Дюна
Book One: Dune
Theyhavenohome.AndtheyfeartheDuke’sfailingthem.”
Hestiffened.“Suchtalkfromoneofthemenwouldbecausefor—”
“Oh,stopthat,Thufir.Isitdefeatistortreacherousforadoctortodiagnoseadiseasecorrectly?Myonlyintentionistocurethedisease.”
“TheDukegivesmechargeoversuchmatters.”
“ButyouunderstandIhaveacertainnaturalconcernovertheprogressofthisdisease,”shesaid.“Andperhapsyou’llgrantIhavecertainabilitiesalongtheselines.”
WillIhavetoshockhimsererely?shewondered.Heneedsshakingup—somethingtobreakhimfromroutine.
“Therecouldbemanyinterpretationsforyourconcern,”Hawatsaid.Heshrugged.
“Thenyou’vealreadyconvictedme?”
“Ofcoursenot,myLady.ButIcannotaffordtotakeanychances,thesituationbeingwhatitis.”
“Athreattomysongotpastyourighthereinthishouse,”shesaid.“Whotookthatchance?”
Hisfacedarkened.“IofferedmyresignationtotheDuke.”
“Didyouofferyourresignationtome...ortoPaul?”
Nowhewasopenlyangry,betrayingitinquicknessofbreathing,indilationofnostrils,asteadystare.Shesawapulsebeatingathistemple.
“I’mtheDuke’sman,”hesaid,bitingoffthewords.
“Thereisnotraitor,”shesaid.“Thethreat’ssomethingelse.Perhapsithastodowiththelasguns.Perhapsthey’llrisksecretingafewlasgunswithtimingmechanismsaimedathouseshields.Perhapsthey’ll....”
“Andwhocouldtellaftertheblastiftheexplosionwasn’tatomic?”heasked.“No,myLady.
