Дюна
Book Three: The Prophet
“Thiswasmyfather’sducalsignet,”hesaid.“IsworenevertowearitagainuntilIwasreadytoleadmytroopsoverallofArrakisandclaimitasmyrightfulfief.”Heputtheringonhisfinger,clenchedhisfist.
Utterstillnessgrippedthecavern.
“Whoruleshere?”Paulasked.Heraisedhisfist.“Irulehere!IruleoneverysquareinchofArrakis!ThisismyducalfiefwhethertheEmperorsaysyeaornay!Hegaveittomyfatheranditcomestomethroughmyfather!”
Paulliftedhimselfontohistoes,settledbacktohisheels.Hestudiedthecrowd,feelingtheirtemper.
Almost,hethought.
“TherearemenherewhowillholdpositionsofimportanceonArrakiswhenIclaimthoseImperialrightswhicharemine,”Paulsaid.“Stilgarisoneofthosemen.NotbecauseIwishtobribehim!Notoutofgratitude,thoughI’moneofmanyherewhoowehimlifeforlife.No!Butbecausehe’swiseandstrong.
Becausehegovernsthistroopbyhisownintelligenceandnotjustbyrules.Doyouthinkmestupid?DoyouthinkI’llcutoffmyrightarmandleaveitbloodyonthefloorofthiscavernjusttoprovideyouwithacircus?”
Paulsweptahardgazeacrossthethrong.“WhoisthereheretosayI’mnottherightfulruleronArrakis?MustIproveitbyleavingeveryFrementribeintheergwithoutaleader?”
BesidePaul,Stilgarstirred,lookedathimquestioningly.
“WillIsubtractfromourstrengthwhenweneeditmost?”Paulasked.
