Дюна
Book One: Dune
HalleckmovedtoplacehimselfbetweenthemanandPaul,said:“ThisisPaulAtreides,theducalheir.”
“WhysayshetherewereFremenonourrumbler?”themanasked.
“Theyfitthedescription,”Paulsaid.
Kynessnorted.“Youcan’ttellFremenjustbylookingatthem!”HelookedattheDuneman.“You.Whowerethosemen?”
“Friendsofoneoftheothers,”theDunemansaid.“Justfriendsfromavillagewhowantedtoseethespicesands.”
Kynesturnedaway.“Fremen!”
Buthewasrememberingthewordsofthelegend:“TheLisanal-Gaibshallseethroughallsubterfuge.”
“Theybedeadnow,mostlikely,youngSoor,”theDunemansaid.“Weshouldnotspeakunkindlyonthem.”
ButPaulheardthefalsehoodintheirvoices,feltthemenacethathadbroughtHalleckinstinctivelyintoguardingposition.
Paulspokedryly:“Aterribleplaceforthemtodie.”
Withoutturning,Kynessaid:“WhenGodhathordainedacreaturetodieinaparticularplace,Hecauseththatcreature’swantstodirecthimtothatplace.”
LetoturnedahardstareatKynes.
AndKynes,returningthestare,foundhimselftroubledbyafacthehadobservedhere:ThisDukewasconcernedmoreoverthementhanhewasoverthespice.Heriskedhisownlifeandthatofhissontosavethemen.Hepassedoffthelossofaspicecrawlerwithagesture.Thethreattomen’sliveshadhiminarage.Aleadersuchasthatwouldcommandfanaticloyalty.Hewouldbedifficulttodefeat.
Againsthisownwillandallpreviousjudgments,Kynesadmittedtohimself:IlikethisDuke.
***
Greatnessisatransitoryexperience.
