Дюна
Book Three: The Prophet
Paul’splanmustwork.Anythingelsewouldbethehighesttragedy.
Shestrodedowntheledge,passingStilgarwithoutaglance,steppeddownintothecrowd.AwaywasmadeforherassheheadedtowardPaul.Andsilencefollowedher.
Sheknewthemeaningofthesilence—theunspokenquestionsofthepeople,aweoftheReverendMother.
TheyoungmendrewbackfromPaulasshecameuptohim,andshefoundherselfmomentarilydismayedbythenewdeferencetheypaidhim.“Allmenbeneathyourpositioncovetyourstation,”wenttheBeneGesseritaxiom.Butshefoundnocovetousnessinthesefaces.TheywereheldatadistancebythereligiousfermentaroundPaul’sleadership.AndsherecalledanotherBeneGesseritsaying:“Prophetshaveawayofdyingbyviolence.”
Paullookedather.
“It’stime,”shesaid,andpassedthemessagecylindertohim.
OneofPaul’scompanions,bolderthantheothers,glancedacrossatStilgar,said:“Areyougoingtocallhimout,Maud’Dib?Now’sthetimeforsure.
They’llthinkyouacowardifyou—”
“Whodarescallmecoward?”Pauldemanded.Hishandflashedtohiscrysknifehilt.
Batedsilencecameoverthegroup,spreadingoutintothecrowd.
“There’sworktodo,”Paulsaidasthemandrewbackfromhim.Paulturnedaway,shoulderedthroughthecrowdtotheledge,leapedlightlyuptoitandfacedthepeople.
“Doit!”someoneshrieked.
Murmursandwhispersarosebehindtheshriek.
Paulwaitedforsilence.Itcameslowlyamidstscatteredshufflingsandcoughs.
