Дюна

           “Sorry;youmustremainsilent.”

           Nowthetwofiguresontherockfloorcircledeachother:Jamiswithknifehandheldfarforwardandtippedupslightly;Paulcrouchedwithknifeheldlow.

           Again,Jamispounced,andthistimehetwistedtotherightwherePaulhadbeendodging.

           Insteadoffakingbackandout,Paulmettheman’sknifehandonthepointofhisownblade.Thentheboywasgone,twistingawaytotheleftandthankfulforChani’swarning.

           Jamisbackedintothecenterofthecircle,rubbinghisknifehand.Blooddrippedfromtheinjuryforamoment,stopped.Hiseyeswerewideandstaring—twoblue-blackholes—studyingPaulwithanewwarinessinthedulllightoftheglowglobes.

           “Ah,thatonehurt,”Stilgarmurmured.

           Paulcrouchedatthereadyand,ashehadbeentrainedtodoafterfirstblood,calledout:“Doyouyield?”

           “Hah!”Jamiscried.

           Anangrymurmurarosefromthetroop.

           “Hold!”Stilgarcalledout.“Theladdoesn’tknowourrule.”Then,toPaul:

           “Therecanbenoyieldinginthetahaddi-challenge.Deathisthetestofit.”

           JessicasawPaulswallowhard.Andshethought:He’sneverkilledamanlikethis...inthehotbloodofaknifefight.Canhedoit?

           Paulcircledslowlyright,forcedbyJamis’movement.Theprescientknowledgeofthetime-boilingvariablesinthiscavecamebacktoplaguehimnow.Hisnewunderstandingtoldhimthereweretoomanyswiftlycompresseddecisionsinthisfightforanyclearchannelaheadtoshowitself.

           Variablepiledonvariable—thatwaswhythiscavelayasablurrednexusinhispath.