Дюна
Book One: Dune
“Andyou,mygoodDuke,mypreciousDuke,youmustrememberthistooth.”Hehelditupbetweenthumbandforefinger.“Itwillbeallthatremainstoyou.”
Leto’smouthmovedwithoutsound,then:“Refuse.”
“Ah-h,no!Youmustn’trefuse.Because,inreturnforthissmallservice,I’mdoingathingforyou.Iwillsaveyoursonandyourwoman.Noothercandoit.
TheycanberemovedtoaplacewherenoHarkonnencanreachthem.”
“How...save...them?”Letowhispered.
“Bymakingitappearthey’redead,bysecretingthemamongpeoplewhodrawknifeathearingtheHarkonnenname,whohatetheHarkonnenssomuchthey’llburnachairinwhichaHarkonnenhassat,saltthegroundoverwhichaHarkonnenhaswalked.”HetouchedLeto’sjaw.“Canyoufeelanythinginyourjaw?”
TheDukefoundthathecouldnotanswer.Hesenseddistanttugging,sawYueh’shandcomeupwiththeducalsignetring.
“ForPaul,”Yuehsaid.“You’llbeunconsciouspresently.Good-by,mypoorDuke.Whennextwemeetwe’llhavenotimeforconversation.”
CoolremotenessspreadupwardfromLeto’sjaw,acrosshischeeks.TheshadowyhallnarrowedtoapinpointwithYueh’spurplelipscenteredinit.
“Rememberthetooth!”Yuehhissed.“Thetooth!”
***
Thereshouldbeascienceofdiscontent.Peopleneedhardtimesandoppressiontodeveloppsychicmuscles.
—from“CollectedSayingsofMuad’Dib”bythePrincessIrulan
JESSICAAWOKEinthedark,feelingpremonitioninthestillnessaroundher.Shecouldnotunderstandwhyhermindandbodyfeltsosluggish.
