Дюна
Book One: Dune
SheturneditandPaulsawthatonesidewasopen—blackandoddlyfrightening.Nolightpenetratedthatopenblackness.
“Putyourrighthandinthebox,”shesaid.
FearshotthroughPaul.Hestartedtobackaway,buttheoldwomansaid:“Isthishowyouobeyyourmother?”
Helookedupintobird-brighteyes.
Slowly,feelingthecompulsionsandunabletoinhibitthem,Paulputhishandintothebox. Hefeltfirstasenseofcoldastheblacknessclosedaroundhishand,thenslickmetalagainsthisfingersandapricklingasthoughhishandwereasleep.
Apredatorylookfilledtheoldwoman’sfeatures. SheliftedherrighthandawayfromtheboxandpoisedthehandclosetothesideofPaul’sneck. Hesawaglintofmetalthereandstartedtoturntowardit.
“Stop!”shesnapped.
UsingtheVoiceagain!Heswunghisattentionbacktoherface.
“Iholdatyourneckthegomjabbar,”shesaid.“Thegomjabbar,thehigh-handedenemy. It’saneedlewithadropofpoisononitstip.Ah-ah!Don’tpullawayoryou’llfeelthatpoison.”
Paultriedtoswallowinadrythroat.Hecouldnottakehisattentionfromtheseamedoldface,theglisteningeyes,thepalegumsaroundsilverymetalteeththatflashedasshespoke.
“Aduke’ssonmustknowaboutpoisons,”shesaid.“It’sthewayofourtimes,eh?Musky,tobepoisonedinyourdrink.Aumas,tobepoisonedinyourfood. Thequickonesandtheslowonesandtheonesinbetween. Here’sanewoneforyou:thegomjabbar.Itkillsonlyanimals.”
PrideovercamePaul’sfear. “Youdaresuggestaduke’ssonisananimal?”hedemanded.
