Дюна
Book One: Dune
“Youweredeadanyway,mypoorDuke,”Yuehsaid.“ButyouwillgetclosetotheBaronbeforeyoudie.He’llbelieveyou’restupefiedbydrugsbeyondanydyingefforttoattackhim.Andyouwillbedrugged—andtied.Butattackcantakestrangeforms.Andyouwillrememberthetooth.Thetooth,DukeLetoAtreides.Youwillrememberthetooth.”
TheolddoctorleanedcloserandcloseruntilhisfaceanddroopingmustachedominatedLeto’snarrowingvision.
“Thetooth,”Yuehmuttered.
“Why?”Letowhispered.
YuehloweredhimselftoonekneebesidetheDuke.“Imadeashaitan’sbargainwiththeBaron.AndImustbecertainhehasfulfilledhishalfofit.
WhenIseehim,I’llknow.WhenIlookattheBaron,thenIwillknow.ButI’llneverenterhispresencewithouttheprice.You’retheprice,mypoorDuke.AndI’llknowwhenIseehim.MypoorWannataughtmemanythings,andoneistoseecertaintyoftruthwhenthestressisgreat.Icannotdoitalways,butwhenIseetheBaron—then,Iwillknow.”
LetotriedtolookdownatthetoothinYueh’shand.Hefeltthiswashappeninginanightmare—itcouldnotbe.
Yueh’spurplelipsturnedupinagrimace.“I’llnotgetcloseenoughtotheBaron,orI’ddothismyself.No.I’llbedetainedatasafedistance.Butyou...ah,now!You,mylovelyweapon!He’llwantyouclosetohim—togloatoveryou,toboastalittle.”
LetofoundhimselfalmosthypnotizedbyamuscleontheleftsideofYueh’sjaw.Themuscletwistedwhenthemanspoke.
Yuehleanedcloser.
