Дюна
Book Three: The Prophet
”
“Hah!ThenwhywarnRabban?Therecannotbemorethanahandfulof
FremenleftaftertheSardaukarpogromandRabban’soppression.”
Hawatcontinuedtostareathimsilently.
“Notmorethanahandful!”thebaronrepeated.“Rabbankilledsixthousandofthemlastyearalone!”
Still,Hawatstaredathim.
“Andtheyearbeforeitwasninethousand,”thebaronsaid.“Andbeforetheyleft,theSardaukarmust’veaccountedforatleasttwentythousand.”
“WhatareRabban’strooplossesforthepasttwoyears?”Hawatasked.
TheBaronrubbedhisjowls.“Well,hehasbeenrecruitingratherheavily,tobesure.Hisagentsmakeratherextravagantpromisesand—”
“Shallwesaythirtythousandinroundnumbers?”Hawatasked.
“Thatwouldseemalittlehigh,”thebaronsaid.
“Quitethecontrary,”Hawatsaid.“IcanreadbetweenthelinesofRabban’sreportsaswellasyoucan.Andyoucertainlymust’veunderstoodmyreportsfromouragents.”
“Arrakisisafierceplanet,”theBaronsaid.“Stormlossescan—”
“Webothknowthefigureforstormaccretion,”Hawatsaid.
“Whatifhehaslostthirtythousand?”theBarondemanded,andblooddarkenedhisface.
“Byyourowncount,”Hawatsaid,“hekilledfifteenthousandovertwoyearswhilelosingtwicethatnumber.YousaytheSardaukaraccountedforanothertwentythousand,possiblyafewmore.AndI’veseenthetransportationmanifestsfortheirreturnfromArrakis.Iftheykilledtwentythousand,theylostalmostfiveforone.
