Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
Paulstoodalonenowjustintothering,cladinthefightingtrunkshe’dwornunderhisstillsuit.Heheldacrysknifeinhisrighthand;hisfeetwerebareagainstthesand-grittedrock.Idahohadwarnedhimtimeandagain:“Whenindoubtofyoursurface,barefeetarebest.”AndtherewereChani’swordsofinstructionstillinthefrontofhisconsciousness:“Jamisturnstotherightwithhisknifeafteraparry.It’sahabitinhimwe’veallseen.Andhe’llaimfortheeyestocatchablinkinwhichtoslashyou.Andhecanfighteitherhand;lookoutforaknifeshift.”
ButstrongestinPaulsothathefeltitwithhisentirebodywastrainingandtheinstinctualreactionmechanismthathadbeenhammeredintohimdayafterday,hourafterhouronthepracticefloor.
GurneyHalleck’swordsweretheretoremember:“Thegoodknifefighterthinksonpointandbladeandshearing-guardsimultaneously.Thepointcanalsocut;thebladecanalsostab;theshearing-guardcanalsotrapyouropponent’sblade.”
Paulglancedatthecrysknife.Therewasnoshearing-guard;onlytheslimroundringofthehandlewithitsraisedlipstoprotectthehand.Andevenso,herealizedthathedidnotknowthebreakingtensionofthisblade,didnotevenknowifitcouldbebroken.
JamisbegansidlingtotherightalongtheedgeoftheringoppositePaul.
