Дюна
Book One: Dune
“Wouldyoupermitmetoseethisblade?”
“I’llpermityoutoearntherighttounsheathit,”Stilgarsaid,and,asamutterofprotestsoundedaroundthetable,heraisedathin,darklyveinedhand.“Iremindyouthisisthebladeofonewhobefriendedyou.”
Inthewaitingsilence,Paulstudiedtheman,sensingtheauraofpowerthatradiatedfromhim.Hewasaleader—aFremenleader.
AmannearthecenterofthetableacrossfromPaulmuttered:“Who’shetotelluswhatrightswehaveonArrakis?”
“ItissaidthattheDukeLetoAtreidesruleswiththeconsentofthegoverned,”theFremensaid.“ThusImusttellyouthewayitiswithus:acertainresponsibilityfallsonthosewhohaveseenacrysknife.”HepassedadarkglanceacrossIdaho.“Theyareours.TheymayneverleaveArrakiswithoutourconsent.”
Halleckandseveraloftheothersstartedtorise,angryexpressionsontheirfaces.Hallecksaid:“TheDukeLetodetermineswhether—”
“Onemoment,please,”Letosaid,andtheverymildnessofhisvoiceheldthem.Thismustnotgetoutofhand,hethought.HeaddressedhimselftotheFremen:“Sir,Ihonorandrespectthepersonaldignityofanymanwhorespectsmydignity.Iamindeedindebtedtoyou.AndIalwayspaymydebts.Ifitisyourcustomthatthiskniferemainsheathedhere,thenitissoordered—byme.Andifthereisanyotherwaywemayhonorthemanwhodiedinourservice,youhavebuttonameit.”
TheFremenstaredattheDuke,thenslowlypulledasidehisveil,revealingathinnoseandfull-lippedmouthinaglisteningblackbeard.
