Дюна
Book One: Dune
DotheythinkI’venothingtodoexceptlistentotheirarguments?
“Feyd,”theBaronsaid.“ItoldyoutolistenandlearnwhenIinvitedyouinhere.Areyoulearning?”
“Yes,Uncle.”thevoicewascarefullysubservient.
“SometimesIwonderaboutPiter,”theBaronsaid.“Icausepainoutofnecessity,buthe...Iswearhetakesapositivedelightinit.Formyself,IcanfeelpitytowardthepoorDukeLeto.Dr.Yuehwillmoveagainsthimsoon,andthat’llbetheendofalltheAtreides.ButsurelyLetowillknowwhosehanddirectedthepliantdoctor...andknowingthatwillbeaterriblething.”
“Thenwhyhaven’tyoudirectedthedoctortoslipakindjalbetweenhisribsquietlyandefficiently?”Piterasked.“Youtalkofpity,but—”
“TheDukemustknowwhenIencompasshisdoom,”theBaronsaid.“AndtheotherGreatHousesmustlearnofit.Theknowledgewillgivethempause.I’llgainabitmoreroomtomaneuver.Thenecessityisobvious,butIdon’thavetolikeit.”
“Roomtomaneuver,”Pitersneered.“AlreadyyouhavetheEmperor’seyesonyou,Baron.Youmovetooboldly.OnedaytheEmperorwillsendalegionortwoofhisSardaukardownhereontoGiediPrimeandthat’llbeanendtotheBaronVladimirHarkonnen.”
“You’dliketoseethat,wouldn’tyou,Piter?”theBaronasked.“You’denjoyseeingtheCorpsofSardaukarpillagethroughmycitiesandsackthiscastle.
You’dtrulyenjoythat.”
“DoestheBaronneedtoask?”Piterwhispered.
“Youshould’vebeenaBasharoftheCorps,”theBaronsaid.
