Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
Themusicstopped.
Intotheabruptsilence,hesteppedbacktwopaces,raisedthekeyandshouted.“Idedicatethistruthto....”Andhepaused,knowinghisunclewouldthink:Theyoungfool’sgoingtodedicatetoLadyFenringafterallandcausearuckus!
“...tomyuncleandpatron,theBaronVladimirHarkonnen!”Feyd-Rauthashouted.
Andhewasdelightedtoseehisunclesigh.
Themusicresumedatthequick-march,andFeyd-Rauthaledhismenscamperingbackacrossthearenatotheprudencedoorthatadmittedonlythosewearingtheproperidentificationband.Feyd-Rauthapridedhimselfthatheneverusedthepru-doorandseldomneededdistractors.Butitwasgoodtoknowtheywereavailablethisday—specialplanssometimesinvolvedspecialdangers.
Again,silencesettledoverthearena.
Feyd-Rauthaturned,facedthebigreddooracrossfromhimthroughwhichthegladiatorwouldemerge.
Thespecialgladiator.
TheplanThufirHawathaddevisedwasadmirablysimpleanddirect,Feyd-Rauthathought.Theslavewouldnotbedrugged—thatwasthedanger.Instead,akeywordhadbeendrummedintotheman’sunconscioustoimmobilizehismusclesatacriticalinstant.Feyd-Rautharolledthevitalwordinhismind,mouthingitwithoutsound:“Scum!”Totheaudience,itwouldappearthatanundruggedslavehadbeenslippedintothearenatokillthena-Baron.Andallthecarefullyarrangedevidencewouldpointtotheslavemaster.
Alowhummingarosefromthereddoor’sservo-motorsastheywerearmedforopening.
Feyd-Rauthafocusedallhisawarenessonthedoor.Thisfirstmomentwasthecriticalone.
