Дюна
Book One: Dune
Whenthey—”
“AtPaul?”
“Yes,myLord.They’vealegendhere,aprophecy,thataleaderwillcometothem,childofaBeneGesserit,toleadthemtotruefreedom.Itfollowsthefamiliarmessiahpattern.”
“TheythinkPaulisthis...this....”
“Theyonlyhope,myLord.”Hawatextendedafilmclipcapsule.
TheDukeacceptedit,thrustitintoapocket.“I’lllookatitlater.”
“Certainly,myLord.”
“Rightnow,Ineedtimeto...think.”
“Yes,myLord.”
TheDuketookadeepsighingbreath,strodeoutthedoor.Heturnedtohisrightdownthehall,beganwalking,handsbehindhisback,payinglittleattentiontowherehewas.Therewerecorridorsandstairsandbalconiesandhalls...peoplewhosalutedandstoodasideforhim.
Intimehecamebacktotheconferenceroom,founditdarkandPaulasleeponthetablewithaguard’srobethrownoverhimandadittypackforapillow.
TheDukewalkedsoftlydownthelengthoftheroomandontothebalconyoverlookingthelandingfield.Aguardatthecornerofthebalcony,recognizingtheDukebythedimreflectionoflightsfromthefield,snappedtoattention.
“Atease,”theDukemurmured.Heleanedagainstthecoldmetalofthebalconyrail.
Apredawnhushhadcomeoverthedesertbasin.Helookedup.Straightoverhead,thestarswereasequinshawlflungoverblue-black.Lowonthesouthernhorizon,thenight’ssecondmoonpeeredthroughathindusthaze—anunbelievingmoonthatlookedathimwithacynicallight.
