Дюна
Book One: Dune
“I’dsoonercutoffmyarmsthanhurtyou,”Hawatsaid.“MyLord,whatif....”
“TheLadyJessica,”Letosaid,andhefeltangerconsuminghim.“Couldn’tyouwringthefactsoutofthisPardee?”
“Unfortunately,Pardeenolongerwasamongthelivingwhenweinterceptedthecourier.Thecourier,I’mcertain,didnotknowwhathecarried.”
“Isee.”
Letoshookhishead,thinking:Whataslimypieceofbusiness.Therecan’tbeanythinginit.Iknowmywoman.
“MyLord,if—”
“No!”theDukebarked.“There’samistakeherethat—”
“Wecannotignoreit,myLord.”
“She’sbeenwithmeforsixteenyears!There’vebeencountlessopportunitiesfor—Youyourselfinvestigatedtheschoolandthewoman!”
Hawatspokebitterly:“Thingshavebeenknowntoescapeme.”
“It’simpossible,Itellyou!TheHarkonnenswanttodestroytheAtreidesline—meaningPaul,too.They’vealreadytriedonce.Couldawomanconspireagainstherownson?”
“Perhapsshedoesn’tconspireagainstherson.Andyesterday’sattemptcould’vebeenacleversham.”
“Itcouldn’thavebeenasham.”
“Sire,sheisn’tsupposedtoknowherparentage,butwhatifshedoesknow?
Whatifshewereanorphan,say,orphanedbyanAtreides?”
“She’dhavemovedlongbeforenow.Poisoninmydrink...astilettoatnight.Whohashadbetteropportunity?”
“TheHarkonnensmeantodestroyyou,myLord.Theirintentisnotjusttokill.There’sarangeoffinedistinctionsinkanly.Thiscouldbeaworkofartamongvendettas.”
TheDuke’sshouldersslumped.
