Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
”
“Atonce,m’Lord.”Nefudbowed,turned,andhurriedaway.
Hawatbymyside!theBaronthought.TheSardaukarwillgivehimtome.Iftheysuspectanythingatallit’sthatIwishtodestroytheMentat.AndthissuspicionI’llconfirm!Thefools!OneofthemostformidableMentatsinallhistory,aMentattrainedtokill,andthey’lltosshimtomelikesomesillytoytobebroken.Iwillshowthemwhatusecanbemadeofsuchatoy.
TheBaronreachedbeneathadraperybesidehissuspensorbed,pressedabuttontosummonhisoldernephew,Rabban.Hesatback,smiling.
AndalltheAtreidesdead!
Thestupidguardcaptainhadbeenright,ofcourse.Certainly,nothingsurvivedinthepathofasandblaststormonArrakis.Notanornithopter...oritsoccupants.Thewomanandtheboyweredead.Thebribesintherightplaces,theunthinkableexpendituretobringoverwhelmingmilitaryforcedownontooneplanet...alltheslyreportstailoredfortheEmperor’searsalone,allthecarefulschemingwerehereatlastcomingtofullfruition.
Powerandfear—fearandpower!
TheBaroncouldseethepathaheadofhim.Oneday,aHarkonnenwouldbeEmperor.Nothimself,andnospawnofhisloins.ButaHarkonnen.NotthisRabbanhe’dsummoned,ofcourse.ButRabban’syoungerbrother,youngFeyd-Rautha.TherewasasharpnesstotheboythattheBaronenjoyed...aferocity.
Alovelyboy,theBaronthought.Ayearortwomore—say,bythetimehe’sseventeen,I’llknowforcertainwhetherhe’sthetoolthatHouseHarkonnenrequirestogainthethrone.
“M’LordBaron.
