Дюна
Book One: Dune
“Thingsaresoseriousaroundherelately.”
Halleckturnedawaytohidehisemotions.Somethingburnedinhiseyes.
Therewaspaininhim—likeablister,allthatwasleftofsomelostyesterdaythatTimehadprunedoffhim.
Howsoonthischildmustassumehismanhood,Halleckthought.Howsoonhemustreadthatformwithinhismind,thatcontractofbrutalcaution,toenterthenecessaryfactonthenecessaryline:“Pleaselistyournextofkin.”
Halleckspokewithoutturning:“Isensedtheplayinyou,lad,andI’dlikenothingbetterthantojoininit.Butthisnolongercanbeplay.TomorrowwegotoArrakis.Arrakisisreal.TheHarkonnensarereal.”
Paultouchedhisforeheadwithhisrapierbladeheldvertical.
Halleckturned,sawthesaluteandacknowledgeditwithanod.Hegesturedtothepracticedummy.“Now,we’llworkonyourtiming.Letmeseeyoucatchthatthingsinister.I’llcontrolitfromoverherewhereIcanhaveafullviewoftheaction.AndIwarnyouI’llbetryingnewcounterstoday.There’sawarningyou’dnotgetfromarealenemy.”
Paulstretcheduponhistoestorelievehismuscles.Hefeltsolemnwiththesuddenrealizationthathislifehadbecomefilledwithswiftchanges.Hecrossedtothedummy,slappedtheswitchonitschestwithhisrapiertipandfeltthedefensivefieldforcinghisbladeaway.
“Engarde!”Halleckcalled,andthedummypressedtheattack.
Paulactivatedhisshield,parriedandcountered.
Halleckwatchedashemanipulatedthecontrols.
