Дюна
Book One: Dune
“AndtheGreatHouseswillknowthattheBaronhasdestroyedtheAtreides,”Pitersaid.“Theywillknow.”
“Theywillknow,”theBaronbreathed.
“Loveliestofall,”Pitersaid,“isthattheDukewillknow,too.Heknowsnow.Hecanalreadyfeelthetrap.”
“It’struetheDukeknows,”theBaronsaid,andhisvoiceheldanoteofsadness.“Hecouldnothelpbutknow...more’sthepity.”
TheBaronmovedoutandawayfromtheglobeofArrakis.Asheemergedfromtheshadows,hisfiguretookondimension—grosslyandimmenselyfat.
Andwithsubtlebulgesbeneathfoldsofhisdarkrobestorevealthatallthisfatwassustainedpartlybyportablesuspensorsharnessedtohisflesh.HemightweightwohundredStandardkilosinactuality,buthisfeetwouldcarrynomorethanfiftyofthem.
“Iamhungry,”theBaronrumbled,andherubbedhisprotrudinglipswithaberingedhand,stareddownatFeyd-Rauthathroughfat-enfoldedeyes.“Sendforfood,mydarling.Wewilleatbeforeweretire.”
***
ThusspokeSt.Alia-of-the-Knife:“TheReverendMothermustcombinetheseductivewilesofacourtesanwiththeuntouchablemajestyofavirgingoddess,holdingtheseattributesintensionsolongasthepowersofheryouthendure.Forwhenyouthandbeautyhavegone,shewillfindthattheplace-between,onceoccupiedbytension,hasbecomeawell-springofcunningandresourcefulness.”
—from“Muad’Dib,FamilyCommentaries”bythePrincessIrulan
“WELL,JESSICA,whathaveyoutosayforyourself?”askedtheReverendMother.
