Дюна
Book One: Dune
Sheworenojewelryandhadchosenwarmcolors—alongdressalmosttheshadeoftheopenblaze,andanearth-brownbandaroundherbronzedhair.
Herealizedshehaddonethistotaunthimsubtly,areproofagainsthisrecentposeofcoldness.Shewaswellawarethathelikedherbestintheseshades—thathesawherasarustlingofwarmcolors.
Nearby,moreanoutflankerthanamemberofthegroup,stoodDuncanIdahoinglitteringdressuniform,flatfaceunreadable,thecurlingblackhairneatlycombed.HehadbeensummonedbackfromtheFremenandhadhisordersfromHawat—“Underpretextofguardingher,youwillkeeptheLadyJessicaunderconstantsurveillance.”
TheDukeglancedaroundtheroom.
TherewasPaulinthecornersurroundedbyafawninggroupoftheyoungerArrakeenrichece,and,aloofamongthem,threeofficersoftheHouseTroop.TheDuketookparticularnoteoftheyoungwomen.Whatacatchaducalheirwouldmake.ButPaulwastreatingallequallywithanairofreservednobility.
He’llwearthetitlewell,theDukethought,andrealizedwithasuddenchillthatthiswasanotherdeaththought.
Paulsawhisfatherinthedoorway,avoidedhiseyes.Helookedaroundattheclusteringsofguests,thejeweledhandsclutchingdrinks(andtheunobtrusiveinspectionswithtinyremote-castsnoopers).Seeingallthechatteringfaces,Paulwassuddenlyrepelledbythem.Theywerecheapmaskslockedonfesteringthoughts—voicesgabblingtodrownouttheloudsilenceineverybreast.
I’minasourmood,hethought,andwonderedwhatGurneywouldsaytothat.
Heknewhismood’ssource.
