Дюна
Book One: Dune
Iknowasadoctortherewasnophysicalreasonagainstit.WastheresomeBeneGesseritreason?Wasshe,perhaps,instructedtoserveadifferentpurpose?
Whatcouldithavebeen?Shelovedme,certainly.
Forthefirsttime,hewascaughtupinthethoughtthathemightbepartofapatternmoreinvolutedandcomplicatedthanhismindcouldgrasp.
Jessicastoppedbesidehim,said:“Whatdeliciousabandoninthesleepofachild.”
Hespokemechanically:“Ifonlyadultscouldrelaxlikethat.”
“Yes.”
“Wheredoweloseit?”hemurmured.
Sheglancedathim,catchingtheoddtone,buthermindwasstillonPaul,thinkingofthenewrigorsinhistraininghere,thinkingofthedifferencesinhislifenow—soverydifferentfromthelifetheyoncehadplannedforhim.
“Wedo,indeed,losesomething,”shesaid.
Sheglancedouttotherightataslopehumpedwithawind-troubledgray-greenofbushes—dustyleavesanddryclawbranches.Thetoo-darkskyhungovertheslopelikeablot,andthemilkylightoftheArrakeensungavethesceneasilvercast—lightlikethecrysknifeconcealedinherbodice.
“Thesky’ssodark,”shesaid.
“That’spartlythelackofmoisture,”hesaid.
“Water!”shesnapped.“Everywhereyouturnhere,you’reinvolvedwiththelackofwater!”
“It’sthepreciousmysteryofArrakis,”hesaid.
“Whyistheresolittleofit?There’svolcanicrockhere.There’readozenpowersourcesIcouldname.There’spolarice.
