Дюна
Book One: Dune
AnAtreidesdaughtercould’vebeenwedtoaHarkonnenheirandsealedthebreach.You’vehopelesslycomplicatedmatters.
Wemaylosebothbloodlinesnow.”
“You’renotinfallible,”Jessicasaid.Shebravedthesteadystarefromtheoldeyes.
Presently,theoldwomanmuttered:“What’sdoneisdone.”
“Ivowednevertoregretmydecision,”Jessicasaid.
“Hownoble,”theReverendMothersneered.“Noregrets.Weshallseewhenyou’reafugitivewithapriceonyourheadandeveryman’shandturnedagainstyoutoseekyourlifeandthelifeofyourson.”
Jessicapaled.“Istherenoalternative?”
“Alternative?ABeneGesseritshouldaskthat?”
“Iaskonlywhatyouseeinthefuturewithyoursuperiorabilities.”
“IseeinthefuturewhatI’veseeninthepast.Youwellknowthepatternofouraffairs,Jessica.Theraceknowsitsownmortalityandfearsstagnationofitsheredity.It’sinthebloodstream—theurgetominglegeneticstrainswithoutplan.TheImperium,theCHOAMCompany,alltheGreatHouses,theyarebutbitsofflotsaminthepathoftheflood.”
“CHOAM,”Jessicamuttered.“Isupposeit’salreadydecidedhowthey’llredividethespoilsofArrakis.”
“WhatisCHOAMbuttheweathervaneofourtimes,”theoldwomansaid.
“TheEmperorandhisfriendsnowcommandfifty-ninepointsix-fivepercentoftheCHOAMdirectorship’svotes.Certainlytheysmellprofits,andlikelyasotherssmellthosesameprofitshisvotingstrengthwillincrease.Thisisthepatternofhistory,girl.”
“That’scertainlywhatIneedrightnow,”Jessicasaid.
