Дюна
Book One: Dune
TheBaronshiftedhisattentiontotheguardcaptain—UmmanKudu:scissors-lineofjawmuscles,chinlikeaboottoe—amantobetrustedbecausethecaptain’sviceswereknown.
“First,whereisthetraitorwhogavemetheDuke?”theBaronasked.“Imustgivethetraitorhisreward.”
Piterturnedononetoe,motionedtotheguardoutside.
AbitofblackmovementthereandYuehwalkedthrough.Hismotionswerestiffandstringy.Themustachedroopedbesidehispurplelips.Onlytheoldeyesseemedalive.Yuehcametoastopthreepacesintotheroom,obeyingamotionfromPiter,andstoodtherestaringacrosstheopenspaceattheBaron.
“Ah-h-h,Dr.Yueh.”
“M’LordHarkonnen.”
“You’vegivenustheDuke,Ihear.”
“Myhalfofthebargain,m’Lord.”
TheBaronlookedatPiter.
Piternodded.
TheBaronlookedbackatYueh.“Theletterofthebargain,eh?AndI....”Hespatthewordsout:“WhatwasItodoinreturn?”
“Yourememberquitewell,m’LordHarkonnen.”
AndYuehallowedhimselftothinknow,hearingtheloudsilenceofclocksinhismind.HehadseenthesubtlebetrayalsintheBaron’smanner.Wannawasindeeddead—gonefarbeyondtheirreach.Otherwise,there’dstillbeaholdontheweakdoctor.TheBaron’smannershowedtherewasnohold;itwasended.
“DoI?”theBaronasked.
“YoupromisedtodelivermyWannafromheragony.”
TheBaronnodded.“Oh,yes.Now,Iremember.SoIdid.Thatwasmypromise.ThatwashowwebenttheImperialConditioning.Youcouldn’tendureseeingyourBeneGesseritwitchgrovelinPiter’spainamplifiers.
