Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
Sheheardapproachingfootsteps,turnedtoseePaulcomeoutofthecave’sdepthstrailedbytheelfin-facedChani.
There’sanotherthing,Jessicathought.Paulmustbecautionedabouttheirwomen.OneofthesedesertwomenwouldnotdoaswifetoaDuke.Asconcubine,yes,butnotaswife.
Thenshewonderedatherself,thinking:HaveIbeeninfectedwithhisschemes?Andshesawhowwellshehadbeenconditioned.Icanthinkofthemaritalneedsofroyaltywithoutonceweighingmyownconcubinage.Yet...Iwasmorethanconcubine.
“Mother.”
Paulstoppedinfrontofher.Chanistoodathiselbow.
“Mother,doyouknowwhatthey’redoingbackthere?”
Jessicalookedatthedarkpatchofhiseyesstaringoutfromthehood.“Ithinkso.”
“Chanishowedme...becauseI’msupposedtoseeitandgivemy...permissionfortheweighingofthewater.”
JessicalookedatChani.
“They’rerecoveringJamis’water,”Chanisaid,andherthinvoicecameoutnasalpastthenoseplugs.“It’stherule.Thefleshbelongstotheperson,buthiswaterbelongstothetribe...exceptinthecombat.”
“Theysaythewater’smine,”Paulsaid.
Jessicawonderedwhythisshouldmakehersuddenlyalertandcautious.
“Combatwaterbelongstothewinner,”Chanisaid.“It’sbecauseyouhavetofightintheopenwithoutstillsuits.Thewinnerhastogethiswaterbackthatheloseswhilefighting.”
“Idon’twanthiswater,”Paulmuttered.Hefeltthathewasapartofmanyimagesmovingsimultaneouslyinafragmentingwaythatwasdisconcertingtotheinnereye.
