Chapter 28 Chapter Six

"So you're the great Gurney Halleck," said the man. Halleck stood, watching the smuggler behind a metal desk across from the circular office.The man was dressed in Fremenian robes and had light blue eyes that suggested he often ate alien food.The office is equipped with the same main control center device as the aerial reconnaissance aircraft - along the 30-degree curved wall, communication equipment, TV screens, remote bombing and shooting joint control devices, and desks are installed to form a Protective Wall - A portion of the remaining camber. "I am Steben Took, son of Ace Took," said the smuggler.

"Then you're the one I should thank for our help," Halleck said. "Ha... thanks," said the smuggler, "please sit down." A boat-shaped chair protruded from the wall next to the screen, and Halleck sat on it, sighing, tired.From a black plane next to the smuggler, he could see a reflection of himself, glaring at the tired look on his uneven face and the purple grape-colored scar that ran across his upper and lower jaw. Halleck looked away from his projection and stared at Tucker.He saw family resemblances in the smugglers—father's hulking figure, hanging eyebrows, slate-like face and nose.

"Your people tell me your father is dead, killed by the Harkonnen," said Halleck. "He was killed either by the Harkonnen or by a traitor among your people," Took said. Anger overcame some of Halleck's fatigue, and he straightened up and said, "Can you name the traitor?" "We can't be sure yet." "Safie Hawat suspected it was Lady Jessica." "Ah... that Bi-Gist witch... maybe. But Hawat is now Harkonnen's captive." "I've heard," Halleck said, taking a deep breath, "that there seems to be more killing ahead of us."

"We're going to do things that don't draw attention to us," Tucker said. Halleck hardened: "But..." "You and the people we saved, you are welcome to take refuge among us," Tucker said, "It's good that you say gratitude. Pay us back what you owe, and we will always make good use of good people. But, If you make the slightest move against Harkonnen, we will get rid of you." "They killed your father, man!" "Perhaps. If so, I will tell you that my father's answer to those who act without thinking is: 'The stone is heavy and the sand is heavy, but the anger of a fool is heavier than two Those are heavier.'”

"You mean take no action," Halleck sneered. "You didn't hear me say that, I just said that I would maintain our union with Gilder. Gilder asked us to proceed with caution. There are other ways to destroy an enemy." "what……" "Ah! indeed, if you try to find the witch, do so yourself. But I warn you that you may be too late. . . . At any rate, we suspect she is the one you are looking for." "Hawat rarely makes mistakes." "I let him fall into the hands of the Harkonnen." "You think he's a traitor?" Tucker shrugged: "This is a technical problem. We think the witch is dead, at least the Harkonnen people believe it."

"You seem to know a lot about the Harkonnen." "Hints and suggestions...rumours and hunches." "There are seventy-four of us," said Halleck, "and if you really want us to join you, you must believe our Duke is dead." "His body has been seen." "That boy too...Master Paul?" Halleck suppressed the sadness in his heart, feeling something choked in his throat. "According to the latest information we have, he and his mother disappeared in a desert storm and not even their bones were found." "Then, that witch is dead too...all dead."

Tucker nodded: "So they say that Rabin the Beast will once again ascend the throne of power on the dunes." "Count Rabin of Rangeville?" "yes." It took Halleck a moment to suppress the surging, almost uncontrollable anger.He gasped and said in a rough voice: "I have a grudge against Rabin, he owes my family a debt of life..." He touched the scar on his face: "...this debt..." "Blood feuds shouldn't be risked prematurely," Tucker said.He frowned, watching the movement of the muscles in Halleck's face, seeing his lidded eyes suddenly widen.

"I know...I know..." Halleck took a deep breath. "By cooperating with us, you and your people can find the time to leave Arrakis, there are many places..." "I release my people from any contract with me. They can choose for themselves. I will stay here with Rabin..." "From your attitude, I'm sure we won't let you stay." Halleck glared at the smuggler: "You doubt my words?" "no no……" "You rescued me from the Harkonnen, and I have no reason to be loyal to Duke Ledo. I will remain in Arrakis...with you...or with the Fremen."

"Whether an idea is spoken or not, it is a real thing and has power," "You might find among the Fremen that the lifeline is too short," Tucker said. Halleck closed his eyes, tiredness overpowering him. "Where is the master who led us through the desert and the ditches?" he murmured. "Take your time, your day of vengeance will come," said Tucker. "Speed ​​is Satan's tool to cool down your sorrows... We have a cure for it. There are three things that heal the heart--water, Green grass and pretty women." Halleck opened his eyes. "I'd rather have Rabin. Harkonen's blood is running at my feet," he stared at Tucker. "You think that day will come?"

"I have nothing to do with whether you can see tomorrow, Gurney Halleck, I can only help you see today." "Then, I will accept your help. Until the day you tell me to avenge your father and all the others..." "Listen to me, brave fighter," said Tucker.He leaned forward on the desk.His shoulders were level with his ears, his eyes were wide open, and his face suddenly became like a weathered rock. "My father's water, I'll buy it myself, with my own knife." Halleck looked at Tucker.In that moment, the smuggler reminded him of Duke Ledo: a leading figure, courageous, secure in his position and in his actions.He was like a duke...before he came to Arrakis.

"Would you like my sword to accompany yours?" Halleck asked. Tucker sat back, relaxed, and looked at Halleck quietly. "Do you see me as a fighter?" Halleck asked. "You are the only officer of the Duke's who escaped," Took said. "Your enemy is very strong, but you fought him... You defeated him as we defeated Arrakis." "Ok?" "By tolerance we live here, Gurney Halleck," said Tucker. "Arrakis is our enemy." "One enemy at a time, isn't it?" "That's it." "Is that the way the Fremen see things?" "maybe." "You say I might find it too hard to live with the Fremen. They live in the desert, out in the open. Is that why?" "Who knows where they live? For us, the Central Highlands is an uninhabited area. But, I'd rather talk about..." "I've been told that the Gildians rarely send decaying spice-carriers over the desert," said Halleck, "but there are rumors that you can see bits and pieces of green woods there or here, if you know where to go." If you look." "Rumor!" Tucker sneered, "now you have to choose between me and the Fremen? We have security, we have camps dug out of the rock, basins in which we hide. We live civilized life, and the Fremen are a few shabby, loosely dressed groups that we use as gatherers of decaying spices." "But they can kill the Harkonnen." "You want to know the result? Even now, they're being hunted like animals—with lasguns, because they're not shielded. They're being wiped out. Why? Because they killed the Harkonnen." "Are they killing the Harkonnen?" Halleck asked. "What do you mean?" "Haven't you heard that the Sadokars are with the Harkonnens?" "There are more and more rumours." "But an organized massacre—that's not like the Harkonnen. Massacres are a waste." "I believe what I've seen," Tucker said, "make your choice, fighter. I'm still a Fremen, and I'll give you refuge, give you a chance, suck what we both need Blood. Please believe this, the Fremen will give you only a life of being hunted down." Halleck hesitated, sensing the cleverness and sympathy in Tork's words, but racking his brains he could find no reason why he could explain it. "Trust in your own abilities," Tucker said. "Whose decision will save your troops from a fight? Your decision. Decide." "Must be," said Halleck, "the duke and his son are dead?" "The Harkonnen believe it. Regarding this matter, I tend to trust the Harkonnen." A smirk appeared on Touk's lips, "This is the only time I believe them." "It must be so, then," said Halleck again.He stretched out his right hand, in a traditional posture, with the palm up and the thumb stacked on top: "I would like to serve you." "I accept." "Do you want me to convince my people?" "You let them make their own decisions?" "They've come this far with me, but most of them were born in Kaladan, and Arrakis is not what they originally thought. Here they lost everything except their lives. I'd rather have them now Make a decision." "There's no time for your stuttering now," Tucker said. "They've come this far with you." "You need them, don't you?" "We always need experienced fighters ... in times like these, more than ever." "You have accepted my service, do you want me to persuade them?" "I think they're still with you, Gurney Halleck." "You hope so." "I really hope so." "Then, at this point, I can decide for myself." "it's up to you." Halleck pushed himself up from his chair, feeling that even that small effort would take a good deal of the energy he had conserved. "Because right now, I want to make sure they get shelter and peace," he said. "Consult with my quartermaster," said Tucker, "his name is Driss. Tell him I hope you will be well received. I'll see you in person in a little while, and I'm off to take care of the Decay Spice Unload thing." "Good luck with you!" said Halleck. "Good luck!" Tucker said. "The times of turmoil are great times for us to do business." Halleck nodded, heard a faint rustle, felt the air move.An airlock door behind him was opened, and he turned around, slipped through that door, and was outside the office. He found himself in a hall where he and his men were led by Took's lieutenant. It's a long, rather narrow place, carved out of the rock.The smooth surface indicates that burning cutters were used during the excavation.The ceiling extends in the distance, high enough to maintain a natural support to the cut face of the rock.The air is smooth inside, and weapon racks and weapon cabinets line the walls. Halleck had an air of pride, noticing that those of his men could stand as long as they could, without feeling tired or defeated.The smuggler's doctor went among them, healing the wounded.The scattered boxes were collected and placed in a place on the right, where each wounded was tended by an Atrez. Halleck notes that the training of the Atrez—"We care about our own people!"—unites them like a core of natural rock. One of his officers took a step forward and drew Halleck's 9-string from the case.The man saluted him and said, "Your Excellency, the doctors here say that there is no hope for Ma Tai. They have no bones and organ reserves here, only the medicines prepared by the outpost. They say Ma Tai will not last long, he I have a request for you." "What request?" The officer sent the piano forward. "Matai wants to listen to a song, and let him go with peace of mind, sir. He said, you know which song it is, and he often asks you to sing that song." The officer choked up and said, "It's the song called The song "My Woman." "I see." Halleck took the piano, and popped a multi-tool from its catch on the fingerboard.He pulled a string from the instrument and realized that someone had already tuned it.There was a burning flame in his eyes, but he pushed the anger out of his chest and walked forward slowly, bouncing up nonchalantly, forcing a smile. A few of his soldiers and smuggler's medics hunched over the glove box, and as Halleck approached someone began to sing softly, with that long-familiar ease, out of tune with the blows Voice. My woman stands by the window, the glass reflects the curve of her body, her arms are raised... bent... crossed and hugged on her chest, under the reflection of the setting sun, she is red and golden. come to me... Come to me, stretch out the warm arms of your lover, for me... For me, stretch out the warm arms of your lover. The singer stopped singing, stretched out a bandaged hand, and closed the eyelids of the man lying on the glove box. Harleigh plucked the last soft string on the fiddle and thought: Now we have seventy-three of us left.