Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
“Don’tmoveanymoreofit,”Paulsaidandhisvoicewasalmostawhisper.
“We’reoutoffoam.”
Jessicaheldthestrapinonehand,lookedupathim.
Paulthrewtheemptyparacompassdownontothefloorofthebasin,said:
“Givemeyourotherhand.Nowlistencarefully.I’mgoingtopullyoutothesideanddownhill.Don’tletgoofthatstrap.Wewon’tgetmuchmorespillfromthetop.Thisslopehasstabilizeditself.AllI’mgoingtoaimforistokeepyourheadfreeofthesand.Oncethathole’sfilled,wecandigyououtandpullupthepack.”
“Iunderstand,”shesaid.
“Ready?”
“Ready.”Shetensedherfingersonthestrap.
Withonesurge,Paulhadherhalfoutofthehole,holdingherheadupasthefoambarriergavewayandsandspilleddown.Whenithadsubsided,Jessicaremainedburiedtothewaist,herleftarmandshoulderstillunderthesand,herchinprotectedonafoldofPaul’srobe.Hershoulderachedfromthestrainputonit.
“Istillhavethestrap,”shesaid.
Slowly,Paulworkedhishandintothesandbesideher,foundthestrap.
“Together,”hesaid.“Steadypressure.Wemustn’tbreakit.”
Moresandspilleddownastheyworkedthepackup.Whenthestrapclearedthesurface,Paulstopped,freedhismotherfromthesand.Togetherthentheypulledthepackdownslopeandoutofitstrap.
Inafewminutestheystoodonthefloorofthefissureholdingthepackbetweenthem.
Paullookedathismother.Foamstrainedherface,herrobe.Sandwascakedtoherwherethefoamhaddried.Shelookedasthoughshehadbeenatargetforballsofwet,greensand.
