Дюна

           Theappearanceofthegladiatorasheemergedtoldthetrainedeyemuchitneededtoknow.Allgladiatorsweresupposedtobehypedonelaccadrugtocomeoutkill-readyinfightingstance—butyouhadtowatchhowtheyheftedtheknife,whichwaytheyturnedindefense,whethertheywereactuallyawareoftheaudienceinthestands.Thewayaslavecockedhisheadcouldgivethemostvitalcluetocounterandfeint.

           Thereddoorslammedopen.

           Outchargedatall,muscularmanwithshavedheadanddarklypittedeyes.

           Hisskinwascarrot-coloredasitshouldbefromtheelaccadrug,butFeyd-Rauthaknewthecolorwaspaint.Theslaveworegreenleotardsandtheredbeltofasemishield—thebelt’sarrowpointinglefttoindicatetheslave’sleftsidewasshielded.Heheldhisknifesword-fashion,cockedslightlyoutwardinthestanceofatrainedfighter.Slowly,headvancedintothearena,turninghisshieldedsidetowardFeyd-Rauthaandthegroupatthepru-door.

           “Ilikenotthelookofthisone,”saidoneofFeyd-Rautha’sbarb-men.“Areyousurehe’sdrugged,m’Lord?”

           “Hehasthecolor,”Feyd-Rauthasaid.

           “Yethestandslikeafighter,”saidanotherhelper.

           Feyd-Rauthaadvancedtwostepsontothesand,studiedthisslave.

           “Whathashedonetohisarm?”askedoneofthedistractors.

           Feyd-Rautha’sattentionwenttoabloodyscratchontheman’sleftforearm,followedthearmdowntothehandasitpointedtoadesigndrawninbloodonthelefthipofthegreenleotards—awetshapethere:theformalizedoutlineofahawk.