Дюна
Book One: Dune
”
Shecaughtherbreath,stoppedtheimpulsetoreachouttohim.Hangingthekey—therewasfinalityinthataction.Butthiswasnotthetimeorplaceforcomforting.“Isawourbanneroverthehouseaswecamein,”shesaid.
Heglancedatthepaintingofhisfather.“Wherewereyougoingtohangthat?”
“Somewhereinhere.”
“No.”Thewordrangflatandfinal,tellinghershecouldusetrickerytopersuade,butopenargumentwasuseless.Still,shehadtotry,evenifthegestureservedonlytoremindherselfthatshewouldnottrickhim.
“MyLord,”shesaid,“ifyou’donly....”
“Theanswerremainsno.Iindulgeyoushamefullyinmostthings,notinthis.
I’vejustcomefromthedininghallwherethereare—”
“MyLord!Please.”
“Thechoiceisbetweenyourdigestionandmyancestraldignity,mydear,”hesaid.“Theywillhanginthedininghall.”
Shesighed.“Yes,myLord.”
“Youmayresumeyourcustomofdininginyourroomswheneverpossible.Ishallexpectyouatyourproperpositiononlyonformaloccasions.”
“Thankyou,myLord.”
“Anddon’tgoallcoldandformalonme!BethankfulthatInevermarriedyou,mydear.Thenit’dbeyourdutytojoinmeattableforeverymeal.”
Sheheldherfaceimmobile,nodded.
“Hawatalreadyhasourownpoisonsnooperoverthediningtable,”hesaid.
“There’saportableinyourroom.”
“Youanticipatedthis...disagreement,”shesaid.
“Mydear,Ithinkalsoofyourcomfort.I’veengagedservants.They’relocals,butHawathasclearedthem—they’reFremenall.
