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Book Three: The Prophet
Herealeadertookthereinsfromthedeadhandsofhispredecessor,orslewamongthestrongestofhistribeifaleaderdiedinthedesert.Stilgarhadrisentobeanaibinthatway.
“Weshouldleavethismakerindeepsand,”Paulsaid.
“Yes,”Stilgaragreed.“Wecouldwalktothecavefromhere.”
“We’veriddenhimfarenoughthathe’llburyhimselfandsulkforadayorso,”Paulsaid.
“You’rethemudirofthesandride,”Stilgarsaid.“Saywhenwe...”Hebrokeoff,staredattheeasternsky.
Paulwhirled.Thespice-blueovercastonhiseyesmadetheskyappeardark,arichlyfilteredazureagainstwhichadistantrhythmicflashingstoodoutinsharpcontrast.
Ornithopter!
“Onesmall’thopter,”Stilgarsaid.
“Couldbeascout,”Paulsaid.“Doyouthinkthey’veseenus.”
“Atthisdistancewe’rejustawormonthesurface,”Stilgarsaid.Hemotionedwithhislefthand.“Off.Scatteronthesand.”
Thetroopbeganworkingdowntheworm’ssides,droppingoff,blendingwiththesandbeneaththeircloaks.PaulmarkedwhereChanidropped.Presently,onlyheandStilgarremained.
“Firstup,lastoff,”Paulsaid.
Stilgarnodded,droppeddownthesideonhishooks,leapedontothesand.
Paulwaiteduntilthemakerwassafelyclearofthescatterarea,thenreleasedhishooks.Thiswasthetrickymomentwithawormnotcompletelyexhausted.
Freedofitsgoadsandhooks,thebigwormbeganburrowingintothesand.
Paulranlightlybackalongitsbroadsurface,judgedhismomentcarefullyandleapedoff.
