Дюна

           Hefeintedrightandunder,andtheywerepressedagainsteachother,knifehandsgripped,straining.

           Paul,cautiousofFeyd-Rautha’srighthipwherehesuspectedapoisonflip-dart,forcedtheturntotheright.Healmostfailedtoseetheneedlepointflickoutbeneaththebeltline.AshiftandagivinginFeyd-Rautha’smotionwarnedhim.

           ThetinypointmissedPaul’sfleshbythebarestfraction.

           Onthelefthip!

           Treacherywithintreacherywithintreachery,Paulremindedhimself.UsingBeneGesserit-trainedmuscles,hesaggedtocatchareflexinFeyd-Rautha,butthenecessityofavoidingthetinypointjuttingfromhisopponent’shipthrewPauloffjustenoughthathemissedhisfootingandfoundhimselfthrownhardtothefloor,Feyd-Rauthaontop.

           “Youseeitthereonmyhip?”Feyd-Rauthawhispered.“Yourdeath,fool.”

           Andhebegantwistinghimselfaround,forcingthepoisonedneedlecloserandcloser.“It’llstopyourmusclesandmyknifewillfinishyou.There’llbeneveratracelefttodetect!”

           Paulstrained,hearingthesilentscreamsinhismind,hiscell-stampedancestorsdemandingthatheusethesecretwordtoslowFeyd-Rautha,tosavehimself.

           “Iwillnotsayit!”Paulgasped.

           Feyd-Rauthagapedathim,caughtinthemerestfractionofhesitation.ItwasenoughforPaultofindtheweaknessofbalanceinoneofhisopponent’slegmuscles,andtheirpositionswerereversed.Feyd-Rauthalaypartlyunderneathwithrighthiphigh,unabletoturnbecauseofthetinyneedlepointcaughtagainstthefloorbeneathhim.