Дюна
Book One: Dune
Oeyh!DamnthoseHarkonnenbeasts!
Whydidtheychoosemefortheirabomination?
***
HowdoweapproachthestudyofMuad‘Dib’sfather?AmanofsurpassingwarmthandsurprisingcoldnesswastheDukeLetoAtreides.Yet,manyfactsopenthewaytothisDuke:hisabidingloveforhisBeneGesseritlady;thedreamsheheldforhisson;thedevotionwithwhichmenservedhim.Youseehimthere—amansnaredbyDestiny,alonelyfigurewithhislightdimmedbehindthegloryofhisson.Still,onemustask:Whatisthesonbutanextensionofthefather?
—from“Muad’Dib,FamilyCommentaries”bythePrincessIrulan
PAULWATCHEDhisfatherenterthetrainingroom,sawtheguardstakeupstationsoutside.Oneofthemclosedthedoor.Asalways,Paulexperiencedasenseofpresenceinhisfather,someonetotallyhere.
TheDukewastall,olive-skinned.Histhinfaceheldharshangleswarmedonlybydeepgrayeyes.Heworeablackworkinguniformwithredarmorialhawkcrestatthebreast.Asilveredshieldbeltwiththepatinaofmuchusegirdedhisnarrowwaist.
TheDukesaid:“Hardatwork,Son?”
Hecrossedtotheelltable,glancedatthepapersonit,swepthisgazearoundtheroomandbacktoPaul.Hefelttired,filledwiththeacheofnotshowinghisfatigue.ImustuseeveryopportunitytorestduringthecrossingtoArrakis,hethought.There’llbenorestonArrakis.
“Notveryhard,”Paulsaid.“Everything’sso....”Heshrugged.
“Yes.Well,tomorrowweleave.It’llbegoodtogetsettledinournewhome,putallthisupsetbehind.
