Дюна
Book One: Dune
Thismeetinghadjustseemedtotrickleout,worndownbyitsowninadequacies,andwithanargumenttotopitoff.
Forthefirsttime,Paulallowedhimselftothinkabouttherealpossibilityofdefeat—notthinkingaboutitoutoffearorbecauseofwarningssuchasthatoftheoldReverendMother,butfacinguptoitbecauseofhisownassessmentofthesituation.
Myfatherisdesperate,hethought.Thingsaren’tgoingwellforusatall.
AndHawat—PaulrecalledhowtheoldMentathadactedduringtheconference—subtiehesitations,signsofunrest.
Hawatwasdeeplytroubledbysomething.
“Bestyouremainheretherestofthenight,Son,”theDukesaid.“It’llbedawnsoon,anyway.I’llinformyourmother.”Hegottohisfeet,slowly,stiffly.
“Whydon’tyoupullafewofthesechairstogetherandstretchoutonthemforsomerest.”
“I’mnotverytired,sir.”
“Asyouwill.”
TheDukefoldedhishandsbehindhim,beganpacingupanddownthelengthofthetable.
Likeacagedanimal,Paulthought.
“AreyougoingtodiscussthetraitorpossibilitywithHawat?”Paulasked.
TheDukestoppedacrossfromhisson,spoketothedarkwindows.“We’vediscussedthepossibilitymanytimes.”
“Theoldwomanseemedsosureofherself,”Paulsaid.“AndthemessageMother—”
“Precautionshavebeentaken,”theDukesaid.Helookedaroundtheroom,andPaulmarkedthehuntedwildnessinhisfather’seyes.“Remainhere.TherearesomethingsaboutthecommandpostsIwanttodiscusswithThufir.”Heturned,strodeoutoftheroom,noddingshortlytothedoorguards.
