Дюна
Book One: Dune
Thiswasclean,potablewater,notsomethingalreadycastawayinasoppingtowel.Reluctancetojustdiscarditexposeditselfintremblinghands,delayedreactions,nervouslaughter...andviolentobediencetothenecessity.Onewomandroppedherflagon,lookedtheotherwayashermalecompanionrecoveredit.
Kynes,though,caughtherattentionmostsharply.Theplanetologisthesitated,thenemptiedhisflagonintoacontainerbeneathhisjacket.HesmiledatJessicaashecaughtherwatchinghim,raisedtheemptyflagontoherinasilenttoast.Heappearedcompletelyunembarrassedbyhisaction.
Halleck’smusicstillwaftedovertheroom,butithadcomeoutofitsminorkey,liltingandlivelynowasthoughheweretryingtoliftthemood.
“Letthedinnercommence,”theDukesaid,andsankintohischair.
He’sangryanduncertain,Jessicathought.Thelossofthatfactorycrawlerhithimmoredeeplythanitshouldhave.Itmustbesomethingmorethanthatloss.Heactslikeadesperateman.Sheliftedherfork,hopinginthemotiontohideherownsuddenbitterness.Whynot?Heisdesperate.
Slowlyatfirst,thenwithincreasinganimation,thedinnergotunderway.
ThestillsuitmanufacturercomplimentedJessicaonherchefandwine.
“WebroughtbothfromCaladan,”shesaid.
“Superb!”hesaid,tastingthechukka.“Simplysuperb!Andnotahintofmelangeinit.Onegetssotiredofthespiceineverything.”
TheGuildBankrepresentativelookedacrossatKynes.“Iunderstand,DoctorKynes,thatanotherfactorycrawlerhasbeenlosttoaworm.”
“Newstravelsfast,”theDukesaid.
