Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
Paulfeltthediminishmentofhisselfasheadvancedintothecenterofthecircle.Itwasasthoughhelostafragmentofhimselfandsoughtithere.Hebentoverthemoundofbelongings,liftedoutthebaliset.Astringtwangedsoftlyasitstruckagainstsomethinginthepile.
“IwasafriendofJamis,”Paulwhispered.
Hefelttearsburninghiseyes,forcedmorevolumeintohisvoice.“Jamistaughtme...that...whenyoukill...youpayforit.IwishI’dknownJamisbetter.”
Blindly,hegropedhiswaybacktohisplaceinthecircle,sanktotherockfloor.
Avoicehissed:“Heshedstears!”
Itwastakenuparoundthering:“Usulgivesmoisturetothedead!”
Hefeltfingerstouchhisdampcheek,heardtheawedwhispers.
Jessica,hearingthevoices,feltthedepthoftheexperience,realizedwhatterribleinhibitionstheremustbeagainstsheddingtears.Shefocusedonthewords:“Hegivesmoisturetothedead.”Itwasagifttotheshadowworld—tears.Theywouldbesacredbeyondadoubt.
Nothingonthisplanethadsoforcefullyhammeredintohertheultimatevalueofwater.Notthewater-sellers,notthedriedskinsofthenatives,notstillsuitsortherulesofwaterdiscipline.Heretherewasasubstancemorepreciousthanallothers—itwaslifeitselfandentwinedallaroundwithsymbolismandritual.
Water.
“Itouchedhischeek,”someonewhispered.“Ifeltthegift.”
Atfirst,thefingerstouchinghisfacefrightenedPaul.Heclutchedthecoldhandleofthebaliset,feelingthestringsbitehispalm.
