Дюна
Book One: Dune
“MymenbroughtyoutheAtreidesDukebeforeIcoulddiscusshisfatewithyou.Wewilldiscussitnow.”
Imustnotlosefacebeforemymen,theBaronthought.
“So?”Itwasacoldlycontrolledword,andtheBaronfeltproudofit.
“MyEmperorhaschargedmetomakecertainhisroyalcousindiescleanlywithoutagony,”thecolonelbasharsaid.
“SuchweretheImperialorderstome,”theBaronlied.“DidyouthinkI’ddisobey?”
“I’mtoreporttomyEmperorwhatIseewithmyowneyes,”theSardaukarsaid.
“TheDuke’salreadydead,”theBaronsnapped,andhewavedahandtodismissthefellow.
ThecolonelbasharremainedplantedfacingtheBaron.Notbyflickerofeyeormuscledidheacknowledgehehadbeendismissed.“How?”hegrowled.
Really!theBaronthought.Thisistoomuch.
“Byhisownhand,ifyoumustknow,”theBaronsaid.“Hetookpoison.”
“Iwillseethebodynow,”thecolonelBasharsaid.
TheBaronraisedhisgazetotheceilinginfeignedexasperationwhilehisthoughtsraced.Damnation!Thissharp-eyedSardaukarwillseetheroombeforeathing’sbeenchanged!
“Now,”theSardaukargrowled.“I’llseeitwithmyowneyes.”
Therewasnopreventingit,theBaronrealized.TheSardaukarwouldseeall.
He’dknowtheDukehadkilledHarkonnenmen...thattheBaronmostlikelyhadescapedbyanarrowmargin.Therewastheevidenceofthedinnerremnantsonthetable,andthedeadDukeacrossfromitwithdestructionaroundhim.
Nopreventingitatall.
“I’llnotbeputoff,”thecolonelbasharsnarled.
