Дюна
Book Two: Muad‘dib
Therewereatleasttenthousandpeopleontherockfloornow.
Andstilltheycame.
Outonthedesert,sheknew,italreadywasrednightfall,buthereinthecavernhallwasperpetualtwilight,agrayvastnessthrongedwithpeoplecometoseeherriskherlife.
Awaywasopenedthroughthecrowdtoherright,andshesawPaulapproachingflankedbytwosmallboys.Therewasaswaggeringairofself-importanceaboutthechildren.Theykepthandsonknives,scowledatthewallofpeopleoneitherside.
“ThesonsofJamiswhoarenowthesonsofUsul,”Stilgarsaid.“Theytaketheirescortdutiesseriously.”HeventuredasmileatJessica.
Jessicarecognizedtheefforttolightenhermoodandwasgratefulforit,butcouldnottakehermindfromthedangerthatconfrontedher.
Ihadnochoicebuttodothis,shethought.Wemustmoveswiftlyifwe’retosecureourplaceamongtheseFremen.
Paulclimbedtotheledge,leavingthechildrenbelow.Hestoppedinfrontofhismother,glancedatStilgar,backtoJessica.“Whatishappening?IthoughtIwasbeingsummonedtocouncil.”
Stilgarraisedahandforsilence,gesturedtohisleftwhereanotherwayhadbeenopenedinthethrong.Chanicamedownthelaneopenedthere,herelfinfacesetinlinesofgrief.Shehadremovedherstillsuitandworeagracefulbluewraparoundthatexposedherthinarms.Neartheshoulderonherleftarm,agreenkerchiefhadbeentied.
Greenformourning,Paulthought.
ItwasoneofthecustomsthetwosonsofJamishadexplainedtohimbyindirection,tellinghimtheyworenogreenbecausetheyacceptedhimasguardian-father.
