavedhimback,said:“Speakout,Duncan.Youcanseethisisstrategystaff.”
PaulstudiedIdaho,markingthefelinemovements,theswiftnessofreflexthatmadehimsuchadifficultweaponsteachertoemulate.Idaho’sdarkroundfaceturnedtowardPaul,thecave-sittereyesgivingnohintofrecognition,butPaulrecognizedthemaskofserenityoverexcitement.
Idaholookeddownthelengthofthetable,said:“We’vetakenaforceofHarkonnenmercenariesdisguisedasFremen.TheFrementhemselvessentusacouriertowarnofthefalseband.Intheattack,however,wefoundtheHarkonnenshadwaylaidtheFremencourier—badlywoundedhim.Wewerebringinghimherefortreatmentbyourmedicswhenhedied.
