Дюна

           Atimedsideblowmissedbythebarestfractionfromseveringthetendonsofthena-Baron’sleftleg.

           Feyd-Rauthadancedaway,leavingabarbedshaftintheslave’srightforearm,thehookscompletelyburiedinfleshwherethemancouldnotwithdrawthimwithoutrippingtendons.

           Aconcertedgaspliftedfromthegalleries.

           ThesoundfilledFeyd-Rauthawithelation.

           Heknewnowwhathisunclewasexperiencing,sittinguptherewiththeFenrings,theobserversfromtheImperialCourt,besidehim.Therecouldbenointerferencewiththisfight.Theformsmustbeobservedinfrontofwitnesses.

           AndtheBaronwouldinterprettheeventsinthearenaonlyoneway—threattohimself.

           Theslavebacked,holdingknifeinteethandlashingthebarbedshafttohisarmwiththepennant.“Idonotfeelyourneedle!”heshouted.Againhecreptforward,knifeready,leftsidepresented,hisbodybentbackwardtogiveitthegreatestsurfaceofprotectionfromthehalf-shield.

           Thataction,too,didn’tescapethegalleries.Sharpcriescamefromthefamilyboxes.Feyd-Rautha’shandlerswerecallingouttoaskifheneededthem.

           Hewavedthembacktothepru-door.

           I’llgivethemashowsuchasthey’veneverhadbefore,Feyd-Rauthathought.

           Notamekillingwheretheycansitbackandadmirethestyle.This’llbesomethingtotakethembythegutsandtwistthem.WhenI’mBaronthey’llrememberthisdayandwon’tbeaoneofthemcanescapefearofmebecauseofthisday.

           Feyd-Rauthagavegroundslowlybeforethegladiator’scrablikeadvance.

           Arenasandgratedunderfoot.