Дюна
Book Three: The Prophet
”
“Asyoucommand,”Stilgarsaid,andreluctancewasheavyinhistoneasheturnedtoobey.
Communicationsmenhurriedintotheroomwiththeirequipment,began
settingupnearthemassivefireplace.TheFremenguardthataugmentedthesurvivingFedaykintookupstationsaroundtheroom.Therewasmutteringamongthem,muchdartingofsuspiciousglances.Thishadbeentoolongaplaceoftheenemyforthemtoaccepttheirpresenceinitcasually.
“Gurney,haveanescortbringmymotherandChani,”Paulsaid.“DoesChaniknowyetaboutourson?”
“Themessagewassent,m’Lord.”
“Arethemakersbeingtakenoutofthebasinyet?”
“Yes,m’Lord.Thestorm’salmostspent.”
“What’stheextentofthestormdamage?”Paulasked.
“Inthedirectpath—onthelandingfieldandacrossthespicestorageyardsoftheplain—extensivedamage,”Gurneysaid.“Asmuchfrombattleasfromthestorm.”
“Nothingmoneywon’trepair,Ipresume,”Paulsaid.
“Exceptforthelives,m’Lord,”Gurneysaid,andtherewasatoneofreproachinhisvoiceasthoughtosay:“WhendidanAtreidesworryfirstaboutthingswhenpeoplewereatstake?”
ButPaulcouldonlyfocushisattentionontheinnereyeandthegapsvisibletohiminthetime-wallthatstilllayacrosshispath.Througheachgapthejihadragedawaydownthecorridorsofthefuture.
Hesighed,crossedthehall,seeingachairagainstthewall.Thechairhadoncestoodinthedininghallandmightevenhaveheldhisownfather.Atthemoment,though,itwasonlyanobjecttoresthiswearinessandconcealitfromthemen.
