Дюна
Book One: Dune
Someweredirectingtheirferocitytowardtheemptyhallthatstretchedawaytowardthenoisesaroundthecornertotheirright.
Amancamestridingaroundthatcorner,gasmaskdanglingbyitsstrapsathisneck,hiseyesintentontheoverheadpoisonsnoopersthatlinedthiscorridor.
Hewasyellow-haired,flatoffacewithgreeneyes.Crisplinesradiatedfromhisthick-lippedmouth.Helookedlikesomewatercreaturemisplacedamongthosewhowalkedtheland.
TheBaronstaredattheapproachingman,recallingthename:Nefud.IakinNefud.Guardcorporal.Nefudwasaddictedtosemuta,thedrug-musiccombinationthatplayeditselfinthedeepestconsciousness.Ausefulitemofinformation,that.
ThemanstoppedinfrontoftheBaron,saluted.“Corridor’sclear,m’Lord.Iwasoutsidewatchingandsawthatitmustbepoisongas.Ventilatorsinyourroomwerepullingairinfromthesecorridors.”HeglancedupatthesnooperovertheBaron’shead.“Noneofthestuffescaped.Wehavetheroomcleanedoutnow.Whatareyourorders?”
TheBaronrecognizedtheman’svoice—theonewho’dbeenshoutingorders.Efficient,thiscorporal,hethought.
“They’realldeadinthere?”theBaronasked.
“Yes,m’Lord.”
Well,wemustadjust,theBaronthought.
“First,”hesaid,“letmecongratulateyou,Nefud.You’rethenewcaptainofmyguard.AndIhopeyou’lltaketoheartthelessontobelearnedfromthefateofyourpredecessor.”
TheBaronwatchedtheawarenessgrowinhisnewlypromotedguardsman.
Nefudknewhe’dneveragainbewithouthissemuta.
Nefudnodded.
