Дюна

           Themanhadlostoneofhismaskingcontactlenses,andtheeyestaredoutatotalbluesodarkastobealmostblack.

           ThesmallerofthepairelbowedhiswayastepnearertheEmperor,said:

           “Wecannotknowhowitwillgo.”Andthetallercompanion,handrestoredtoeye,addedinacoldvoice:“ButthisMuad‘Dibcannotknow,either.”

           ThewordsshockedtheEmperoroutofhisdaze.HecheckedthescornonhistonguebyavisibleeffortbecauseitdidnottakeaGuildnavigator’ssingle-

           mindedfocusonthemainchancetoseetheimmediatefutureoutonthatplain.

           Werethesetwosodependentupontheirfacultythattheyhadlosttheuseoftheireyesandtheirreason?hewondered.

           “ReverendMother,”hesaid,“wemustdeviseaplan.”

           Shepulledthehoodfromherface,methisgazewithanunblinkingstare.

           Thelookthatpassedbetweenthemcarriedcompleteunderstanding.Theyhadoneweaponleftandbothknewit:treachery.

           “SummonCountFenringfromhisquarters,”theReverendMothersaid.

           ThePadishahEmperornodded,wavedforoneofhisaidestoobeythatcommand.

           ***

           Hewaswarriorandmystic,ogreandsaint,thefoxandtheinnocent,chivalrous,ruthless,lessthanagod,morethanaman.Thereisnomeasuring

           Muad‘Dib’smotivesbyordinarystandards.Inthemomentofhistriumph,hesawthedeathpreparedforhim,yetheacceptedthetreachery.