Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
”
“Youunderstandnothingperfectly,”theBarongrowled.“Letushavethatclearattheoutset.Whatyoudounderstandishowtocarryoutmyorders.Hasitoccurredtoyou,nephew,thatthereareatleastfivemillionpersonsonthisplanet?”
“Doesm‘LordforgetthatIwashisregent-siridarherebefore?Andifm’Lordwillforgiveme,hisestimatemaybelow.It’sdifficulttocountapopulationscatteredamongsinksandpansthewaytheyarehere.AndwhenyouconsidertheFremenof—”
“TheFremenaren’tworthconsidering!”
“Forgiveme,m’Lord,buttheSardaukarbelieveotherwise.”
TheBaronhesitated,staringathisnephew.“Youknowsomething?”
“M’LordhadretiredwhenIarrivedlastnight.I...ah,tookthelibertyofcontactingsomeofmylieutenantsfrom...ah,before.They’vebeenactingasguidestotheSardaukar.TheyreportthataFremenbandambushedaSardaukarforcesomewheresoutheastofhereandwipeditout.”
“WipedoutaSardaukarforce?”
“Yes,m’Lord.”
“Impossible!”
Rabbanshrugged.
“FremendefeatingSardaukar,”theBaronsneered.
“Irepeatonlywhatwasreportedtome,”Rabbansaid.“ItissaidthisFremenforcealreadyhadcapturedtheDuke’sredoubtableThufirHawat.”
“Ah-h-h-h-h-h.”
TheBaronnodded,smiling.
“Ibelievethereport,”Rabbansaid.“You’venoideawhataproblemtheFremenwere.”
“Perhaps,buttheseweren’tFremenyourlieutenantssaw.Theymust’vebeenAtreidesmentrainedbyHawatanddisguisedasFremen.It’stheonlypossibleanswer.”
Again,Rabbanshrugged.
