Дюна
Book One: Dune
“You’retoointerestedinbloodandpain.PerhapsIwastooquickwithmypromiseofthespoilsofArrakis.”
Pitertookfivecuriouslymincingstepsintotheroom,stoppeddirectlybehindFeyd-Rautha.Therewasatightairoftensionintheroom,andtheyouthlookedupatPiterwithaworriedfrown.
“DonottoywithPiter,Baron,”Pitersaid.“YoupromisedmetheLadyJessica.Youpromisedhertome.”
“Forwhat,Piter?”theBaronasked.“Forpain?”
Piterstaredathim,draggingoutthesilence.
Feyd-Rauthamovedhissuspensorchairtooneside,said:“Uncle,doIhavetostay?Yousaidyou’d—”
“MydarlingFeyd-Rauthagrowsimpatient,”theBaronsaid.Hemovedwithintheshadowsbesidetheglobe.“Patience,Feyd.”AndheturnedhisattentionbacktotheMentat.“WhatoftheDukeling,thechildPaul,mydearPiter?”
“Thetrapwillbringhimtoyou,Baron,”Pitermuttered.
“That’snotmyquestion,”theBaronsaid.“You’llrecallthatyoupredictedtheBeneGesseritwitchwouldbearadaughtertotheDuke.Youwerewrong,eh,Mentat?”
“I’mnotoftenwrong,Baron,”Pitersaid,andforthefirsttimetherewasfearinhisvoice.“Givemethat:I’mnotoftenwrong.AndyouknowyourselftheseBeneGesseritbearmostlydaughters.EventheEmperor’sconsorthadproducedonlyfemales.”
“Uncle,”saidFeyd-Rautha,“yousaidthere’dbesomethingimportanthereformeto—”
“Listentomynephew,”theBaronsaid.“HeaspirestorulemyBarony,yethecannotrulehimself.”TheBaronstirredbesidetheglobe,ashadowamongshadows.
