Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
Hestraightenedthepaddedsuspensorbeneaththefatfoldsofhisneck,staredacrossthesingleglowglobeofhisbedchambertothedoorwaywhereCaptainNefudstoodblockedbythepentashield.
“They’recertainlydead,Baron,”themanrepeated.
TheBaronnotedthetraceofsemutadullnessinNefud’seyes.Itwasobviousthemanhadbeendeepwithinthedrug’srapturewhenhereceivedthisreport,andhadstoppedonlytotaketheantidotebeforerushinghere.
“Ihaveafullreport,”Nefudsaid.
Lethimsweatalittle,theBaronthought.Onemustalwayskeepthetoolsofstatecraftsharpandready.Powerandfear—sharpandready.
“Haveyouseentheirbodies?”theBaronrumbled.
Nefudhesitated.
“Well?”
“M‘Lord...theywereseentodiveintoasandstorm...windsovereighthundredkilometers.Nothingsurvivessuchastorm,m’Lord.Nothing!Oneofourowncraftwasdestroyedinthepursuit.”
TheBaronstaredatNefud,notingthenervoustwitchinthescissorslineoftheman’sjawmuscles,thewaythechinmovedasNefudswallowed.
“Youhaveseenthebodies?”theBaronasked.
“M’Lord—”
“Forwhatpurposedoyoucomehererattlingyourarmor?”theBaronroared.
“Totellmeathingiscertainwhenitisnot?DoyouthinkI’llpraiseyouforsuchstupidity,giveyouanotherpromotion?”
Nefud’sfacewentbonepale.
Lookatthechicken,theBaronthought.Iamsurroundedbysuchuselessclods.IfIscatteredsandbeforethiscreatureandtoldhimitwasgrain,he’dpeckatit:
“ThemanIdaholedustothem,then?”theBaronasked.
