Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
Paulrecoveredhisbalance.Asweepingglancetookinthesandaroundthem,therockescarpmentperhapstwohundredmetersaway.
Behindthem,heheardahissing—likethewind,likeariptidewheretherewasnowater.
“Run!”Jessicascreamed.“Paul,run!”
Theyran.
Drumsoundboomedbeneaththeirfeet.Thentheywereoutofitandintopeagravel.Foratime,therunningwasarelieftomusclesthatachedfromunfamiliar,rhythmlessuse.Herewasactionthatcouldbeunderstood.Herewasrhythm.Butsandandgraveldraggedattheirfeet.Andthehissingapproachofthewormwasstormsoundthatgrewaroundthem.
Jessicastumbledtoherknees.Allshecouldthinkofwasthefatigueandthesoundandtheterror.
Pauldraggedherup.
Theyranon,handinhand.
Athinpolejuttedfromthesandaheadofthem.Theypassedit,sawanother.
Jessica’smindfailedtoregisteronthepolesuntiltheywerepast.
Therewasanother-wind-etchedsurfacethrustupfromacrackinrock.
Another.
Rock!
Shefeltitthroughherfeet,theshockofunresistingsurface,gainednewstrengthfromthefirmerfooting.
Adeepcrackstretcheditsverticalshadowupwardintothecliffaheadofthem.Theysprintedforit,crowdedintothenarrowhole.
Behindthem,thesoundoftheworm’spassagestopped.
JessicaandPaulturned,peeredoutontothedesert.
Wherethedunesbegan,perhapsfiftymetersawayatthefootofarockbeach,asilver-graycurvebroachedfromthedesert,sendingriversofsandanddustcascadingallaround.Itliftedhigher,resolvedintoagiant,questingmouth.
