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Book Three: The Prophet
Foraslongasaforwardedgeofaworm’sringsegmentwasheldopenbyahook,opentoadmitabrasivesandintothemoresensitiveinterior,thecreaturewouldnotretreatbeneaththedesert.Itwould,infact,rollitsgiganticbodytobringtheopenedsegmentasfarawayfromthedesertsurfaceaspossible.
Iamasandrider,Paultoldhimself.
Heglanceddownatthehooksinhislefthand,thinkingthathehadonlytoshiftthosehooksdownthecurveofamaker’simmensesidetomakethecreaturerollandturn,guidingitwherehewilled.Hehadseenitdone.Hehadbeenhelpedupthesideofawormforashortrideintraining.Thecaptivewormcouldberiddenuntilitlayexhaustedandquiescentuponthedesertsurfaceandanewmakermustbesummoned.
Oncehewaspastthistest,Paulknew,hewasqualifiedtomakethetwenty-thumperjourneyintothesouthland—torestandrestorehimself—intothesouthwherethewomenandthefamilieshadbeenhiddenfromthepogromamongthenewpalmariesandsietchwarrens.
Heliftedhisheadandlookedtothesouth,remindinghimselfthatthemakersummonedwildfromtheergwasanunknownquantity,andtheonewhosummoneditwasequallyunknowntothistest.
“Youmustgaugetheapproachingmakercarefully,”Stilgarhadexplained.
“Youmuststandcloseenoughthatyoucanmountitasitpasses,yetnotsoclosethatitengulfsyou.”
Withabruptdecision,Paulreleasedthethumper’slatch.Theclapperbeganrevolvingandthesummonsdrummedthroughthesand,ameasured“lump...lump...lump....
