Дюна
Book Three: The Prophet
Isshesomethingspecialtoyou?Apetperhaps?Willshedeservemyspecialattentions?”
Paulremainedsilent,probingwithhisinnersenses,examiningthebloodfromthewound,findingatraceofsoporificfromtheEmperor’sblade.Herealignedhisownmetabolismtomatchthisthreatandchangethemoleculesofthesoporific,buthefeltathrillofdoubt.They’dbeenpreparedwithsoporificonablade.Asoporific.Nothingtoalertapoisonsnooper,butstrongenoughtoslowthemusclesittouched.Hisenemieshadtheirownplanswithinplans,theirownstackedtreacheries.
AgainFeyd-Rauthaleaped,stabbing.
Paul,thesmilefrozenonhisface,feintedwithslownessasthoughinhibitedbythedrugandatthelastinstantdodgedtomeetthedown-flashingarmonthecrysknife’spoint.
Feyd-Rauthaduckedsidewaysandwasoutandaway,hisbladeshiftedtohislefthand,andthemeasureofhimthatonlyaslightpalenessofjawbetrayedtheacidpainwherePaulhadcuthim.
Lethimknowhisownmomentofdoubt,Paulthought.Lethimsuspectpoison.
“Treachery!”Feyd-Rauthashouted.“He’spoisonedme!Idofeelpoisoninmyarm!”
Pauldroppedhiscloakofsilence,said:“OnlyalittleacidtocounterthesoporificontheEmperor’sblade.”
Feyd-RauthamatchedPaul’scoldsmile,liftedbladeinlefthandforamocksalute.Hiseyesglaredragebehindtheknife.
Paulshiftedhiscrysknifetohislefthand,matchinghisopponent.Again,theycircled,probing.
Feyd-Rauthabeganclosingthespacebetweenthem,edgingin,knifeheldhigh,angershowingitselfinsquintofeyeandsetofjaw.
