Дюна
Book One: Dune
Letoputhislefthandtotheswitchonhisshieldbelt,slippedhiskindjalintohisrighthand.Theknifeconveyedasenseofreassurance.Thatstrangesoundhadsentachillthroughhim.
Softly,theDukemoveddowntheservicepassage,cursingtheinadequateillumination.Thesmallestofsuspensorshadbeenspacedabouteightmetersapartalonghereandtunedtotheirdimmestlevel.Thedarkstonewallsswallowedthelight.
Adullblobstretchingacrossthefloorappearedoutofthegloomahead.
Letohesitated,almostactivatedhisshield,butrefrainedbecausethatwouldlimithismovements,hishearing...andbecausethecapturedshipmentoflasgunshadlefthimfilledwithdoubts.
Silently,hemovedtowardthegreyblob,sawthatitwasahumanfigure,amanfacedownonthestone.Letoturnedhimoverwithafoot,knifepoised,bentcloseinthedimlighttoseetheface.Itwasthesmuggler,Tuek,awetstaindownhischest.Thedeadeyesstaredwithemptydarkness.Letotouchedthestain—warm.
Howcouldthismanbedeadhere?Letoaskedhimself.Whokilledhim?
Themewlingsoundwaslouderhere.Itcamefromaheadanddownthesidepassagetothecentralroomwheretheyhadinstalledthemainshieldgeneratorforthehouse.
Handonbeltswitch,kindjalpoised,theDukeskirtedthebody,slippeddownthepassageandpeeredaroundthecornertowardtheshieldgeneratorroom.
Anothergreybloblaystretchedonthefloorafewpacesaway,andhesawatoncethiswasthesourceofthenoise.Theshapecrawledtowardhimwithpainfulslowness,gasping,mumbling.
