Дюна
Book One: Dune
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Paulnodded,hiseyesandawarenessfocusingonthisoddwomaninasacklikedressofbondsmanbrown.Shewaslookingnowatthethingclutchedinhishand.
“I’veheardofsuchlike,”shesaid.“Itwould’vekilledme,notso?”
Hehadtoswallowbeforehecouldspeak.“I...wasitstarget.”
“Butitwascomingforme.”
“Becauseyouweremoving.”Andhewondered:Whoisthiscreature?
“Thenyousavedmylife,”shesaid.
“Isavedbothourlives.”
“Seemslikeyoucould’veletithavemeandmadeyourownescape,”shesaid.
“Whoareyou?”heasked.
“TheShadoutMapes,housekeeper.”
Howdidyouknowwheretofindme?”
“Yourmothertoldme.Imetheratthestairstotheweirdingroomdownthehall.”Shepointedtoherright.“Yourfather’smenarestillwaiting.”
ThosewillbeHawat’smen,hethought.Wemustfindtheoperatorofthisthing.
“Gotomyfather’smen,”hesaid.“TellthemI’vecaughtahunter-seekerinthehouseandthey’retospreadoutandfindtheoperator.Tellthemtosealoffthehouseanditsgroundsimmediately.They’llknowhowtogoaboutit.Theoperator’ssuretobeastrangeramongus.”
Andhewondered:Coulditbethiscreature?Butheknewitwasn’t.Theseekerhadbeenundercontrolwhensheentered.
“BeforeIdoyourbidding,manling,”Mapessaid,“Imustcleansethewaybetweenus.You’veputawaterburdenonmethatI’mnotsureIcaretosupport.
ButweFremenpayourdebts—betheyblackdebtsorwhitedebts.Andit’sknowntousthatyou’veatraitorinyourmidst.
