Дюна
Book Three: The Prophet
”
“Mad?”
“Hispeoplescreamhisnameastheyleapintobattle.Thewomenthrowtheirbabiesatusandhurlthemselvesontoourknivestoopenawedgefortheirmentoattackus.Theyhaveno...no...decency!”
“Asbadasthat,”theEmperormurmured,andhistoneofderisiondidnotescapetheBaron.“Tellme,mydearBaron,haveyouinvestigatedthesouthernpolarregionsofArrakis?”
TheBaronstaredupattheEmperor,shockedbythechangeofsubject.“But
...well,youknow,YourMajesty,theentireregionisuninhabitable,opentowindandworm.There’snotevenanyspiceinthoselatitudes.”
“You’vehadnoreportsfromspicelightersthatpatchesofgreeneryappearthere?”
“There’vealwaysbeensuchreports.Somewereinvestigated—longago.Afewplantswereseen.Many’thopterswerelost.Muchtoocostly,YourMajesty.
It’saplacewheremencannotsurviveforlong.”
“So,”theEmperorsaid.Hesnappedhisfingersandadooropenedathisleftbehindthethrone.ThroughthedoorcametwoSardaukarherdingagirl-childwhoappearedtobeaboutfouryearsold.Sheworeablackaba,thehoodthrownbacktorevealtheattachmentsofastillsuithangingfreeatherthroat.HereyeswereFremenblue,staringoutofasoft,roundface.SheappearedcompletelyunafraidandtherewasalooktoherstarethatmadetheBaronfeeluneasyfornoreasonhecouldexplain.
EventheoldBeneGesseritTruthsayerdrewbackasthechildpassedandmadeawardingsigninherdirection.Theoldwitchobviouslywasshakenbythechild’spresence.
