Дюна

           ItoccurredtoPaulthenthathehadseenhisowndeadbodyalongcountlessreachesofthetimeweb,butneveroncehadheseenhismomentofdeath.

           HaveIbeendeniedaglimpseofthismanbecauseheistheonewhokillsme?Paulwondered.

           Thethoughtsentapangofforebodingthroughhim.HeforcedhisattentionawayfromFenring,lookednowattheremnantsofSardaukarmenandofficers,thebitternessontheirfacesandthedesperation.Hereandthereamongthem,facescaughtPaul’sattentionbriefly:Sardaukarofficersmeasuringthepreparationswithinthisroom,planningandschemingyetforawaytoturndefeatintovictory.

           Paul’sattentioncameatlasttoatallblondewoman,green-eyed,afaceofpatricianbeauty,classicinitshauteur,untouchedbytears,completelyundefeated.Withoutbeingtoldit,Paulknewher—PrincessRoyal,BeneGesserit-trained,afacethattimevisionhadshownhiminmanyaspects:Irulan.

           There’smykey,hethought.

           Thenhesawmovementintheclusteredpeople,afaceandfigureemerged—

           ThufirHawat,theseamedoldfeatureswithdarklystainedlips,thehunchedshoulders,thelookoffragileageabouthim.

           “There’sThufirHawat,”Paulsaid.“Lethimstandfree,Gurney.”

           “M’Lord,”Gurneysaid.

           “Lethimstandfree,”Paulrepeated.

           Gurneynodded.

           HawatshambledforwardasaFremenlancewasliftedandreplacedbehindhim.TherheumyeyespeeredatPaul,measuring,seeking.

           Paulsteppedforwardonepace,sensedthetense,waitingmovementoftheEmperorandhispeople.