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Book Two: Muad‘dib
Scramblingsoundscamefromtherocks—aboveandtobothsides...darkmotionsinthemoonlight.Manyfiguresflowedthroughtheshadows.
Awholetroop!Paulthoughtwithasuddenpang.
AtallmaninamottledburnoosesteppedinfrontofJessica.Hismouthbafflewasthrownasideforclearspeech,revealingaheavybeardinthesidelightofthemoon,butfaceandeyeswerehiddenintheoverhangofhishood.
“Whathavewehere—jinnorhuman?”heasked.
WhenJessicaheardthetrue-banterinhisvoice,sheallowedherselfafainthope.Thiswasthevoiceofcommand,thevoicethathadfirstshockedthemwithitsintrusionfromthenight.
“Human,Iwarrant,”themansaid.
Jessicasensedratherthansawtheknifehiddeninafoldoftheman’srobe.
ShepermittedherselfonebitterregretthatsheandPaulhadnoshields.
“Doyoualsospeak?”themanasked.
Jessicaputalltheroyalarroganceathercommandintohermannerandvoice.Replywasurgent,butshehadnotheardenoughofthismantobecertainshehadaregisteronhiscultureandweaknesses.
“Whocomesonuslikecriminalsoutofthenight?”shedemanded.
Theburnoose-hoodedheadshowedtensioninasuddentwist,thenslowrelaxationthatrevealedmuch.Themanhadgoodcontrol.
Paulshiftedawayfromhismothertoseparatethemastargetsandgiveeachofthemaclearerarenaofaction.
ThehoodedheadturnedatPaul’smovement,openingawedgeoffacetomoonlight.Jessicasawasharpnose,oneglintingeye—dark,sodarktheeye,withoutanywhiteinit—aheavybrownandupturnedmustache.
“Alikelycub,”themansaid.
