Дюна
Book Three: The Prophet
”
Gettothepoint,youoldfool!Feyd-Rauthathought.
“Youthinkofmeasanoldfool,”theBaronsaid.“Imustdissuadeyouofthat.”
“Youspeakofabargain.”
“Ah,theimpatienceofyouth,”theBaronsaid.“Well,thisisthesubstanceofit,then:Youwillceasethesefoolishattemptsonmylife.AndI,whenyouarereadyforit,willstepasideinyourfavor.Iwillretiretoanadvisoryposition,leavingyouintheseatofpower.”
“Retire,Uncle?”
“Youstillthinkmethefool,”theBaronsaid,“andthisbutconfirmsit,eh?
YouthinkI’mbeggingyou!Stepcautiously,Feyd.Thisoldfoolsawthroughtheshieldedneedleyou’dplantedinthatslaveboy’sthigh.RightwhereI’dputmyhandonit,eh?Thesmallestpressureand—snick!Apoisonneedleintheoldfool’spalm!Ah-h-h,Feyd....”
TheBaronshookhishead,thinking:Itwould’veworked,too,ifHawathadn’twarnedme.Well,lettheladbelieveIsawtheplotonmyown.Inaway,Idid.IwastheonewhosavedHawatfromthewreckageofArrakis.Andthisladneedsgreaterrespectformyprowess.
Feyd-Rautharemainedsilent,strugglingwithhimself.Ishebeingtruthful?
Doeshereallymeantoretire?Whynot?I’msuretosucceedhimonedayifImovecarefully.Hecan’tliveforever.Perhapsitwasfoolishtotryhurryingtheprocess.
“Youspeakofabargain,”Feyd-Rauthasaid.“Whatpledgedowegivetobindit?”
“Howcanwetrusteachother,eh?”theBaronasked.“Well,Feyd,asforyou:I’msettingThufirHawattowatchoveryou.ItrustHawat’sMentatcapabilitiesinthis.
