Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
ThemansquattingacrossfromHawatwasaFremenwhohadcomeacrossthesinkinthefirstlightoffalsedawn,skitteringoverthesand,blendingintothedunes,hismovementsbarelydiscernible.
TheFremenextendedafingertothesandbetweenthem,drewafigurethere.
Itlookedlikeabowlwithanarrowspillingoutofit.“TherearemanyHarkonnenpatrols,”hesaid.Heliftedhisfinger,pointedupwardacrossthecliffsthatHawatandhismenhaddescended.
Hawatnodded.
Manypatrols.Yes.
ButstillhedidnotknowwhatthisFremenwantedandthisrankled.Mentattrainingwassupposedtogiveamanthepowertoseemotives.
ThishadbeentheworstnightofHawat’slife.HehadbeenatTsimpo,agarrisonvillage,bufferoutpostfortheformercapitalcity,Carthag,whenthereportsofattackbeganarriving.Atfirst,he’dthought:It’saraid.TheHarkonnensaretesting.
Butreportfollowedreport—fasterandfaster.
TwolegionslandedatCarthag.
Fivelegions—fiftybrigades!—attackingtheDuke’smainbaseatArrakeen.
AlegionatArsunt.
TwobattlegroupsatSplinteredRock.
Thenthereportsbecamemoredetailed—therewereImperialSardaukaramongtheattackers—possiblytwolegionsofthem.Anditbecameclearthattheinvadersknewpreciselywhichweightofarmstosendwhere.Precisely!SuperbIntelligence.
Hawat’sshockedfuryhadmounteduntilitthreatenedthesmoothfunctioningofhisMentatcapabilities.Thesizeoftheattackstruckhismindlikeaphysicalblow.
