Дюна
Book One: Dune
Itcouldonlybeonething,Jessicaknew,thefabledcrysknifeofArrakis,thebladethathadneverbeentakenofftheplanet,andwasknownonlybyrumorandwildgossip.
“It’sacrysknife,”shesaid.
“Sayitnotlightly,”Mapessaid.“Doyouknowitsmeaning?”
AndJessicathought:Therewasanedgetothatquestion.Here’sthereasonthisFremenhastakenservicewithme,toaskthatonequestion.Myanswercouldprecipitateviolenceor...what?Sheseeksananswerfromme:themeaningofaknife.She’scalledtheShadoutintheChakobsatongue.Knife,that’s“DeathMaker”inChakobsa.She’sgettingrestive.Imustanswernow.
Delayisasdangerousasthewronganswer.
Jessicasaid:“It’samaker—”
“Eighe-e-e-e-e-e!”Mapeswailed.Itwasasoundofbothgriefandelation.
Shetrembledsohardtheknifebladesentglitteringshardsofreflectionshootingaroundtheroom.
Jessicawaited,poised.Shehadintendedtosaytheknifewasamakerofdeathandthenaddtheancientword,buteverysensewarnedhernow,allthedeeptrainingofalertnessthatexposedmeaninginthemostcasualmuscletwitch.
Thekeywordwas...maker.
Maker?Maker.
Still,Mapesheldtheknifeasthoughreadytouseit.
Jessicasaid:“DidyouthinkthatI,knowingthemysteriesoftheGreatMother,wouldnotknowtheMaker?”
Mapesloweredtheknife.“MyLady,whenonehaslivedwithprophecyforsolong,themomentofrevelationisashock.
