Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
“Unlessyou’vebeendeep-trainedfromchildhoodtolivehere,youcouldbringdestructionontoanentiretribe.Itisthelaw,andwecannotcarryuseless....”
Jessica’smotionstartedasaslumping,deceptivefainttotheground.Itwastheobviousthingforaweakoutworldertodo,andtheobviousslowsanopponent’sreactions.Ittakesaninstanttointerpretaknownthingwhenthatthingisexposedassomethingunknown.Sheshiftedasshesawhisrightshoulderdroptobringaweaponwithinthefoldsofhisrobetobearonhernewposition.Aturn,aslashofherarm,awhirlingofmingledrobes,andshewasagainsttherockswiththemanhelplessinfrontofher.
Athismother’sfirstmovement,Paulbackedtwosteps.Assheattacked,hedoveforshadows.Abeardedmanroseupinhispath,half-crouched,lungingforwardwithaweaponinonehand.Paultookthemanbeneaththesternumwithastraight-handjab,sidesteppedandchoppedthebaseofhisneck,relievinghimoftheweaponashefell.
ThenPaulwasintotheshadows,scramblingupwardamongtherocks,theweapontuckedintohiswaistsash.Hehadrecognizeditinspiteofitsunfamiliarshape—aprojectileweapon,andthatsaidmanythingsaboutthisplace,anothercluethatshieldswerenotusedhere.
TheywillconcentrateonmymotherandthatStilgarfellow.Shecanhandlehim.ImustgettoasafevantagepointwhereIcanthreatenthemandgivehertimetoescape.
Therecameachorusofsharpspring-clicksfromthebasin.Projectileswhinedofftherocksaroundhim.Oneofthemflickedhisrobe.
