Дюна
Book One: Dune
Hehadn’twantedtoattendthisfunction,buthisfatherhadbeenfirm.“Youhaveaplace—apositiontouphold.You’reoldenoughtodothis.You’realmostaman.”
Paulsawhisfatheremergefromthedoorway,inspecttheroom,thencrosstothegrouparoundtheLadyJessica.
AsLetoapproachedJessica’sgroup,thewater-shipperwasasking:“IsittruetheDukewillputinweathercontrol?”
Frombehindtheman,theDukesaid:“Wehaven’tgonethatfarinourthinking,sir.”
Themanturned,exposingablandroundface,darklytanned.“Ah-h,theDuke,”hesaid.“Wemissedyou.”
LetoglancedatJessica.“Athingneededdoing.”Hereturnedhisattentiontothewater-shipper,explainedwhathehadorderedforthelavingbasins,adding:
“AsfarasI’mconcerned,theoldcustomendsnow.”
“Isthisaducalorder,m’Lord?”themanasked.
“Ileavethattoyourown...ah...conscience,”theDukesaid.Heturned,notingKynescomeuptothegroup.
Oneofthewomensaid:“Ithinkit’saverygenerousgesture—givingwatertothe—”Someoneshushedher.
TheDukelookedatKynes,notingthattheplanetologistworeanold-styledarkbrownuniformwithepauletsoftheImperialCivilServantandatinygoldteardropofrankathiscollar.
Thewater-shipperaskedinanangryvoice:“DoestheDukeimplycriticismofourcustom?”
“Thiscustomhasbeenchanged,”Letosaid.HenoddedtoKynes,markedthefrownonJessica’sface,thought:Afrowndoesnotbecomeher,butit’llincreaserumorsoffrictionbetweenus.
