Дюна
Book One: Dune
Wemusttryanewtack,hethought.
“Observethisprizepersonwhodenieshe’sforhire,”theBaronsaid.
“Observehim,Piter.”
AndtheBaronthought:Yes!Seehimthere,thismanwhobelieveshecannotbebought.Seehimdetainedtherebyamillionsharesofhimselfsoldindribbleseverysecondofhislife!Ifyoutookhimupnowandshookhim,he’drattleinside.Emptied!Soldout!Whatdifferencehowhediesnow?
Thefrogsoundsinthebackgroundstopped.
TheBaronsawUmmanKudu,theguardcaptain,appearinthedoorwayacrosstheroom,shakehishead.Thecaptivehadn’tproducedtheneededinformation.Anotherfailure.TimetoquitstallingwiththisfoolDuke,thisstupidsoftfoolwhodidn’trealizehowmuchhelltherewassonearhim—onlyanerve’sthicknessaway.
ThisthoughtcalmedtheBaron,overcominghisreluctancetohavearoyalpersonsubjecttopain.Hesawhimselfsuddenlyasasurgeonexercisingendlesssupplescissordissections—cuttingawaythemasksfromfools,exposingthehellbeneath.
Rabbits,allofthem!
Andhowtheycoweredwhentheysawthecarnivore!
Letostaredacrossthetable,wonderingwhyhewaited.Thetoothwouldenditallquickly.Still—ithadbeengood,muchofthislife.Hefoundhimselfrememberinganantennakiteupdanglingintheshell-blueskyofCaladan,andPaullaughingwithjoyatthesightofit.AndherememberedsunrisehereonArrakis—coloredstrataoftheShieldWallmellowedbydusthaze.
“Toobad,”theBaronmuttered.
