Дюна
Book One: Dune
Theysayyoucan’tdrillinthedesert—stormsandsandtidesdestroyequipmentfasterthanitcanbeinstalled,ifthewormsdon’tgetyoufirst.They’veneverfoundwatertracesthere,anyway.
Butthemystery,Wellington,therealmysteryisthewellsthat’vebeendrilleduphereinthesinksandbasins.Haveyoureadaboutthose?”
“Firstatrickle,thennothing,”hesaid.
“But,Wellington,that’sthemystery.Thewaterwasthere.Itdriesup.Andneveragainistherewater.Yetanotherholenearbyproducesthesameresult:atricklethatstops.Hasnooneeverbeencuriousaboutthis?”
“Itiscurious,”hesaid.“Yoususpectsomelivingagency?Wouldn’tthathaveshownincoresamples?”
“Whatwouldhaveshown?Alienplantmatter...oranimal?Whocouldrecognizeit?”Sheturnedbacktotheslope.“Thewaterisstopped.Somethingplugsit.That’smysuspicion.”
“Perhapsthereason’sknown,”hesaid.“TheHarkonnenssealedoffmanysourcesofinformationaboutArrakis.Perhapstherewasreasontosuppressthis.”
“Whatreason?”sheasked.“Andthenthere’stheatmosphericmoisture.
Littleenoughofit,certainly,butthere’ssome.It’sthemajorsourceofwaterhere,caughtinwindtrapsandprecipitators.Wheredoesthatcomefrom?”
“Thepolarcaps?”
“Coldairtakesuplittlemoisture,Wellington.TherearethingsherebehindtheHarkonnenveilthatbearcloseinvestigation,andnotallofthosethingsaredirectlyinvolvedwiththespice.”
“WeareindeedbehindtheHarkonnenveil,”hesaid.“Perhapswe’ll....
