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Book Three: The Prophet
Already,mostofthetroopwasmovingoutintheoppositedirection,climbingtheotherdunethathadshelteredtheircamp.
OnerobedfigureremainedinPaul’spath:Shishakli,asquadleaderoftheFedaykin,onlyhisslope-liddedeyesvisiblebetweenstillsuitcapandmask.
Shishaklipresentedtwothin,whiplikeshaftsasPaulapproached.Theshaftswereaboutameterandahalflongwithglisteningplasteelhoodsatoneend,roughenedattheotherendforafirmgrip.
Paulacceptedthembothinhislefthandasrequiredbytheritual.
“Theyaremyownhooks,”Shishaklisaidinahuskyvoice.“Theyneverhavefailed.”
Paulnodded,maintainingthenecessarysilence,movedpastthemananduptheduneslope.Atthecrest,heglancedback,sawthetroopscatteringlikeaflightofinsects,theirrobesfluttering.Hestoodalonenowonthesandyridgewithonlythehorizoninfrontofhim,theflatandunmovinghorizon.ThiswasagoodduneStilgarhadchosen,higherthanitscompanionsfortheviewpointvantage.
Stooping,Paulplantedthethumperdeepintothewindwardfacewherethesandwascompactedandwouldgivemaximumtransmissiontothedrumming.
Thenhehesitated,reviewingthelessons,reviewingthelife-and-deathnecessitiesthatfacedhim.
Whenhethrewthelatch,thethumperwouldbeginitssummons.Acrossthesand,agiantworm—amaker—wouldhearandcometothedrumming.Withthewhiplikehook-staffs,Paulknew,hecouldmountthemaker’shighcurvingback.
