Дюна
Book One: Dune
TheoldMentatalmostfellbackintothechair,soquicklydidhismusclesbetrayhim.
Shesmiledwithoutmirth.
“Nowyouknowsomethingoftherealtrainingtheygiveus,”shesaid.
Hawattriedtoswallowinadrythroat.Hercommandhadbeenregal,peremptory—utteredinatoneandmannerhehadfoundcompletelyirresistible.
Hisbodyhadobeyedherbeforehecouldthinkaboutit.Nothingcouldhavepreventedhisresponse—notlogic,notpassionateanger...nothing.Todowhatshehaddonespokeofasensitive,intimateknowledgeofthepersonthuscommanded,adepthofcontrolhehadnotdreamedpossible.
“Ihavesaidtoyoubeforethatweshouldunderstandeachother,”shesaid.“Imeantyoushouldunderstandme.Ialreadyunderstandyou.AndItellyounowthatyourloyaltytotheDukeisallthatguaranteesyoursafetywithme.”
Hestaredather,wethislipswithhistongue.
“IfIdesiredapuppet,theDukewouldmarryme,”shesaid.“Hemighteventhinkhediditofhisownfreewill.”
Hawatloweredhishead,lookedupwardthroughhissparselashes.Onlythemostrigidcontrolkepthimfromcallingtheguard.Control...andthesuspicionnowthatwomanmightnotpermitit.Hisskincrawledwiththememoryofhowshehadcontrolledhim.Inthemomentofhesitation,shecouldhavedrawnaweaponandkilledhim!
Doeseveryhumanhavethisblindspot?hewondered.Cananyofusbeorderedintoactionbeforehecanresist?Theideastaggeredhim.Whocouldstopapersonwithsuchpower?
“You’veglimpsedthefistwithintheBeneGesseritglove,”shesaid.“Fewglimpseitandlive.
