Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
Hebentandcrossedthegladiator’shandsaroundtheprotrudingknifehandle,thenremovedtheknifeandplaceditinthelimphands.
Itwasdoneinaninstant,andhestraightened,beckonedhishandlers.“Burythisslaveintactwithhisknifeinhishands,”hesaid.“Themanearnedit.”
Inthegoldenbox,CountFenringleanedclosetotheBaron,said:“Agrandgesture,that—truebravura.Yournephewhasstyleaswellascourage.”
“Heinsultsthecrowdbyrefusingthehead,”theBaronmuttered.
“Notatall,”LadyFenringsaid.Sheturned,lookingupatthetiersaroundthem.
AndtheBaronnotedthelineofherneck—atrulylovelyflowingofmuscles—likeayoungboy’s.
“Theylikewhatyournephewdid,”shesaid.
AstheimportofFeyd-Rautha’sgesturepenetratedtothemostdistantseats,asthepeoplesawthehandlerscarryingoffthedeadgladiatorintact,theBaronwatchedthemandrealizedshehadinterpretedthereactioncorrectly.Thepeopleweregoingwild,beatingoneachother,screamingandstamping.
TheBaronspokewearily.“Ishallhavetoorderafete.Youcannotsendpeoplehomelikethis,theirenergiesunspent.TheymustseethatIsharetheirelation.”Hegaveahandsignaltohisguard,andaservantabovethemdippedtheHarkonnenorangepennantoverthebox—once,twice,threetimes—signalforafete.
Feyd-Rauthacrossedthearenatostandbeneaththegoldenbox,hisweaponssheathed,armshangingathissides.
