Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
“GrantedthattheLandsraadHighCouncilacceptsyourcase,”Kynessaid,
“therecouldbeonlyoneoutcome:generalwarfarebetweentheImperiumandtheGreatHouses.”
“Chaos,”Jessicasaid.
“ButI’dpresentmycasetotheEmperor,”Paulsaid,“andgivehimanalternativetochaos.”
Jessicaspokeinadrytone:“Blackmail?”
“Oneofthetoolsofstatecraft,asyou’vesaidyourself,”Paulsaid,andJessicaheardthebitternessinhisvoice.“TheEmperorhasnosons,onlydaughters.”
“You’daimforthethrone?”Jessicaasked.
“TheEmperorwillnotriskhavingtheImperiumshatteredbytotalwar,”
Paulsaid.“Planetsblasted,disordereverywhere—he’llnotriskthat.”
“Thisisadesperategambleyoupropose,”Kynessaid.
“WhatdotheGreatHousesoftheLandsraadfearmost?”Paulasked.“TheyfearmostwhatishappeninghererightnowonArrakis—theSardaukarpickingthemoffonebyone.That’swhythereisaLandsraad.ThisistheglueoftheGreatConvention.OnlyinuniondotheymatchtheImperialforces.”
“Butthey’re—”
“Thisiswhattheyfear,”Paulsaid.“Arrakiswouldbecomearallyingcry.
Eachofthemwouldseehimselfinmyfather—cutoutoftheherdandkilled.”
KynesspoketoJessica:“Wouldhisplanwork?”
“I’mnoMentat,”Jessicasaid.
“ButyouareBeneGesserit.”
Sheshotaprobingstareathim,said:“Hisplanhasgoodpointsandbadpoints...asanyplanwouldatthisstage.Aplandependsasmuchuponexecutionasitdoesuponconcept.”
“‘Lawistheultimatescience,’”Paulquoted.
