Дюна
Book One: Dune
“LetussayIsuggestyoumaybehuman,”shesaid.“Steady!Iwarnyounottotryjerkingaway. Iamold,butmyhandcandrivethisneedleintoyourneckbeforeyouescapeme.”
“Whoareyou?”hewhispered.“Howdidyoutrickmymotherintoleavingmealonewithyou?AreyoufromtheHarkonnens?”
“TheHarkonnens?Blessus,no!Now,besilent.”Adryfingertouchedhisneckandhestilledtheinvoluntaryurgetoleapaway.
“Good,”shesaid.“Youpassthefirsttest. Now,here’sthewayoftherestofit:Ifyouwithdrawyourhandfromtheboxyoudie.Thisistheonlyrule. Keepyourhandintheboxandlive.Withdrawitanddie.”
Paultookadeepbreathtostillhistrembling. “IfIcalloutthere’llbeservantsonyouinsecondsandyou’lldie.”
“Servantswillnotpassyourmotherwhostandsguardoutsidethatdoor.
Dependonit.Yourmothersurvivedthistest.Nowit’syourturn.Behonored.
Weseldomadministerthistomen-children.”
CuriosityreducedPaul’sfeartoamanageablelevel.Heheardtruthintheoldwoman’svoice,nodenyingit. Ifhismotherstoodguardoutthere...ifthisweretrulyatest....Andwhateveritwas,heknewhimselfcaughtinit,trappedbythathandathisneck:thegomjabbar. HerecalledtheresponsefromtheLitanyagainstFearashismotherhadtaughthimoutoftheBeneGesseritrite.
“Imustnotfear.Fearisthemind-killer. Fearisthelittle-deaththatbringstotalobliteration.Iwillfacemyfear. Iwillpermitittopassovermeandthroughme.AndwhenithasgonepastIwillturntheinnereyetoseeitspath. Wherethefearhasgonetherewillbenothing.OnlyIwillremain.”
