Дюна
Book One: Dune
Hespokequicklybecauseherewastruthandachangeofsubject:“Wouldyouthinkitboldofme...Jessica,ifIaskedapersonalquestion?”
Shepressedagainstthewindowledgeinanunexplainablepangofdisquiet.
“Ofcoursenot.You’re...myfriend.”
“Whyhaven’tyoumadetheDukemarryyou?”
Shewhirled,headup,glaring.“Madehimmarryme?But—”
“Ishouldnothaveasked,”hesaid.
“No.”Sheshrugged.“There’sgoodpoliticalreason—aslongasmyDukeremainsunmarriedsomeoftheGreatHousescanstillhopeforalliance.And....”
Shesighed.“...motivatingpeople,forcingthemtoyourwill,givesyouacynicalattitudetowardhumanity.Itdegradeseverythingittouches.IfImadehimdo...this,thenitwouldnotbehisdoing.”
“It’sathingmyWannamighthavesaid,”hemurmured.Andthis,too,wastruth.Heputahandtohismouth,swallowingconvulsively.Hehadneverbeenclosertospeakingout,confessinghissecretrole.
Jessicaspoke,shatteringthemoment.“Besides,Wellington,theDukeisreallytwomen.OneofthemIloveverymuch.He’scharming,witty,considerate...tender—everythingawomancoulddesire.Buttheothermanis
...cold,callous,demanding,selfish—asharshandcruelasawinterwind.That’sthemanshapedbythefather.”Herfacecontorted.“IfonlythatoldmanhaddiedwhenmyDukewasborn!”
Inthesilencethatcamebetweenthem,abreezefromaventilatorcouldbeheardfingeringtheblinds.
