Дюна
Book One: Dune
Hissensestookinguardsswarmingaroundhim.DidIbreatheit?heaskedhimself.Whateveritwasinthere,diditgetme,too?
Soundsreturnedtohim...andreason.Heheardsomeoneshoutingorders—gasmasks...keepadoorclosed...getblowersgoing.
Theothersfellquickly,hethought.I’mstillstanding.I’mstillbreathing.
Mercilesshell!Thatwasclose!
Hecouldanalyzeitnow.Hisshieldhadbeenactivated,setlowbutstillenoughtoslowmolecularinterchangeacrossthefieldbarrier.Andhehadbeenpushinghimselfawayfromthetable...thatandPiter’sshockedgaspwhichhadbroughttheguardcaptaindartingforwardintohisowndoom.
Chanceandthewarninginadyingman’sgasp—thesehadsavedhim.
TheBaronfeltnogratitudetoPiter.Thefoolhadgothimselfkilled.Andthatstupidguardcaptain!He’dsaidhescopedeveryonebeforebringingthemintotheBaron’spresence!HowhaditbeenpossiblefortheDuke...?Nowarning.
Notevenfromthepoisonsnooperoverthetable—untilitwastoolate.How?
Well,nomatternow,theBaronthought,hismindfirming.Thenextguardcaptainwillbeginbyfindinganswerstothesequestions.
Hegrewawareofmoreactivitydownthehall—aroundthecornerattheotherdoortothatroomofdeath.TheBaronpushedhimselfawayfromhisowndoor,studiedthelackeysaroundhim.Theystoodtherestaring,silent,waitingfortheBaron’sreaction.
WouldtheBaronbeangry?
AndtheBaronrealizedonlyafewsecondshadpassedsincehisflightfromthatterribleroom.
Someoftheguardshadweaponsleveledatthedoor.
