Дюна
Book One: Dune
Theythinkhimdrunk,Jessicathought.
Letoliftedhiswaterflagon,helditaloftwherethesuspensorlightsshotbeamsofreflectionoffit.“AsaChevalieroftheImperium,then,”hesaid,“Igiveyouatoast.”
Theothersgraspedtheirflagons,alleyesfocusedontheDuke.Inthesuddenstillness,asuspensorlightdriftedslightlyinanerrantbreezefromtheservingkitchenhallway.ShadowsplayedacrosstheDuke’shawkfeatures.
“HereIamandhereIremain!”hebarked.
Therewasanabortivemovementofflagonstowardmouths—stoppedastheDukeremainedwitharmupraised.“Mytoastisoneofthosemaximssodeartoourhearts:‘Businessmakesprogress!Fortunepasseseverywhere!’”
Hesippedhiswater.
Theothersjoinedhim.Questioningglancespassedamongthem.
“Gurney!”theDukecalled.
FromanalcoveatLeto’sendoftheroomcameHalleck’svoice.“Here,my
Lord.”
“Giveusatune,Gurney.”
Aminorchordfromthebalisetfloatedoutofthealcove.ServantsbeganputtingplatesoffoodonthetableattheDuke’sgesturereleasingthem—roastdeserthareinsaucecepeda,aplomagesirian,chukkaunderglass,coffeewithmelange(arichcinnamonodorfromthespicewaftedacrossthetable),atruepot-a-oieservedwithsparklingCaladanwine.
Still,theDukeremainedstanding.
Astheguestswaited,theirattentiontornbetweenthedishesplacedbeforethemandthestandingDuke,Letosaid:“Inoldentimes,itwasthedutyofthehosttoentertainhisguestswithhisowntalents.”Hisknucklesturnedwhite,sofiercelydidhegriphiswaterflagon.
