Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
Iwillmakepromissorycommitmentnowforyourhelp.Iwishalimitedformofhelp,preservingmyforcelongenoughonlytokillatraitorwhothinksherselfbeyondvengeance.”
Youwishoursidinginavendetta?”
“ThevendettaI’llhandlemyself.IwishtobefreedofresponsibilityformywoundedthatImaygetaboutit.”
TheFremenscowled.“Howcanyouberesponsibleforyourwounded?Theyaretheirownresponsibility.Thewater’satissue,ThufirHawat.Wouldyouhavemetakethatdecisionawayfromyou?”
Themanputahandtoaweaponconcealedbeneathhisrobe.
Hawattensed,wondering:Istherebetrayalhere?
“Whatdoyoufear?”theFremendemanded.
Thesepeopleandtheirdisconcertingdirectness!Hawatspokecautiously.
“There’sapriceonmyhead.”
“Ah-h-h-h.”TheFremenremovedhishandfromhisweapon.“YouthinkwehavetheByzantinecorruption.Youdon’tknowus.TheHarkonnenshavenotwaterenoughtobuythesmallestchildamongus.”
ButtheyhadthepriceofGuildpassageformorethantwothousandfightingships,Hawatthought.Andthesizeofthatpricestillstaggeredhim.
“WebothfightHarkonnens,”Hawatsaid.“Shouldwenotsharetheproblemsandwaysofmeetingthebattleissue?”
“Wearesharing,”theFremensaid.“IhaveseenyoufightHarkonnens.Youaregood.There’vebeentimesI’dhaveappreciatedyourarmbesideme.”
“Saywheremyarmmayhelpyou,”Hawatsaid.
“Whoknows?”theFremenasked.“ThereareHarkonnenforceseverywhere.
Butyoustillhavenotmadethewaterdecisionorputittoyourwounded.
