Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
MovementcaughtPaul’sattention—tohisrightanddownonthebasinfloorcurvingoutbeneaththem.Hestareddownthroughsmokebushesandweedsintoawedgedslabsand-surfaceofmoonlightinhabitedbyanup-hop,jump,pop-hopoftinymotion.
“Mice!”hehissed.
Pop-hop-hop!theywent,intoshadowsandout.
Somethingfellsoundlesslypasttheireyesintothemice.Therecameathinscreech,aflappingofwings,andaghostlygraybirdliftedawayacrossthebasinwithasmall,darkshadowinitstalons.
Weneededthatreminder,Jessicathought.
Paulcontinuedtostareacrossthebasin.Heinhaled,sensedthesoftlycuttingcontraltosmellofsageclimbingthenight.Thepredatorybird—hethoughtofitasthewayofthisdesert.Ithadbroughtastillnesstothebasinsounutteredthattheblue-milkmoonlightcouldalmostbeheardflowingacrosssentinelsaguaroandspikedpaintbush.Therewasalowhummingoflightheremorebasicinitsharmonythananyothermusicinhisuniverse.
“We’dbetterfindaplacetopitchthetent,”hesaid.“TomorrowwecantrytofindtheFremenwho—”
“MostintrudershereregretfindingtheFremen!”
Itwasaheavymasculinevoicechoppingacrosshiswords,shatteringthemoment.Thevoicecamefromabovethemandtotheirright.
“Pleasedonotrun,intruders,”thevoicesaidasPaulmadetowithdrawintothedefile.“Ifyourunyou’llonlywasteyourbody’swater.”
Theywantusforthewaterofourflesh!Jessicathought.Hermusclesoverrodeallfatigue,flowedintomaximumreadinesswithoutexternalbetrayal.
