Дюна
Book One: Dune
WheretheDukepointed,crescentdunetracksspreadshadowripplestowardthehorizonand,runningthroughthemasalevellinestretchingintothedistance,cameanelongatedmount-in-motion—acrestingofsand.ItremindedPaulofthewayabigfishdisturbedthewaterwhenswimmingjustunderthesurface.
“Worm,”Kynessaid.“Bigone.”Heleanedback,grabbedthemicrophonefromthepanel,punchedoutanewfrequencyselection.Glancingatthegridchartonrollersovertheirheads,hespokeintothemicrophone:“CallingcrawleratDeltaAjaxniner.Wormsignwarning.CrawleratDeltaAjaxniner.Wormsignwarning.Acknowledge,please.”Hewaited.
Thepanelspeakeremittedstaticcrackles,thenavoice:“WhocallsDeltaAjaxniner?Over.”
“Theyseemprettycalmaboutit,”Hallecksaid.
Kynesspokeintothemicrophone:“Unlistedflight—northandeastofyouaboutthreekilometers.Wormsignisoninterceptcourse,yourposition,estimatedcontacttwenty-fiveminutes.”
Anothervoicerumbledfromthespeaker:“ThisisSpotterControl.Sightingconfirmed.Standbyforcontactfix.”Therewasapause,then:“Contactintwenty-sixminutesminus.Thatwasasharpestimate.Who’sonthatunlistedflight?Over.”
HalleckhadhisharnessoffandsurgedforwardbetweenKynesandtheDuke.“Isthistheregularworkingfrequency,Kynes?”
“Yes.Why?”
“Who’dbelistening?”
“Justtheworkcrewsinthisarea.Cutsdowninterference.”
Again,thespeakercrackled,then:“ThisisDeltaAjaxniner.Whogetsbonuscreditforthatspot?Over.”
HalleckglancedattheDuke.
