Дюна
Book One: Dune
HestudiedJessica’sface,wonderinghowhecouldsavethissituation.
“It’slongpasttimetocleartheairbetweenus,”Jessicasaid.
“WhattroublesmyLady?”Hesatdown,placedhandsonknees.
“Don’tplaycoywithme!”shesnapped.“IfYuehdidn’ttellyouwhyIsummonedyou,thenoneofyourspiesinmyhouseholddid.Shallwebeatleastthathonestwitheachother?”
“Asyouwish,myLady.”
“First,youwillanswermeonequestion,”shesaid.“AreyounowaHarkonnenagent?”
Hawatsurgedhalfoutofhischair,hisfacedarkwithfury,demanding:“Youdareinsultmeso?”
“Sitdown,”shesaid.“Youinsultedmeso.”
Slowly,hesankbackintothechair.
AndJessica,readingthesignsofthisfacethatsheknewsowell,allowedherselfadeepbreath.Itisn’tHawat.
“NowIknowyouremainloyaltomyDuke,”shesaid.“I’mprepared,therefore,toforgiveyouraffronttome.”
“Istheresomethingtoforgive?”
Jessicascowled,wondering:ShallIplaymytrump?ShallItellhimoftheDuke’sdaughterI’vecarriedwithinmethesefewweeks?No...Letohimselfdoesn’tknow.Thiswouldonlycomplicatehislife,diverthiminatimewhenhemustconcentrateonoursurvival.Thereisyettimetousethis.
“ATruthsayerwouldsolvethis,”shesaid,“butwehavenoTruthsayerqualifiedbytheHighBoard.”
“Asyousay.We’venoTruthsayer.”
“Isthereatraitoramongus?”sheasked.“I’vestudiedourpeoplewithgreatcare.Whocoulditbe?NotGurney.CertainlynotDuncan.Theirlieutenantsarenotstrategicallyenoughplacedtoconsider.
