Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
“Thevoiceofthecielagosuggestedthere’dbevaluetousinsavingyoutwo,”Stilgarsaid.“Icanseepossibilityinthisstrongboy-man:heisyoungandcanlearn.Butwhatofyourself,woman?”HestaredatJessica.
Ihavehisvoiceandpatternregisterednow,Jessicathought.Icouldcontrolhimwithaword,buthe’sastrongman...worthmuchmoretousunbluntedandwithfullfreedomofaction.Weshallsee.
“Iamthemotherofthisboy,”Jessicasaid.“Inpart,hisstrengthwhichyouadmireistheproductofmytraining.”
“Thestrengthofawomancanbeboundless,”Stilgarsaid.“CertainitisinaReverendMother.AreyouaReverendMother?”
Forthemoment,Jessicaputasidetheimplicationsofthequestion,answeredtruthfully,“No.”
“Areyoutrainedinthewaysofthedesert?”
“No,butmanyconsidermytrainingvaluable.”
“Wemakeourownjudgmentsonvalue,”Stilgarsaid.
“Everymanhastherighttohisownjudgments,”shesaid.
“Itiswellthatyouseethereason,”Stilgarsaid.“Wecannotdallyheretotestyou,woman.Doyouunderstand?We’dnotwantyourshadetoplagueus.Iwilltaketheboy-man,yourson,andheshallhavemycountenance,sanctuaryinmytribe.Butforyou,woman—youunderstandthereisnothingpersonalinthis?Itistherule,Istislah,inthegeneralinterest.Isthatnotenough?”
Paultookahalf-stepforward.“Whatareyoutalkingabout?”
StilgarflickedaglanceacrossPaul,butkepthisattentiononJessica.
