Дюна

           Andtheyokelhadnowayofknowinghefacedmoreweaponsthanaknifehere.

           Letusseeifyou’reproofagainstpoison!Feyd-Rauthathought.HesalutedPaulwiththeEmperor’sblade,said:“Meetyourdeath,fool.”

           “Shallwefight,cousin?”Paulasked.Andhecat-footedforward,eyesonthewaitingblade,hisbodycrouchedlowwithhisownmilk-whitecrysknifepointingoutasthoughanextensionofhisarm.

           Theycircledeachother,barefeetgratingonthefloor,watchingwitheyesintentfortheslightestopening.

           “Howbeautifullyyoudance,”Feyd-Rauthasaid.

           He’satalker,Paulthought.There’sanotherweakness.Hegrowsuneasyinthefaceofsilence.

           “Haveyoubeenshriven?”Feyd-Rauthaasked.

           Still,Paulcircledinsilence.

           AndtheoldReverendMother,watchingthefightfromthepressoftheEmperor’ssuite,feltherselftrembling.TheAtreidesyouthhadcalledtheHarkonnencousin.Itcouldonlymeanheknewtheancestrytheyshared,easytounderstandbecausehewastheKwisatzHaderach.Butthewordsforcedhertofocusontheonlythingthatmatteredtoherhere.

           ThiscouldbeamajorcatastrophefortheBeneGesseritbreedingscheme.

           ShehadseensomethingofwhatPaulhadseenhere,thatFeyd-Rauthamightkillbutnotbevictorious.Anotherthought,though,almostoverwhelmedher.

           Twoendproductsofthislongandcostlyprogramfacedeachotherinafighttothedeaththatmighteasilyclaimbothofthem.IfbothdiedherethatwouldleaveonlyFeyd-Rautha’sbastarddaughter,stillababy,anunknown,anunmeasuredfactor,andAlia,theabomination.