Дюна
Book One: Dune
Whatisitthatwastoohottodumpinfrontofthefullconference?”
Hawat’ssapho-stainedlipswerepulledintoaprim,straightlinewithtinywrinklesradiatingintothem.Theymaintainedtheirwrinkledstiffnessashesaid:
“MyLord,Idon’tquiteknowhowtobroachthis.”
“We’vesufferedmanyascarforeachother,Thufir,”theDukesaid.“Youknowyoucanbroachanysubjectwithme.”
Hawatcontinuedtostareathim,thinking:ThisishowIlikehimbest.Thisisthemanofhonorwhodeserveseverybitofmyloyaltyandservice.WhymustIhurthim?
“Well?”Letodemanded.
Hawatshrugged.“It’sascrapofanote.WetookitfromaHarkonnencourier.ThenotewasintendedforanagentnamedPardee.We’vegoodreasontobelievePardeewastopmanintheHarkonnenundergroundhere.Thenote—
it’sathingthatcouldhavegreatconsequenceornoconsequence.It’ssusceptibletovariousinterpretations.”
“What’sthedelicatecontentofthisnote?”
“Scrapofanote,myLord.Incomplete.Itwasonminimicfilmwiththeusualdestructioncapsuleattached.Westoppedtheacidactionjustshortoffullerasure,leavingonlyafragment.Thefragment,however,isextremelysuggestive.”
“Yes?”
Hawatrubbedathislips.“Itsays:‘...etowillneversuspect,andwhentheblowfallsonhimfromabelovedhand,itssourcealoneshouldbeenoughtodestroyhim.’ThenotewasundertheBaron’sownsealandI’veauthenticatedtheseal.”
“Yoursuspicionisobvious,”theDukesaidandhisvoicewassuddenlycold.
