Дюна
Book One: Dune
“Wellthen,Feyd-RauthaHarkonne,Isummonedyouherehopingtoteachyouabitofwisdom.HaveyouobservedourgoodMentat?Youshould’velearnedsomethingfromthisexchange.”
“But,Uncle—”
“AmostefficientMentat,Piter,wouldn’tyousay,Feyd?”
“Yes,but—”
“Ah!Indeedbut!Butheconsumestoomuchspice,eatsitlikecandy.Lookathiseyes!Hemight’vecomedirectlyfromtheArrakeenlaborpool.Efficient,Piter,buthe’sstillemotionalandpronetopassionateoutbursts.Efficient,Piter,buthestillcanerr.”
Piterspokeinalow,sullentone:“Didyoucallmeinheretoimpairmyefficiencywithcriticism,Baron?”
“Impairyourefficiency?Youknowmebetter,Piter.IwishonlyformynephewtounderstandthelimitationsofaMentat.”
“Areyoualreadytrainingmyreplacement?”Piterdemanded.
“Replaceyou?Why,Piter,wherecouldIfindanotherMentatwithyourcunningandvenom?”
“Thesameplaceyoufoundme,Baron.”
“PerhapsIshouldatthat,”theBaronmused.“Youdoseemabitunstablelately.Andthespiceyoueat!”
“Aremypleasurestooexpensive,Baron?Doyouobjecttothem?”
“MydearPiter,yourpleasuresarewhattieyoutome.HowcouldIobjecttothat?Imerelywishmynephewtoobservethisaboutyou.”
“ThenI’mondisplay,”Pitersaid.“ShallIdance?ShallIperformmyvariousfunctionsfortheeminentFeyd-Rau—”
“Precisely,”theBaronsaid.“Youareondisplay.Now,besilent.
