Дюна
Book One: Dune
—DirgeforJamisontheFuneralPlain,from“SongsofMuad’Dib”bythePrincessIrulan
LETOSTOODinthefoyerofhishouse,studyinganotebythelightofasinglesuspensorlamp.Dawnwasyetafewhoursaway,andhefelthistiredness.
AFremenmessengerhadbroughtthenotetotheouterguardjustnowastheDukearrivedfromhiscommandpost.
Thenoteread:“Acolumnofsmokebyday,apillaroffirebynight.”
Therewasnosignature.
Whatdoesitmean?hewondered.
Themessengerhadgonewithoutwaitingforananswerandbeforehecouldbequestioned.Hehadslippedintothenightlikesomesmokyshadow.
Letopushedthepaperintoatunicpocket,thinkingtoshowittoHawatlater.
Hebrushedalockofhairfromhisforehead,tookasighingbreath.Theantifatiguepillswerebeginningtowearthin.Ithadbeenalongtwodayssincethedinnerpartyandlongerthanthatsincehehadslept.
Ontopofallthemilitaryproblems,there’dbeenthedisquietingsessionwithHawat,thereportonhismeetingwithJessica.
ShouldIwakenJessica?hewondered.There’snoreasontoplaythesecrecygamewithheranylonger.Oristhere?
BlastanddamnthatDuncanIdaho!
Heshookhishead.No,notDuncan.IwaswrongnottotakeJessicaintomyconfidencefromthefirst.Imustdoitnow,beforemoredamageisdone.
Thedecisionmadehimfeelbetter,andhehurriedfromthefoyerthroughtheGreatHallanddownthepassagestowardthefamilywing.
Attheturnwherethepassagessplittotheservicearea,hepaused.Astrangemewlingcamefromsomewheredowntheservicepassage.
