Дюна
Book One: Dune
Kyneslookedathimcalmly,studiedthepale,tremblingface.“Areyouchallengingme,sir?”
Thebankerfroze.Heswallowed,spokestiffly:“Ofcoursenot.I’dnotsoinsultourhostandhostess.”
Jessicaheardthefearintheman’svoice,sawitinhisface,inhisbreathing,inthepulseofaveinathistemple.ThemanwasterrifiedofKynes!
“Ourhostandhostessarequitecapableofdecidingforthemselveswhenthey’vebeeninsulted,”Kynessaid.“They’rebravepeoplewhounderstanddefenseofhonor.Weallmayattesttotheircouragebythefactthattheyarehere...now...onArrakis.”
JessicasawthatLetowasenjoyingthis.Mostoftheotherswerenot.Peopleallaroundthetablesatpoisedforflight,handsoutofsightunderthetable.TwonotableexceptionswereBewt,whowasopenlysmilingatthebanker’sdiscomfiture,andthesmuggler,Tuek,whoappearedtobewatchingKynesforacue.JessicasawthatPaulwaslookingatKynesinadmiration.
“Well?”Kynessaid.
“Imeantnooffense,”thebankermuttered.“Ifoffensewastaken,pleaseacceptmyapologies.”
“Freelygiven,freelyaccepted,”Kynessaid.HesmiledatJessica,resumedeatingasthoughnothinghadhappened.
Jessicasawthatthesmuggler,too,hadrelaxed.Shemarkedthis:themanhadshowneveryaspectofanaidereadytoleaptoKynes’assistance.ThereexistedanaccordofsomesortbetweenKynesandTuek.
Letotoyedwithafork,lookedspeculativelyatKynes.Theecologist’smannerindicatedachangeinattitudetowardtheHouseofAtreides.Kyneshadseemedcolderontheirtripoverthedesert.
