Дюна
Book Three: The Prophet
Themannerabouthimthathaddismissedthiscavernasabarbarianwarrenmeltedaway.
“Well,CaptainAramsham,”Paulsaid,“theHarkonnenswouldpaydearlytolearnwhatyounowknow.AndtheEmperor—whathewouldn’tgivetolearnanAtreidesstilllivesdespitehistreachery.”
Thecaptainglancedleftandrightatthetwomenremainingtohim.Paulcouldalmostseethethoughtsturningoverintheman’shead.Sardaukardidnotsubmit,buttheEmperorhadtolearnofthisthreat.
StillusingtheVoice,Paulsaid:“Submit,Captain.”
Themanatthecaptain’sleftleapedwithoutwarningtowardPaul,mettheflashingimpactofhisowncaptain’sknifeinhischest.Theattackerhitthefloorinasoddenheapwiththeknifestillinhim.
Thecaptainfacedhissoleremainingcompanion.“IdecidewhatbestservesHisMajesty,”hesaid.“Understood?”
TheotherSardaukar’sshouldersslumped.
“Dropyourweapon,”thecaptainsaid.
TheSardaukarobeyed.
ThecaptainreturnedhisattentiontoPaul.“Ihavekilledafriendforyou,”hesaid.“Letusalwaysrememberthat.”
“You’remyprisoners,”Paulsaid.“Yousubmittedtome.Whetheryouliveordieisofnoimportance.”HemotionedtohisguardtotakethetwoSardaukar,signaledthelieutenantwhohadsearchedtheprisoners.
Theguardmovedin,hustledtheSardaukaraway.
Paulbenttowardhislieutenant.
“Muad’Dib,”themansaid.“Ifailedyouin....”
“Thefailurewasmine,Korba,”Paulsaid.“Ishould’vewarnedyouwhattoseek.Inthefuture,whensearchingSardaukar,rememberthis.
