Дюна
Book Three: The Prophet
”Thereistruthinthesewords,butIaskmyself:“Whoaretherabbleandwhoaretheruled?”
—Muad’Dib’sSecretMessagetothe
Landsraadfrom“ArrakisAwakening”bythePrincessIrulan
ATHOUGHTcameunbiddentoJessica’smind:Paulwillbeundergoinghissandridertestatanymomentnow.Theytrytoconcealthisfactfromme,butit’sobvious.
AndChanihasgoneonsomemysteriouserrand.
Jessicasatinherrestingchamber,catchingamomentofquietbetweenthenight’sclasses.Itwasapleasantchamber,butnotaslargeastheoneshehadenjoyedinSietchTabrbeforetheirflightfromthepogrom.Still,thisplacehadthickrugsonthefloor,softcushions,alowcoffeetablenearathand,multicoloredhangingsonthewalls,andsoftyellowglowglobesoverhead.TheroomwaspermeatedwiththedistinctiveacridfurryodorofaFremensietchthatshehadcometoassociatewithasenseofsecurity.
Yetsheknewshewouldneverovercomeafeelingofbeinginanalienplace.
Itwastheharshnessthattherugsandhangingsattemptedtoconceal.
Afainttinkling-drumming-slappingpenetratedtotherestingchamber.
Jessicaknewitforabirthcelebration,probablySubiay’s.Hertimewasnear.
AndJessicaknewshe’dseethebabysoonenough—ablue-eyedcherubbroughttotheReverendMotherforblessing.Sheknewalsothatherdaughter,Alia,wouldbeatthecelebrationandwouldreportonit.
Itwasnotyettimeforthenightlyprayerofparting.
