Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
“Barrrroooom!”
Itwaslikeapealofdrythundercomingfromfarofftotheirright.
Again:“Barrrroooom!”
Thewormdrewbackontothesand,laytheremomentarily,itscrystalteethweavingmoonflashes.
“Lump!Lump!Lump!Lump!”
Anotherthumper!Paulthought.
Againitsoundedofftotheirright.
Ashudderpassedthroughtheworm.Itdrewfartherawayintothesand.Onlyamoundeduppercurveremainedlikehalfabellmouth,thecurveofatunnelrearingabovethedunes.
Sandrasped.
Thecreaturesankfarther,retreating,turning.Itbecameamoundofcrestingsandthatcurvedawaythroughasaddleinthedunes.
Paulsteppedoutofthecrack,watchedthesandwaverecedeacrossthewastetowardthenewthumpersummons.
Jessicafollowed,listening:“Lump...lump...lump...lump...lump....”
Presentlythesoundstopped.
Paulfoundthetubeintohisstillsuit,sippedatthereclaimedwater.
Jessicafocusedonhisaction,buthermindfeltblankwithfatigueandtheaftermathofterror.“Hasitgoneforsure?”shewhispered.
“Somebodycalledit,”Paulsaid.“Fremen.”
Shefeltherselfrecovering.“Itwassobig!”
“Notasasbigastheonethatgotour’thopter.”
“AreyousureitwasFremen?”
“Theyusedathumper.”
“Whywouldtheyhelpus?”
“Maybetheyweren’thelpingus.Maybetheywerejustcallingaworm.”
“Why?”
Ananswerlaypoisedattheedgeofhisawareness,butrefusedtocome.Hehadavisioninhismindofsomethingtodowiththetelescopingbarbedsticksintheirpacks—the“makerhooks.”
“Whywouldtheycallaworm?”Jessicaasked.
