Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
Hefeltmusclesuntiethemselves,becomepoisedandready.
“I’llsheathmyknifeinyourblood,”Jamissnarled.Andinthemiddleofthelastwordhepounced.
Jessicasawthemotion,stifledanoutcry.
WherethemanstrucktherewasonlyemptyairandPaulstoodnowbehindJamiswithaclearshotattheexposedback.
Now,Paul!Now!Jessicascreameditinhermind.
Paul’smotionwasslowlytimed,beautifullyfluid,butsoslowitgaveJamisthemargintotwistaway,backingandturningtotheright.
Paulwithdrew,crouchinglow.“First,youmustfindmyblood,”hesaid.
Jessicarecognizedtheshield-fightertiminginherson,anditcameoverherwhatatwo-edgedthingthatwas.Theboy’sreactionswerethoseofyouthandtrainedtoapeakthesepeoplehadneverseen.Buttheattackwastrained,too,andconditionedbythenecessitiesofpenetratingashieldbarrier.Ashieldwouldrepeltoofastablow,admitonlytheslowlydeceptivecounter.Itneededcontrolandtrickerytogetthroughashield.
DoesPaulseeit?sheaskedherself.Hemust!
AgainJamisattacked,ink-darkeyesglaring,hisbodyayellowblurundertheglowglobes.
AndagainPaulslippedawaytoreturntooslowlyontheattack.
Andagain.
Andagain.
Eachtime,Paul’scounterblowcameaninstantlate.
AndJessicasawathingshehopedJamisdidnotsee.Paul’sdefensivereactionswereblindinglyfast,buttheymovedeachtimeatthepreciselycorrectangletheywouldtakeifashieldwerehelpingdeflectpartofJamis’blow.
“Isyoursonplayingwiththatpoorfool?”Stilgarasked.Hewavedhertosilencebeforeshecouldrespond.
