Дюна
Book Three: The Prophet
“Seeyourtraitor’sneedle?DidyouthinkthatIwho’vegivenmylifetoserviceoftheAtreideswouldgivethemlessnow?”
Paulstaggeredastheoldmansaggedinhisarms,feltthedeaththere,theutterflaccidity.Gently,PaulloweredHawattothefloor,straightenedandsignedforguardsmentocarrythebodyaway.
Silenceheldthehallwhilehiscommandwasobeyed.
AlookofdeadlywaitingheldtheEmperor’sfacenow.Eyesthathadneveradmittedfearadmitteditatlast.
“Majesty,”Paulsaid,andnotedthejerkofsurprisedattentioninthetall
PrincessRoyal.ThewordshadbeenutteredwiththeBeneGesseritcontrolledatonals,carryinginiteveryshadeofcontemptandscornthatPaulcouldputthere.
Bene-Gesserittrainedindeed,Paulthought.
TheEmperorclearedhisthroat,said:“Perhapsmyrespectedkinsmanbelieveshehasthingsallhisownwaynow.Nothingcouldbemoreremotefromfact.YouhaveviolatedtheConvention,usedatomicsagainst—”
“Iusedatomicsagainstanaturalfeatureofthedesert,”Paulsaid.“ItwasinmywayandIwasinahurrytogettoyou,Majesty,toaskyourexplanationforsomeofyourstrangeactivities.”
“There’samassedarmadaoftheGreatHousesinspaceoverArrakisrightnow,”theEmperorsaid.“I’vebuttosaythewordandthey’ll—”
“Oh,yes,”Paulsaid,“Ialmostforgotaboutthem.”HesearchedthroughtheEmperor’ssuiteuntilhesawthefacesofthetwoGuildsmen,spokeasidetoGurney.“ArethosetheGuildagents,Gurney,thetwofatonesdressedingrayoverthere?”
“Yes,m’Lord.
