Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
Slowly,hearose,madehiswaytoChani’sside.Stilgarsteppedbacktomakeroomforhim,tookthebalisetgentlyfromhishand.
“Kneel,”Chanisaid.
Paulknelt.
Sheguidedhishandstothewaterbag,heldthemagainsttheresilientsurface.
“Withthiswaterthetribeentruststhee,”shesaid.“Jamisisgonefromit.Takeitinpeace.”Shestood,pullingPaulupwithher.
Stilgarreturnedthebaliset,extendedasmallpileofmetalringsinonepalm.
Paullookedatthem,seeingthedifferentsizes,thewaythelightoftheglowglobereflectedoffthem.
Chanitookthelargestring,helditonafinger.“Thirtyliters,”shesaid.Onebyone,shetooktheothers,showingeachtoPaul,countingthem.“Twoliters;oneliter;sevenwatercountersofonedrachmeach;onewatercounterofthree-thirty-secondsdrachms.Inall—thirty-threelitersandsevenandthree-thirty-secondsdrachms.”
SheheldthemuponherfingerforPaultosee.
“Doyouacceptthem?”Stilgarasked.
Paulswallowed,nodded.“Yes.”
“Later,”Chanisaid,“Iwillshowyouhowtotietheminakerchiefsotheywon’trattleandgiveyouawaywhenyouneedsilence.”Sheextendedherhand.
“Willyou...holdthemforme?”Paulasked.
ChaniturnedastartledglanceonStilgar.
Hesmiled,said,“Paul-Muad’DibwhoisUsuldoesnotyetknowourways,Chani.Holdhiswatercounterswithoutcommitmentuntilit’stimetoshowhimthemannerofcarryingthem.
