Дюна
Book Three: The Prophet
Mindyou,Baron,mySardaukarwerealmostoverwhelmedbyaforcecomposedmostlyofwomen,children,andoldmen.
Thischildherewasincommandofoneoftheattackinggroups.”
“Yousee,YourMajesty!”theBaronsaid.“Youseehowtheyare!”
“Iallowedmyselftobecaptured,”thechildsaid.“Ididnotwanttofacemybrotherandhavetotellhimthathissonhadbeenkilled.”
“Onlyahandfulofourmengotaway,”theEmperorsaid.“Gotaway!Youhearthat?”
“We’dhavehadthem,too,”thechildsaid,“exceptfortheflames.”
“MySardaukarusedtheattitudinaljetsontheircarrierasflame-throwers,”theEmperorsaid.“Amoveofdesperationandtheonlythingthatgotthemawaywiththeirthreeprisoners.Markthat,mydearBaron:Sardaukarforcedtoretreatinconfusionfromwomenandchildrenandoldmen!”
“Wemustattackinforce,”theBaronrasped.“Wemustdestroyeverylastvestigeof—”
“Silence!”theEmperorroared.Hepushedhimselfforwardonhisthrone.
“Donotabusemyintelligenceanylonger.Youstandthereinyourfoolishinnocenceand—”
“Majesty,”theoldTruthsayersaid.
Hewavedhertosilence.“Yousayyoudon’tknowabouttheactivitywefound,northefightingqualitiesofthesesuperbpeople!”TheEmperorliftedhimselfhalfoffhisthrone.“Whatdoyoutakemefor,Baron?”
TheBarontooktwobackwardsteps,thinking:ItwasRabban.Hehasdonethistome.Rabbanhas....
“AndthisfakedisputewithDukeLeto,”theEmperorpurred,sinkingbackintohisthrone.“Howbeautifullyyoumaneuveredit.
