Дюна

           Now,hefindsheisHarkonnen...becauseofme.Howlittleheknowsme!IwasmyDuke’sonlywoman.IacceptedhislifeandhisvalueseventodefyingmyBeneGesseritorders.

           Thetent’sglowtabcamealightunderPaul’shand,filledthedomedareawithgreenradiance.Paulcrouchedatthesphincter,hisstillsuithoodadjustedfortheopendesert—foreheadcapped,mouthfilterinplace,noseplugsadjusted.Onlyhisdarkeyeswerevisible:anarrowbandoffacethatturnedoncetowardherandaway.

           “Secureyourselffortheopen,”hesaid,andhisvoicewasblurredbehindthefilter.

           Jessicapulledthefilteracrosshermouth,beganadjustingherhoodasshewatchedPaulbreakthetentseal.

           Sandraspedasheopenedthesphincterandaburredfizzleofgrainsranintothetentbeforehecouldimmobilizeitwithastaticcompactiontool.Aholegrewinthesandwallasthetoolrealignedthegrains.Heslippedoutandherearsfollowedhisprogresstothesurface.

           Whatwillwefindoutthere?shewondered.HarkonnentroopsandtheSardaukar,thosearedangerswecanexpect.Butwhatofthedangerswedon’tknow?

           Shethoughtofthecompactiontoolandtheotherstrangeinstrumentsinthepack.Eachofthesetoolssuddenlystoodinhermindasasignofmysteriousdangers.

           Shefeltthenahotbreezefromsurfacesandtouchhercheekswheretheywereexposedabovethefilter.

           “Passupthepack.”ItwasPaul’svoice,lowandguarded.

           Shemovedtoobey,heardthewaterliterjonsgurgleassheshovedthepackacrossthefloor.Shepeeredupward,sawPaulframedagainststars.