Дюна
Book Three: The Prophet
“Istherenewsofbattles?”SheheldherfaceexpressionlessthatJessicamightnotseethebetrayal—thatthiswasaquestionaboutPaulMuad’Dib.
“Newvictories,”Jessicasaid.“Rabbanhassentcautiousoverturesaboutatruce.Hismessengershavebeenreturnedwithouttheirwater.Rabbanhasevenlightenedtheburdensofthepeopleinsomeofthesinkvillages.Butheistoolate.Thepeopleknowhedoesitoutoffearofus.”
“ThusitgoesasMuad’Dibsaid,”Chanisaid.ShestaredatJessica,tryingtokeepherfearstoherself.Ihavespokenhisname,butshehasnotresponded.
Onecannotseeemotioninthatglazedstoneshecallsaface...butsheistoofrozen.Whyisshesostill?WhathashappenedtomyUsul?
“Iwishwewereinthesouth,”Jessicasaid.“Theoasesweresobeautifulwhenweleft.Doyounotlongforthedaywhenthewholelandmayblossomthus?”
“Thelandisbeautiful,true,”Chanisaid.“Butthereismuchgriefinit.”
“Griefisthepriceofvictory,”Jessicasaid.
Isshepreparingmeforgrief?Chaniaskedherself.Shesaid:“Therearesomanywomenwithoutmen.TherewasjealousywhenitwaslearnedthatI’dbeensummonednorth.”
“Isummonedyou,”Jessicasaid.
Chanifeltherhearthammering.Shewantedtoclapherhandstoherears,fearfulofwhattheymighthear.Still,shekepthervoiceeven:“ThemessagewassignedMuad’Dib.”
“Isigneditthusinthepresenceofhislieutenants,”Jessicasaid.“Itwasasubterfugeofnecessity.”AndJessicathought:Thisisabravewoman,myPaul’s.
