按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
r ovens or filing rough burrs off scrap metal。
The bustling activity around the sealed caves astonished him： Some workers trampled spice residue to extract fuel； others curded spice for fermentation。 Weavers at power looms used their own hair； the long fur of mutated rats； wisps of desert cotton； and even skin strips from wild creatures to make their durable fabric。 And of course schools taught the young Fremen desert skills； as well as ruthless bat techniques。
One morning Kynes awoke refreshed； perfectly fortable after spending the night on a mat on the hard floor。 Throughout much of his life； he had slept in the open on rough ground。 His body could find rest just about anywhere。 He breakfasted on dehydrated fruits and dry cakes the Fremen women had baked in thermal ovens。 The beginnings of a beard covered his face； a sandy stubble。
A young woman named Frieth brought him a serving tray with meticulously prepared spice coffee in an ornate pot。 During the entire ritual； she directed her deep blue eyes downward； as she had done every morning since Kynes's arrival at the sietch。 He hadn't thought anything of her cool； efficient attentions until someone had whispered to him； 〃She is the unmarried sister of Stilgar； whose life you saved against the Harkonnen dogs。〃
Frieth had fine features and smooth； tanned skin。 Her hair appeared long enough to flow to her waist； if ever she undid it from her water rings and let it fall。 Her manner was quiet but all…knowing； in the Fremen way； she rushed to fulfill every small wish Kynes bothered to express； often without his realizing it。 He might have noticed how beautiful she was； had he not been so intent on noticing everything else around him。
After he had sipped his pungent； cardamom…laced coffee down to the dregs； Kynes hauled out his electronic pad to jot down notes and ideas。 At a noise； he looked up to see wiry young Turok standing in the doorway。 〃I'm to take you anywhere you wish； Planetologist； so long as you remain within Red Wall Sietch。〃
Kynes nodded and smiled； disregarding the constraints of being a captive。 They did not rankle him。 It was understood that he would never leave the sietch alive unless the Fremen accepted him and decided to trust him pletely。 If he did join the munity； there could be no secrets between them； on the other hand； if the Fremen chose to execute him in the end； there would have been no point in keeping secrets from a dead man。
Previously Kynes had seen the tunnels； the food…storage chambers； the guarded water supplies； even the Huanui deathstills。 In fascination he had watched the family groups of desert…hardened men； each with his several wives； he had seen them pray to Shai…Hulud。 He'd begun to pile a mental sketch of this culture and the political and familial ties within the sietch； but it would take decades to unravel all the subtle relationships； all the nuances of obligations laid down upon their kinsmen many generations earlier。
〃I'd like to go to the top of the rock；〃 he said； remembering his duties as Imperial Planetologist。 〃If we could retrieve some of the equipment from my groundcar I presume you've kept it safe？ I'd like to establish a weather station here。 It's imperative that we collect climate data temperature variations； atmospheric humidity； and wind patterns from as many isolated spots as possible。〃
Turok looked at him； surprised and disbelieving。 Then he shrugged。 〃As you wish； Planetologist。〃 Knowing the conservative ways of the sietch elders； Turok was pessimistic about the fate of this enthusiastic but not terribly bright man。 What a futile effort it would be for Kynes to continue his vigorous work。 But if it kept him happy in his last days。。。
〃e；〃 Turok said。 〃Put on your stillsuit。〃
〃Oh； we'll only be out for a few minutes。〃
Turok scowled at him； looking stern and much older。 〃A breath of moisture is water wasted into the air。 We are not so rich we can afford to waste water。〃
Shrugging； Kynes pulled on his crinkling； slick…surfaced uniform and took the time to attach all the seals； though he did so clumsily。 Heaving a heavy sigh； Turok assisted him； explaining the most effective way to dress out the suit and adjust the fittings to optimize its efficiency。
〃You have bought a decent stillsuit。 It is of Fremen manufacture；〃 the young man observed。 〃In this at least you have chosen well。〃
Kynes followed Turok to the storage chamber where his groundcar had been kept。 The Fremen had stripped it of amenities； and his equipment lay in open boxes on the cave floor； inspected and cataloged。 No doubt the sietch inhabitants had been trying to determine how they could put these things to use。
They're still planning to kill me； Kynes thought。 Haven't they heard a thing I've said？ Oddly； the thought neither depressed nor frightened him。 He simply took the knowledge as a challenge。 He was not about to give up there was too much left to do。 He would have to make them understand。
Among the clutter he found his weather apparatus and tucked the ponents under his arms； but made no ment about what had been done to his possessions。 He knew Fremen had a munal mentality： Every item owned by an individual was owned by the entire munity。 Since he had spent so much of his life alone； relying only on himself and his abilities； he found it difficult to absorb such a mind…set。
Turok did not offer to carry any of the equipment； but led the way up steep steps that had been rough…hewn into the stone wall。 Kynes panted but did not plain。 Ahead of him the guide shifted aside numerous barricades； moisture baffles； and doorseals。 Turok flashed glances over his shoulder to make sure the Planetologist was keeping up； then increased his speed。
Finally they emerged from a cleft atop the rubble…strewn peaks。 The young Fremen leaned back in the shadow of the rocks； keeping himself cool； while Kynes stepped out into open sunlight。 All around them the stone was coppery brown with a few discolorations of lichen。 A good sign； he thought。 The advance footprints of biological systems。
As he stared out at the sweeping vista of the Great Basin； he saw dunes that were the grayish white and brown of newly deposed rock grains； as well as the buttery yellow of older； oxidized sand。
From the sandworms he'd seen； as well as the teeming sand plankton in the spice…rich sands； Kynes knew that Dune already had the basis for a plex ecosystem。 He was certain it would take only a few crucial nudges in the proper direction to make this dormant place blossom。
The Fremen people could do it。
〃Imperial man；〃 said Turok； stepping forward from the shade； 〃what is it you see when you stare out onto the desert like that？〃
Kynes answered without looking at him。 〃I see limitless possibilities。〃
IN A SEALED chamber deep in the sietch； wizened Heinar sat at the head of a stone table； glaring with his single eye。 Trying to remain apart from the debate； the sietch Naib watched the council elders shout at each other。
〃We know the man's loyalty；〃 said one old man； Jerath。 〃He works for the Imperium。 You've seen his dossier。 He's on Dune as a guest of the Harkonnens。〃 Jerath had a silver ring in his left earlobe； a treasure taken f