Дюна

           Hecouldnotbecertainwhathewoulddo,butofonethinghewaspositive:hedidnotwantthewaterdistilledoutofJamis’flesh.

           “It’s...water,”Chanisaid.

           Jessicamarveledatthewayshesaidit.“Water.”Somuchmeaninginasimplesound.ABeneGesseritaxiomcametoJessica’smind:“Survivalistheabilitytoswiminstrangewater.”AndJessicathought:PaulandI,wemustfindthecurrentsandpatternsinthesestrangewaters...ifwe’retosurvive.

           “Youwillacceptthewater,”Jessicasaid.

           Sherecognizedthetoneinhervoice.ShehadusedthatsametoneoncewithLeto,tellingherlostDukethathewouldacceptalargesumofferedforhissupportinaquestionableventure—becausemoneymaintainedpowerfortheAtreides.

           OnArrakis,waterwasmoney.Shesawthatclearly.

           Paulremainedsilent,knowingthenthathewoulddoassheordered—notbecausesheorderedit,butbecausehertoneofvoicehadforcedhimtoreevaluate.TorefusethewaterwouldbetobreakwithacceptedFremenpractice.

           PresentlyPaulrecalledthewordsof467KalimainYueh’sO.C.Bible.Hesaid:“Fromwaterdoesalllifebegin.”

           Jessicastaredathim.Wheredidhelearnthatquotation?sheaskedherself.

           Hehasn’tsutdiedthemysteries.

           “Thusitisspoken,”Chanisaid.“Giudicharmantene:ItiswrittenintheShah-Namathatwaterwasthefirstofallthingscreated.”

           Fornoreasonshecouldexplain(andthisbotheredhermorethanthesensation),Jessicasuddenlyshuddered.Sheturnedawaytohideherconfusionandwasjustintimetoseethesunset.