Дюна
Book One: Dune
OneofthemercenariesweknockedoverwastryingtogetthisbladefromourdeadFremenfriend.Themercenarysaysthere’saHarkonnenrewardofamillionsolarisforanyonewho’llbringinasinglecrysknife.”
Leto’schincameupinamovementofobvioussurprise.“Whydotheywantoneofthosebladessobadly?”
“Theknifeisgroundfromasandworm’stooth;it’sthemarkoftheFremen,Sire.Withit,ablue-eyedmancouldpenetrateanysietchintheland.They’dquestionmeunlessIwereknown.Idon’tlookFremen.But....”
“PiterdeVries,”theDukesaid.
“Amanofdevilishcunning,myLord,”Hawatsaid.
Idahoslippedthesheathedknifebeneathhistunic.
“Guardthatknife,”theDukesaid.
“Iunderstand,m’Lord.”Hepattedthetransceiveronhisbeltkit.“I’llreportsoonaspossible.Thufirhasmycallcode.Usebattlelanguage.”Hesaluted,spunabout,andhurriedaftertheFremen.
Theyheardhisfootstepsdrummingdownthecorridor.
AlookofunderstandingpassedbetweenLetoandHawat.Theysmiled.
“We’vemuchtodo,Sire,”Hallecksaid.
“AndIkeepyoufromyourwork,”Letosaid.
“Ihavethereportontheadvancebases,”Hawatsaid.“ShallIgiveitanothertime,Sire?”
“Willittakelong?”
“Notforabriefing.It’ssaidamongtheFrementhatthereweremorethantwohundredoftheseadvancebasesbuilthereonArrakisduringtheDesertBotanicalTestingStationperiod.Allsupposedlyhavebeenabandoned,buttherearereportstheyweresealedoffbeforebeingabandoned.”
“Equipmentinthem?”theDukeasked.
