Дюна
Book One: Dune
Theoldwomanwasawitchshadow—hairlikemattedspiderwebs,hooded’rounddarknessoffeatures,eyeslikeglitteringjewels.
“Ishenotsmallforhisage,Jessica?”theoldwomanasked. Hervoicewheezedandtwangedlikeanuntunedbaliset.
Paul’smotheransweredinhersoftcontralto: “TheAtreidesareknowntostartlategettingtheirgrowth,YourReverence.”
“SoI’veheard,soI’veheard,”wheezedtheoldwoman.“Yethe’salreadyfifteen.”
“Yes,YourReverence.”
“He’sawakeandlisteningtous,”saidtheoldwoman.“Slylittlerascal.”Shechuckled.“Butroyaltyhasneedofslyness.Andifhe’sreallytheKwisatzHaderach...well....”
Withintheshadowsofhisbed,Paulheldhiseyesopentomereslits. Twobird-brightovals—theeyesoftheoldwoman—seemedtoexpandandglowastheystaredintohis.
“Sleepwell,youslylittlerascal,”saidtheoldwoman.“Tomorrowyou’llneedallyourfacultiestomeetmygomjabbar.”
Andshewasgone,pushinghismotherout,closingthedoorwithasolidthump.
Paullayawakewondering:What’sagomjabbar?
Inalltheupsetduringthistimeofchange,theoldwomanwasthestrangestthinghehadseen.
YourReverence.
AndthewayshecalledhismotherJessicalikeacommonservingwenchinsteadofwhatshewas—aBeneGesseritLady,aduke’sconcubineandmotheroftheducalheir.
IsagomjabbarsomethingofArrakisImustknowbeforewegothere?hewondered.
Hemouthedherstrangewords:Gomjabbar...KwisatzHaderach.
Therehadbeensomanythingstolearn.
