Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
TheycouldbewieldedlikeaswordtowinbackPaul’splaceforhim.
“Weleavenow,”Stilgarsaid,“andwaitforthefirstmoon’srising.WhenJamisissafelyonhisway,wewillgohome.”
Whisperingtheirreluctance,thetroopfellinbehindhim,turnedbackalongthewaterbarrierandupthestairs.
AndPaul,walkingbehindChani,feltthatavitalmomenthadpassedhim,thathehadmissedanessentialdecisionandwasnowcaughtupinhisownmyth.
Heknewhehadseenthisplacebefore,experienceditinafragmentofprescientdreamonfarawayCaladan,butdetailsoftheplacewerebeingfilledinnowthathehadnotseen.Hefeltanewsenseofwonderatthelimitsofhisgift.Itwasasthoughherodewithinthewaveoftime,sometimesinitstrough,sometimesonacrest—andallaroundhimtheotherwavesliftedandfell,revealingandthenhidingwhattheyboreontheirsurface.
Throughitall,thewildjihadstillloomedaheadofhim,theviolenceandtheslaughter.Itwaslikeapromontoryabovethesurf.
Thetroopfiledthroughthelastdoorintothemaincavern.Thedoorwassealed.Lightswereextinguished,hoodsremovedfromthecavernopenings,revealingthenightandthestarsthathadcomeoverthedesert.
Jessicamovedtothedrylipofthecavern’sedge,lookedupatthestars.
Theyweresharpandnear.Shefeltthestirringofthetrooparoundher,heardthesoundofabalisetbeingtunedsomewherebehindher,andPaul’svoicehummingthepitch.Therewasamelancholyinhistonethatshedidnotlike.
