Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
Imustnotfear,shetoldherself,mouthingthewordsoftheBeneGesseritlitany.Fearisthemind-killer.
Slowlyherlongyearsoftrainingprevailed.
Calmnessreturned.
“Wehavethetigerbythetail,”Paulwhispered.“Wecan’tgodown,can’tland...andIdon’tthinkIcanliftusoutofthis.We’llhavetorideitout.”
Calmnessdrainedoutofher.Jessicafeltherteethchattering,clampedthemtogether.ThensheheardPaul’svoice,lowandcontrolled,recitingthelitany:
“Fearisthemind-killer.Fearisthelittledeaththatbringstotalobliteration.Iwillfacemyfear.Iwillpermitittopassovermeandthroughme.AndwhenithasgonepastmeIwillturntoseefear’spath.Wherethefearhasgonetherewillbenothing.OnlyIwillremain.”
***
Whatdoyoudespise?Bythisareyoutrulyknown.
—from“ManualofMuad‘Dib”bythePrincessIrulan
“THEYAREdead,Baron,”saidIakinNefud,theguardcaptain.“Boththewomanandtheboyarecertainlydead.”
TheBaronVladimirHarkonnensatupinthesleepsuspensorsofhisprivatequarters.BeyondthesequartersandenclosinghimlikeamultishelledeggstretchedthespacefrigatehehadgroundedonArrakis.Hereinhisquarters,though,theship’sharshmetalwasdisguisedwithdraperies,withfabricpaddingsandrareartobjects.
“Itisacertainty,”theguardcaptainsaid.“Theyaredead.”
TheBaronshiftedhisgrossbodyinthesuspensors,focusedhisattentiononanebalinestatueofaleapingboyinanicheacrosstheroom.Sleepfadedfromhim.
