Дюна

           “It’snotheavy,Duncan,”Paulsaid.

           “Youhavenobodyshield,”Idahosaid.“Doyouwishmine?”Heglancedatthedistantcliff.“Notlikelythere’llbeanymorelasgunactivityabout.”

           “Keepyourshield,Duncan.Yourrightarmisshieldenoughforme.”

           Jessicasawthewaythepraisetookeffect,howIdahomovedclosertoPaul,andshethought:Suchasurehandmysonhaswithhispeople.

           TheFremenremovedarockplugthatopenedapassagedownintothenativebasementcomplexofthedesert.Acamouflagecoverwasriggedfortheopening.

           “Thisway,”oneoftheFremensaid,andheledthemdownrockstepsintodarkness.

           Behindthem,thecoverblottedoutthemoonlight.Adimgreenglowcamealiveahead,revealingthestepsandrockwalls,aturntotheleft.RobedFremenwereallaroundthemnow,pressingdownward.Theyroundedthecorner,foundanotherdown-slantingpassage.Itopenedintoaroughcavechamber.

           Kynesstoodbeforethem,jubbahoodthrownback.Theneckofhisstill-suitglisteninginthegreenlight.Hislonghairandbeardweremussed.Theblueeyeswithoutwhiteswereadarknessunderheavybrows.

           Inthemomentofencounter,Kyneswonderedathimself:WhyamIhelpingthesepeople?It’sthemostdangerousthingI’veeverdone.Itcoulddoommewiththem.

           ThenhelookedsquarelyatPaul,seeingtheboywhohadtakenonthemantleofmanhood,maskinggrief,suppressingallexceptthepositionthatnowmustbeassumed—thedukedom.AndKynesrealizedinthatmomentthedukedomstillexistedandsolelybecauseofthisyouth—andthiswasnotathingtobetakenlightly.