Дюна
Book One: Dune
”Hebrokeoff,notingthesuddenintensewayshewaslookingathim.“Issomethingwrong?”
“Thewayyousay‘Harkonnen,’”shesaid.“EvenmyDuke’svoicedoesn’tcarrythatweightofvenomwhenheusesthehatedname.Ididn’tknowyouhadpersonalreasonstohatethem,Wellington.”
GreatMother!hethought.I’vearousedhersuspicions!NowImustuseeverytrickmyWannataughtme.There’sonlyonesolution:tellthetruthasfarasIcan.
Hesaid:“Youdidn’tknowthatmywife,myWanna....”Heshrugged,unabletospeakpastasuddenconstrictioninhisthroat.Then:“They....”Thewordswouldnotcomeout.Hefeltpanic,closedhiseyestightly,experiencingtheagonyinhischestandlittleelseuntilahandtouchedhisarmgently.
“Forgiveme,”Jessicasaid.“Ididnotmeantoopenanoldwound.”Andshethought:Thoseanimals!HiswifewasBeneGesserit—thesignsarealloverhim.Andit’sobvioustheHarkonnenskilledher.Here’sanotherpoorvictimboundtotheAtreidesbyacheremofhate.
“Iamsorry,”hesaid.“I’munabletotalkaboutit.”Heopenedhiseyes,givinghimselfuptotheinternalawarenessofgrief.That,atleast,wastruth.
Jessicastudiedhim,seeingtheup-angledcheeks,thedarksequinsofalmondeyes,thebuttercomplexion,andstringymustachehanginglikeacurvedframearoundpurpledlipsandnarrowchin.Thecreasesofhischeeksandforehead,shesaw,wereasmuchlinesofsorrowasofage.Adeepaffectionforhimcameoverher.
“Wellington,I’msorrywebroughtyouintothisdangerousplace,”shesaid.
