Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
Jessicamovedtoapositionbelowhim,calledout:“MayIhelp?”
“Comeupanddig,”hesaid.“We’veaboutthreemeterstogo.It’sgoingtobeanearthing.”Ashespoke,thefoamstoppedbillowingfromtheinstrument.
“Quickly,”Paulsaid.“Notellinghowlongthisfoamwillholdthesand.”
JessicascrambledupbesidePaulashesiftedanotherpinchofspiceintothehole,shooktheparacompasscase.Again,foamboiledfromit.
AsPauldirectedthefoambarrier,Jessicadugwithherhands,hurlingthesanddowntheslope.“Howdeep?”shepanted.
“Aboutthreemeters,”hesaid.“AndIcanonlyapproximatetheposition.Wemayhavetowidenthishole.”Hemovedastepaside,slippinginloosesand.
“Slantyourdiggingbackward.Don’tgostraightdown.”
Jessicaobeyed.
Slowly,theholewentdown,reachingalevelevenwiththefloorofthebasinandstillnosignofthepack.
CouldIhavemiscalculated?Paulaskedhimself.I’mtheonethatpanickedoriginallyandcausedthismistake.Hasthatwarpedmyability?
Helookedattheparacompass.Lessthantwoouncesoftheacidinfusionremained.
Jessicastraightenedinthehole,rubbedafoam-stainedhandacrosshercheek.HereyesmetPaul’s.
“Theupperface,”Paulsaid.“Gently,now.”Headdedanotherpinchofspicetothecontainer,sentthefoamboilingaroundJessica’shandsasshebegancuttingaverticalfaceintheupperslantofthehole.Onthesecondpass,herhandsencounteredsomethinghard.Slowly,sheworkedoutalengthofstrapwithaplasticbuckle.
