Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
Anotherburstofliftingwingbeatsandtheycameoutoverrocks,silver-frostedanglesandoutcroppingsinthestarlight.Thedust-reddenedsecondmoonshoweditselfabovethehorizontotheirright,definingtheribbontrailofthestorm.
Paul’shandsdancedoverthecontrols.Wingssnickedintobeetlestubs.G-forcepulledattheirfleshasthecraftcamearoundinatightbank.
“Jetflaresbehindus!”Jessicasaid.
“Isawthem.”
Heslammedthepowerarmforward.
Their’thopterleapedlikeafrightenedanimal,surgedsouthwesttowardthestormandthegreatcurveofdesert.Intheneardistance,Paulsawscatteredshadowstellingwherethelineofrocksended,thebasementcomplexsinkingbeneaththedunes.Beyondstretchedmoonlitfingernailshadows—dunesdiminishingoneintoanother.
Andabovethehorizonclimbedtheflatimmensityofthestormlikeawallagainstthestars.
Somethingjarredthe’thopter.
“Shellburst!”Jessicagasped.“They’reusingsomekindofprojectileweapon.”
ShesawasuddenanimalgrinonPaul’sface.“Theyseemtobeavoidingtheirlasguns,”hesaid.
“Butwe’venoshields!”
“Dotheyknowthat?”
Againthe’thoptershuddered.
Paultwistedtopeerback.“Onlyoneofthemappearstobefastenoughtokeepupwithus.”
Hereturnedhisattentiontotheircourse,watchingthestormwallgrowhighinfrontofthem.Itloomedlikeatangiblesolid.
“Projectilelaunchers,rockets,alltheancientweaponry—that’sonethingwe’llgivetheFremen,”Paulwhispered.
“Thestorm,”Jessicasaid.
