Дюна
Book One: Dune
Jessicafocusedhermindonlasguns,wondering.Thewhite-hotbeamsofdisruptivelightcouldcutthroughanyknownsubstance,providedthatsubstancewasnotshielded.ThefactthatfeedbackfromashieldwouldexplodebothlasgunandshielddidnotbothertheHarkonnens.Why?Alasgun-shieldexplosionwasadangerousvariable,couldbemorepowerfulthanatomics,couldkillonlythegunnerandhisshieldedtarget.
Theunknownsherefilledherwithuneasiness.
Paulsaid:“Ineverdoubtedwe’dfindthecarryall.Oncemyfathermovestosolveaproblem,hesolvesit.ThisisafacttheHarkonnensarebeginningtodiscover.”
He’sboasting,Jessicathought.Heshouldn’tboast.Nopersonwho’llbesleepingfarbelowgroundlevelthisnightasaprecautionagainstlasgunshastherighttoboast.
***
“Thereisnoescape—wepayfortheviolenceofourancestors.”
—from“TheCollectedSayingsofMuad’Dib”bythePrincessIrulan
JESSICAHEARDthedisturbanceinthegreathall,turnedonthelightbesideherbed.Theclocktherehadnotbeenproperlyadjustedtolocaltime,andshehadtosubtracttwenty-oneminutestodeterminethatitwasabout2A.M.
Thedisturbancewasloudandincoherent.
IsthistheHarkonnenattack?shewondered.
Sheslippedoutofbed,checkedthescreenmonitorstoseewhereherfamilywas.ThescreenshowedPaulasleepinthedeepcellarroomthey’dhastilyconvertedtoabedroomforhim.Thenoiseobviouslywasn’tpenetratingtohisquarters.TherewasnooneintheDuke’sroom,hisbedwasunrumpled.WashestillatthefieldC.P.
