Дюна
Book One: Dune
“Wouldyoureallyhavedrawnmyblood?”
Halleckwithdrewthekindjal,straightened.“Ifyou’dfoughtonewhitbeneathyourabilities,I’dhavescratchedyouagoodone,ascaryou’dremember.I’llnothavemyfavoritepupilfalltothefirstHarkonnentrampwhohappensalong.”
Pauldeactivatedhisshield,leanedonthetabletocatchhisbreath.“Ideservedthat,Gurney.Butitwould’veangeredmyfatherifyou’dhurtme.I’llnothaveyoupunishedformyfailing.”
“Astothat,”Hallecksaid,“itwasmyfailing,too.Andyouneedn’tworryaboutatrainingscarortwo.You’reluckyyouhavesofew.Astoyourfather—
theDuke’dpunishmeonlyifIfailedtomakeafirst-classfightingmanoutofyou.AndI’dhavebeenfailingthereifIhadn’texplainedthefallacyinthismoodthingyou’vesuddenlydeveloped.”
Paulstraightened,slippedhisbodkinbackintoitswristsheath.
“It’snotexactlyplaywedohere,”Hallecksaid.
Paulnodded.HefeltasenseofwonderattheuncharacteristicseriousnessinHalleck’smanner,thesoberingintensity.Helookedatthebeet-coloredinkvinescarontheman’sjaw,rememberingthestoryofhowithadbeenputtherebyBeastRabbaninaHarkonnenslavepitonGiediPrime.AndPaulfeltasuddenshamethathehaddoubtedHalleckevenforaninstant.ItoccurredtoPaul,then,thatthemakingofHalleck’sscarhadbeenaccompaniedbypain—apainasintense,perhaps,asthatinflictedbyaReverendMother.Hethrustthisthoughtaside;itchilledtheirworld.
“IguessIdidhopeforsomeplaytoday,”Paulsaid.
