THE NEXT DAY, a calm and sunny morning, Leto stood next to Rhombur at an open window, admiring the quays at the base of the promontory. The two of them descended the narrow cliffside path and staircase, holding on to rails and vaulting weathered steps, avoiding the slippery moss and the white encrustations of salty spray. "You must live with the consequences, and be damned by them." Your decision alone, Paulus Atreides." Her voice was frighteningly cold. "Still it was your own decision, despite my warnings and despite my advice. If you've never had paradan fresh from the sea, you're in for a taste treat.though the fruit's a bit salty for me." "If you want one, just reach over the side and take it. Looking overboard, Rhombur saw rafts of leathery-leafed seaweed and round gourdlike fruits that held up the plants like air bladders. Unsettled, Leto crept away, his question forgotten, without waiting to see how soon they extinguished the lights. "See those crannies and tiny caves? That's where you'll find the coral gems." "Look at this," he said, letting his friend view the screen. As the mariner assistants cast off the lines, one asked, "You can handle this yourself, m'Lord?"Īfter the coracle was secured on its anchor cord, Leto pointed a scanner overboard to map out the contours of the reefs below. An Atreides burgee flew from the stern, snapping in the breeze. "Is your wife's leg better, Jerrik? Did you finish the roof on your smoke shed, Dom?"Īfter all preparations were completed, he and Rhombur boarded the wickerwood coracle. Rhombur watched Leto treat these people as friends while they loaded the gear. Servants packed them a lunch while three mariner assistants checked all the onboard systems in preparation for a day-long voyage.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |