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Book Two: Muad‘dib
Abreathoffeartouchedhismind,andheforcedhimselftoturnawayfromhismother,tolookupthecliff.“We’dbetterfindawayuptherebeforedaylight.”Hepointed.“Thosepoleswepassed—therearemoreofthem.”
Shelooked,followingthelineofhishand,sawthepoles—wind-scratchedmarkers—madeouttheshadowofanarrowledgethattwistedintoacrevassehighabovethem.
“Theymarkawayupthecliff,”Paulsaid.Hesettledhisshouldersintothepack,crossedtothefootoftheledgeandbegantheclimbupward.
Jessicawaitedamoment,resting,restoringherstrength;thenshefollowed.
Uptheyclimbed,followingtheguidepolesuntiltheledgedwindledtoanarrowlipatthemouthofadarkcrevasse.
Paultippedhisheadtopeerintotheshadowedplace.Hecouldfeeltheprecariousholdhisfeethadontheslenderledge,butforcedhimselftoslowcaution.Hesawonlydarknesswithinthecrevasse.Itstretchedawayupward,opentothestarsatthetop.Hisearssearched,foundonlysoundshecouldexpect—atinyspillofsand,aninsectbrrr,thepatterofasmallrunningcreature.Hetestedthedarknessinthecrevassewithonefoot,foundrockbeneathagrittingsurface.Slowly,heinchedaroundthecorner,signaledforhismothertofollow.
Hegraspedalooseedgeofherrobe,helpedheraround.
Theylookedupwardatstarlightframedbytworocklips.Paulsawhismotherbesidehimasacloudygraymovement.“Ifwecouldonlyriskalight,”hewhispered.
“Wehaveothersensesthaneyes,”shesaid.
