Дюна
Book Three: The Prophet
“Onemoment,”theBaronsaid,andhethoughtbacktothemeetinginhisgreathall.Ithelpedtovisualizetheconeofsilenceinwhichtheyhadstood.“Isaidsomethinglikethis,”theBaronsaid.“‘TheEmperorknowsacertainamountofkillinghasalwaysbeenanarmofbusiness.’Iwasreferringtoourworkforcelosses.ThenIsaidsomethingaboutconsideringanothersolutiontotheArrakeenproblemandIsaidtheEmperor’sprisonplanetinspiredmetoemulatehim.”
“Witchblood!”Hawatsnapped.“WhatdidFenringsay?”
“That’swhenhebeganquestioningmeaboutyou.”
Hawatsatback,closedhiseyesinthought.“Sothat’swhytheystartedlookingintoArrakis,”hesaid.“Well,thething’sdone.”Heopenedhiseyes.
“TheymusthavespiesalloverArrakisbynow.Twoyears!”
“Butcertainlymyinnocentsuggestionthat—”
“NothingisinnocentinanEmperor’seyes!WhatwereyourinstructionstoRabban?”
“MerelythatheshouldteachArrakistofearus.”
Hawatshookhishead.“Younowhavetwoalternatives,Baron.Youcankilloffthenatives,wipethemoutentirely,or—”
“Wasteanentireworkforce?”
“WouldyouprefertohavetheEmperorandthoseGreatHouseshecanstillswingbehindhimcomeinhereandperformacurettement,scrapeoutGiediPrimelikeahollowgourd?”
TheBaronstudiedhisMentat,then:“Hewouldn’tdare!”
“Wouldn’the?”
TheBaron’slipsquivered.“Whatisyouralternative?”
“Abandonyourdearnephew,Rabban.”
“Aband....”TheBaronbrokeoff,staredatHawat.
