Дюна
Book One: Dune
Hefeltthefieldcracklingasshieldedgestouchedandrepelledeachother,sensedtheelectrictinglingofthecontactalonghisskin.
What’sgottenintoGurney?heaskedhimself.He’snotfakingthis!Paulmovedhislefthand,droppedhisbodkinintohispalmfromitswristsheath.
“Youseeaneedforanextrablade,eh?”Halleckgrunted.
Isthisbetrayal?Paulwondered.SurelynotGurney!
Aroundtheroomtheyfought—thrustandparry,feintandcounter-feint.Theairwithintheirshieldbubblesgrewstalefromthedemandsonitthattheslowinterchangealongbarrieredgescouldnotreplenish.Witheachnewshieldcontact,thesmellofozonegrewstronger.
Paulcontinuedtoback,butnowhedirectedhisretreattowardtheexercisetable.IfIcanturnhimbesidethetable,I’llshowhimatrick,Paulthought.Onemorestep,Gurney.
Hallecktookthestep.
Pauldirectedaparrydownward,turned,sawHalleck’srapiercatchagainstthetable’sedge.Paulflunghimselfaside,thrusthighwithrapierandcameinacrossHalleck’snecklinewiththebodkin.Hestoppedthebladeaninchfromthejugular.
“Isthiswhatyouseek?”Paulwhispered.
“Lookdown,lad,”Gurneypanted.
Paulobeyed,sawHalleck’skindjalthrustunderthetable’sedge,thetipalmosttouchingPaul’sgroin.
“We’dhavejoinedeachotherindeath,”Hallecksaid.“ButI’lladmityoufoughtsomebetterwhenpressedtoit.Youseemedtogetthemood.”Andhegrinnedwolfishly,theinkvinescarripplingalonghisjaw.
“Thewayyoucameatme,”Paulsaid.
