Дюна
Book One: Dune
Hehasalmostoutlivedhisusefulness.TheBaronstaredacrosstheroomathisMentatassassin,seeingthefeatureabouthimthatmostpeoplenoticedfirst:theeyes,theshadedslitsofbluewithinblue,theeyeswithoutanywhiteinthematall.
AgrinflashedacrossPiter’sface.Itwaslikeamaskgrimacebeneaththoseeyeslikeholes.“But,Baron!Neverhasrevengebeenmorebeautiful.Itistosee
aplanofthemostexquisitetreachery:tomakeLetoexchangeCaladanforDune—andwithoutalternativebecausetheEmperorordersit.Howwaggishofyou!”
Inacoldvoice,theBaronsaid:“Youhaveafluxofthemouth,Piter.”
“ButIamhappy,myBaron.Whereasyou...youaretouchedbyjealousy.”
“Piter!”
“Ah-ah,Baron!Isitnotregrettableyouwereunabletodevisethisdeliciousschemebyyourself?”
“SomedayIwillhaveyoustrangled,Piter.”
“Ofacertainty,Baron.Enfin!Butakindactisneverlost,eh?”
“Haveyoubeenchewingveriteorsemuta,Piter?”
“TruthwithoutfearsurprisestheBaron,”Pitersaid.Hisfacedrewdownintoacaricatureofafrowningmask.“Ah,hah!Butyousee,Baron,IknowasaMentatwhenyouwillsendtheexecutioner.YouwillholdbackjustsolongasIamuseful.TomovesoonerwouldbewastefulandI’myetofmuchuse.IknowwhatitisyoulearnedfromthatlovelyDuneplanet—wastenot.True,Baron?”
TheBaroncontinuedtostareatPiter.
Feyd-Rauthasquirmedinhischair.Thesewranglingfools!hethought.MyunclecannottalktohisMentatwithoutarguing.
