Дюна
Book One: Dune
“Icannotsing,butIgiveyouthewordsofGurney’ssong.Consideritanothertoast—atoasttoallwho’vediedbringingustothisstation.”
Anuncomfortablestirringsoundedaroundthetable.
Jessicaloweredhergaze,glancedatthepeopleseatednearesther—therewastheround-facedwater-shipperandhiswoman,thepaleandaustereGuildBankrepresentative(heseemedawhistlefacedscarecrowwithhiseyesfixedonLeto),theruggedandscar-facedTuek,hisblue-within-blueeyesdowncast.
“Review,friends—troopslongpastreview,”theDukeintoned.“Alltofateaweightofpainsanddollars.Theirspiritswearoursilvercollars.Review,friends
—troopslongpastreview:Eachadotoftimewithoutpretenseorguile.Withthempassesthelureoffortune.Review,friends—troopslongpastreview.Whenourtimeendsonitsrictussmile,we’llpassthelureoffortune.”
TheDukeallowedhisvoicetotrailoffonthelastline,tookadeepdrinkfromhiswaterflagon,slammeditbackontothetable.Watersloppedoverthebrimontothelinen.
Theothersdrankinembarrassedsilence.
Again,theDukeliftedhiswaterflagon,andthistimeemptieditsremaininghalfontothefloor,knowingthattheothersaroundthetablemustdothesame.
Jessicawasfirsttofollowhisexample.
Therewasafrozenmomentbeforetheothersbeganemptyingtheirflagons.
JessicasawhowPaul,seatednearhisfather,wasstudyingthereactionsaroundhim.Shefoundherselfalsofascinatedbywhatherguests’actionsrevealed—especiallyamongthewomen.
