Дюна
Book One: Dune
“Youknowthat,myLady!”
Iknowitnow,Jessicathought.
ThecargohandlersleftwithoutintrudingontheGreatHall.
Mapescomposedherself,said:“TheuncleansedwhohaveseenacrysknifemaynotleaveArrakisalive.Neverforgetthat,myLady.You’vebeenentrustedwithacrysknife.”Shetookadeepbreath.“Nowthethingmusttakeitscourse.Itcannotbehurried.”Sheglancedatthestackedboxesandpiledgoodsaroundthem.“Andthere’sworkaplentytowhilethetimeforushere.”
Jessicahesitated.“Thethingmusttakeitscourse.”ThatwasaspecificcatchphrasefromtheMissionariaProtectiva’sstockofincantations—ThecomingoftheReverendMothertofreeyou.
ButI’mnotaReverendMother,Jessicathought.Andthen:GreatMother!
Theyplantedthatonehere!Thismustbeahideousplace!
Inmatter-of-facttones,Mapessaid:“What’llyoubewantingmetodofirst,myLady?”
InstinctwarnedJessicatomatchthatcasualtone.Shesaid:“ThepaintingoftheOldDukeoverthere,itmustbehungononesideofthedininghall.Thebull’sheadmustgoonthewalloppositethepainting.”
Mapescrossedtothebull’shead.“Whatagreatbeastitmusthavebeentocarrysuchahead,”shesaid.Shestooped.“I’llhavetobecleaningthisfirst,won’tI,myLady?”
“No.”
“Butthere’sdirtcakedonitshorns.”
“That’snotdirt,Mapes.That’sthebloodofourDuke’sfather.ThosehornsweresprayedwithatransparentfixativewithinhoursafterthisbeastkilledtheOldDuke.”
Mapesstoodup.“Ah,now!”shesaid.
