Дюна
Book Three: The Prophet
Voicessoundedfromtherightofthechamber,echoingoutofahighpassage:“Makeway!MakewayfortheRoyalPerson!”
ThePadishahEmperorShaddamIVcameoutofthepassageintotheaudiencechamberfollowedbyhissuite.Hestoodwaitingwhilehisthronewasbrought,ignoringtheBaron,seeminglyignoringeverypersonintheroom.
TheBaronfoundthathecouldnotignoretheRoyalPerson,andstudiedtheEmperorforasign,anycluetothepurposeofthisaudience.TheEmperorstoodpoised,waiting—aslim,elegantfigureinagraySardaukaruniformwithsilverandgoldtrim.HisthinfaceandcoldeyesremindedtheBaronoftheDukeLetolongdead.Therewasthatsamelookofthepredatorybird.ButtheEmperor’shairwasred,notblack,andmostofthathairwasconcealedbyaBurseg’sebonhelmetwiththeImperialcrestingolduponitscrown.
Pagesbroughtthethrone.ItwasamassivechaircarvedfromasinglepieceofHagalquartz-blue-greentranslucencyshotthroughwithstreaksofyellowfire.
TheyplaceditonthedaisandtheEmperormounted,seatedhimself.
AnoldwomaninablackabarobewithhooddrawndownoverherforeheaddetachedherselffromtheEmperor’ssuite,tookupstationbehindthethrone,onescrawnyhandrestingonthequartzback.Herfacepeeredoutofthehoodlikeawitchcaricature—sunkencheeksandeyes,anoverlongnose,skinmottledandwithprotrudingveins.
TheBaronstilledhistremblingatsightofher.ThepresenceoftheReverendMotherGaiusHelenMohiam,theEmperor’sTruthsayer,betrayedtheimportanceofthisaudience.
