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Kynes yanked out the knife and rotated halfway to his left； sliding the knife into the side of a second Harkonnen soldier； who was just turning to face him。 The shield slowed the poisoned blade for a moment； but as the Harkonnen thrashed； Kynes drove the point home； deep into the soft flesh of the abdomen； again cutting upward。
Thus； two Harkonnens lay mortally wounded and writhing before anyone had made an outcry。 Now four of them were down； including those the Fremen had killed。 The remaining pair of Harkonnen bullies stared in shock at this turn of events； then howled at the brash boldness of the tall stranger。 They exchanged bat signals and spread apart； eyeing Kynes more than the Fremen； who stood ferocious and ready to fight with their fingernails if necessary。
Again the Fremen lunged against their attackers。 Again； they screamed； 〃Taqwa！〃
One of the two surviving Harkonnen soldiers thrust his sword at Kynes； but the Planetologist moved rapidly now； still angry and flushed with the blooding of his first two victims。 He reached upward； rippling through the shield； and neatly slit the attacker's throat。 An entrisseur。 The guard dropped his sword and grasped his neck in a futile attempt to hold his lifeblood inside。
The fifth Harkonnen crumpled to the ground。
As the two Fremen fighters turned their revenge upon the lone remaining enemy； Kynes bent over the seriously wounded desert youth and spoke to him。 〃Stay calm。 I will help you。〃
The young man had already sprayed copious amounts of blood into the gravelly dust； but Kynes had an emergency medpak on his belt。 He slapped a wound sealant on the ragged neck cut； then used hypovials with ready plasma and high…powered stimulants to keep the victim alive。 He felt the young man's pulse at the wrist。 A steady heartbeat。
Kynes saw the depth of the damage now and was astonished that the youth hadn't bled more。 Without medical attention； he would have died within minutes。 But still； Kynes was amazed the boy had survived this long。 This Fremen's blood coagulates with extreme efficiency。 Another fact to file away in his memory a survival adaptation to reduce moisture loss in the driest desert？
〃Eeeeah！〃
〃No！〃
Kynes looked up at the cries of pain and terror。 Off to one side； the Fremen had dug the surviving Harkonnen's eyes out of their sockets； using their blade tips。 Then they made slow work of flaying their victim alive； stripping away ribbons of pink skin； which they stored in sealed pouches at their hips。
Covered with blood； Kynes stood up； panting。 Seeing their viciousness now that the tables had been turned； he began to wonder if he'd done the right thing。 These Fremen were like wild animals and had worked themselves into a frenzy。 Would they attempt to kill him now； despite what he had done for them？ He was a plete stranger to these desperate young men。
He watched and waited； and when the youths had finished with their grisly torture； he met their eyes and cleared his throat before speaking in Imperial Galach。 〃My name is Pardot Kynes； the Imperial Planetologist assigned to Arrakis。〃
He looked down at his blood…smeared skin and decided not to extend a hand in greeting。 In their culture； they might misinterpret the gesture。 〃I'm very pleased to introduce myself。 I've always wanted to meet the Fremen。〃
It's easier to be terrified by an enemy you admire。
…THUFIR HAWAT； Mentat and Security mander to House Atreides
Hidden by the thick pines； Duncan Idaho knelt in the soft needles on the ground； feeling little warmth。 The chill night air deadened the resinous evergreen scent； but at least here he was sheltered from the razor breezes。 He had gone far enough from the cave that he could pause and catch his breath。 For just a moment。
He knew the Harkonnen hunters wouldn't rest； though。 They would be particularly incensed now that he'd killed one of their party。 Maybe； he thought； they might even enjoy the chase more。 Especially Rabban。
Duncan opened the medpak he'd stolen from the ambushed tracker and brought out a small package of newskin ointment； which he slathered over the incision on his shoulder； where it hardened to an organic bond。 Then he wolfed down the nutrition bar and stuffed the wrappings into his pockets。
Using the glow of his handlight； he turned to study the lasgun。 He'd never fired such a weapon before； but he had watched the guards and the hunters operate their rifles。 He cradled the weapon and fiddled with its mechanisms and controls。 Pointing the barrel upward； he attempted to understand what he was supposed to do。 He had to learn if he meant to fight。
With a sudden surge of power； a white…hot beam lanced out toward the upper boughs of the pine trees。 They burst into flames； crackling and snapping。 Smoldering clumps of evergreen needles fell around him like red…hot snow。
Yelping； he dropped the gun to the ground and scrambled backward。 But he snatched it up again before he could forget which bination of buttons he had pushed。 He had to remember and know how to use them。
The flames overhead flared like a bonfire beacon； exuding curls of sharp smoke。 With nothing to lose now； Duncan fired again； aiming this time； just to make sure he could use the lasgun to defend himself。 The cumbersome weapon was not built for a small boy； especially not with his throbbing shoulder and sore ribs； but he could use it。 He had to。
Knowing the Harkonnens would run toward the blaze； Duncan scampered out of the trees； searching for another place to hide。 Once again he made for higher ground； keeping to the ridgeline so he could continue observing the hunting party's scattered glowglobes。 He knew exactly where the men were； exactly how close。
But how can they be so stupid； he wondered； making themselves so obvious？ Overconfidence。。。was that their flaw？ If so； it might help him。 The Harkonnens expected him to play their game； then cower and die when he was supposed to。 Duncan would just have to disappoint them。
Maybe this time we'll play my game instead。
As he dashed along； he avoided patches of snow and kept away from noisy underbrush。 However； Duncan's focus on the clustered pursuers distracted him from seeing his real danger。 He heard a snap of dried twigs behind and above him； the rustle of bushes； then a clicking of claws on bare rock acpanied by heavy； hoarse panting。
This was no Harkonnen hunter at all…but another forest predator that smelled his blood。
Skidding to a halt； Duncan looked up； searching for gleaming eyes in the shadows。 But he didn't turn to the stark outcropping over his head until he heard a wet…sounding growl。 In the starlight； he discerned the muscular； crouching form of a wild gaze hound； its back fur bristling like quills； its lips curled to expose flesh…tearing fangs。 Its huge； huge eyes focused on its prey： a young boy with tender skin。
Duncan scrambled backward and fired off a shot with the lasgun。 Poorly aimed； the beam came nowhere close to the stalking creature； but powdered rock spewed from the outcropping below the gaze hound。 The predator yelped and snarled； backing off。 Duncan fired again； this time sizzling a blackened hole through its right haunch。 With a brassy roar；