Дюна
Book One: Dune
Tensionsareoddlydistributedheretonight,Jessicathought.There’stoomuchgoingonofwhichI’mnotaware.I’llhavetodevelopnewinformationsources.
TheDukepassedhisgazefromKynestoBewttoJessica.Hefeltoddlyletdown,asthoughsomethingvitalhadpassedhimhere.“Maybe,”hemuttered.
Kynesspokequickly:“Perhapsweshoulddiscussthisanothertime,myLord.Therearesomany—”
TheplanetologistbrokeoffasauniformedAtreidestrooperhurriedinthroughtheservicedoor,waspassedbytheguardandrushedtotheDuke’sside.
Themanbent,whisperingintoLeto’sear.
JessicarecognizedthecapsignofHawat’scorps,foughtdownuneasiness.
Sheaddressedherselftothestillsuitmanufacturer’sfemininecompanion—atiny,dark-hairedwomanwithadollface,atouchofepicanthicfoldtotheeyes.
“You’vehardlytouchedyourdinner,mydear,”Jessicasaid.“MayIorderyousomething?”
Thewomanlookedatthestillsuitmanufacturerbeforeanswering,then:“I’mnotveryhungry.”
Abruptly,theDukestoodupbesidehistrooper,spokeinaharshtoneofcommand:“Stayseated,everyone.Youwillhavetoforgiveme,butamatterhasarisenthatrequiresmypersonalattention.”Hesteppedaside.“Paul,takeoverashostforme,ifyouplease.”
Paulstood,wantingtoaskwhyhisfatherhadtoleave,knowinghehadtoplaythiswiththegrandmanner.Hemovedaroundtohisfather’schair,satdowninit.
TheDuketurnedtothealcovewhereHallecksat,said:“Gurney,pleasetakePaul’splaceattable.Wemustn’thaveanoddnumberhere.
