Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
Andshenotedthatthewallsofthemetertroughheldnotraceofmoistureafterthewater’spassage.
Thewaterflowedoffthosewallswithoutbindingtension.ShesawaprofoundcluetoFrementechnologyinthesimplefact:theywereperfectionists.
JessicaworkedherwaydownthebarriertoStilgar’sside.Waywasmadeforherwithcasualcourtesy.ShenotedthewithdrawnlookinPaul’seyes,butthemysteryofthisgreatpoolofwaterdominatedherthoughts.
Stilgarlookedather.“Therewerethoseamongusinneedofwater,”hesaid,
“yettheywouldcomehereandnottouchthiswater.Doyouknowthat?”
“Ibelieveit,”shesaid.
Helookedatthepool.“Wehavemorethanthirty-eightmilliondecalitershere,”hesaid.“Walledofffromthelittlemakers,hiddenandpreserved.”
“Atreasuretrove,”shesaid.
Stilgarliftedtheglobetolookintohereyes.“Itisgreaterthantreasure.Wehavethousandsofsuchcaches.Onlyafewofusknowthemall.”Hecockedhisheadtooneside.Theglobecastayellow-shadowedglowacrossfaceandbeard.
“Hearthat?”
Theylistened.
Thedrippingofwaterprecipitatedfromthewindtrapfilledtheroomwithitspresence.Jessicasawthattheentiretroopwascaughtupinaraptureoflistening.
OnlyPaulseemedtostandremotefromit.
ToPaul,thesoundwaslikemomentstickingaway.Hecouldfeeltimeflowingthroughhim,theinstantsnevertoberecaptured.Hesensedaneedfordecision,butfeltpowerlesstomove.
“Ithasbeencalculatedwithprecision,”Stilgarwhispered.“Weknowtowithinamilliondecalitershowmuchweneed.
