Дюна
Book One: Dune
“I’vechosen.”
“Ah,hah!”theBaronchortled.“Suchquickdecisioncanmeanonlyonething.”
“Iwilltaketheduchy,”Pitersaid.
AndJessicathought:Doesn’tPiterknowtheBaron’slyingtohim?But—howcouldheknow?He’satwistedMentat.
TheBaronglanceddownatJessica.“IsitnotwonderfulthatIknowPitersowell?IwageredwithmyMasteratArmsthatthiswouldbePiter’schoice.Hah!
Well,Ileavenow.Thisismuchbetter.Ah-h,muchbetter.Youunderstand,LadyJessica?Ihadnorancortowardyou.It’sanecessity.Muchbetterthisway.
Yes.AndI’venotactuallyorderedyoudestroyed.Whenit’saskedofmewhathappenedtoyou,Icanshrugitoffinalltruth.”
“Youleaveittomethen?”Piterasked.
“TheguardIsendyouwilltakeyourorders,”theBaronsaid.“Whatever’sdoneIleavetoyou.”HestaredatPiter.“Yes.Therewillbenobloodonmyhandshere.It’syourdecision.Yes.Iknownothingofit.YouwillwaituntilI’vegonebeforedoingwhateveryoumustdo.Yes.Well...ah,yes.Yes.Good.”
HefearsthequestioningofaTruthsayer,Jessicathought.Who?Ah-h-h,theReverendMotherGaiusHelen,ofcourse!Ifheknowshemustfaceherquestions,thentheEmperorisinonthisforsure.Ah-h-h-h,mypoorLeto.
WithonelastglanceatJessica,theBaronturned,wentoutthedoor.Shefollowedhimwithhereyes,thinking:It’sastheReverendMotherwarned—toopotentanadversary.
TwoHarkonnentroopersentered.Another,hisfaceascaredmask,followedandstoodinthedoorwaywithdrawnlasgun.
