Дюна

           Abruptly,withonlythefaintestlurchofwarning,theleftwing,weakenedbythestorm,twistedupwardandin,slammingacrossthesideofthe’thopter.Thecraftskiddedacrossadunetop,twistingtotheleft.Ittumbleddowntheoppositefacetoburyitsnoseinthenextduneamidacascadeofsand.Theylaystoppedonthebrokenwingside,therightwingpointingtowardthestars.

           Pauljerkedoffhissafetyharness,hurledhimselfupwardacrosshismother,wrenchingthedooropen.Sandpouredaroundthemintothecabin,bringingadrysmellofburnedflint.Hegrabbedthepackfromtherear,sawthathismotherwasfreeofherharness.Shesteppedupontothesideoftheright-handseatandoutontothe’thopter’smetalskin.Paulfollowed,draggingthepackbyitsstraps.

           “Run!”heordered.

           Hepointedupthedunefaceandbeyonditwheretheycouldseearocktowerundercutbysandblastwinds.

           Jessicaleapedoffthe’thopterandran,scramblingandslidingupthedune.

           SheheardPaul’spantingprogressbehind.Theycameoutontoasandridgethatcurvedawaytowardtherocks.

           “Followtheridge,”Paulordered.“It’llbefaster.”

           Theysloggedtowardtherocks,sandgrippingtheirfeet.

           Anewsoundbegantoimpressitselfonthem:amutedwhisper,ahissing,anabrasiveslithering.

           “Worm,”Paulsaid.

           Itgrewlouder.

           “Faster!”Paulgasped.

           Thefirstrockshingle,likeabeachslantingfromthesand,laynomorethantenmetersaheadwhentheyheardmetalcrunchandshatterbehindthem.

           Paulshiftedhispacktohisrightarm,holdingitbythestraps.Itslappedhissideasheran.