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！
rew his knees up to his chest to conserve body heat； though he still shivered。
In the distance； where the high ground dipped into a wooded valley toward the stark silhouette of the guarded lodge building； he saw a train of lights； bobbing glowglobes like a fairy procession。 The hunting party itself； warm and well armed； was sniffing him out； taking their time。 Enjoying themselves。
From his vantage point； Duncan watched and waited； cold and forlorn。 He had to decide if he wanted to live at all。 What would he do？ Where would he go？ Who would care for him？
Rabban's lasgun had left nothing of his mother's face for him to kiss； nothing of her hair for him to stroke。 He would never again hear her voice as she called him her 〃sweet Duncan。〃
Now the Harkonnens intended to do the same to him； and he couldn't prevent it。 He was just a boy with a dull knife； a handlight； and a rope。 The hunters had Richesian beacon trackers； heated body armor； and powerful weapons。 They outnumbered him ten to one。 He had no chance。
It might be easier if he just sat there and waited for them to e。 Eventually the trackers would find him； inexorably following his implanted signal。。。but he could deny them their sport； spoil their fun。 By surrendering； by showing his utter contempt for their barbaric amusements； he could gain a small victory at least： the only one he was likely to have。
Or Duncan Idaho could fight back； try to hurt the Harkonnens even as they hunted him down。 His mother and father hadn't had an opportunity to fight for their lives； but Rabban was giving him that chance。
Rabban considered him a mere helpless boy。 The hunting party thought that gunning down a child would provide them with some amusement。
He stood up on stiff legs； brushed his clothes； and stopped his shivers。 I won't go down like that； he decided just to show them； just to prove they can't laugh at me。
He doubted the hunters would be wearing personal shields。 They wouldn't think they'd need such protection； not against the likes of him。
The knife handle felt hard and rough in his pocket； useless against decent armor。 But he could do something else with the blade； something painfully necessary。 Yes； he would fight for all he was worth。
Crawling up the slope； climbing from rock to fallen tree； maintaining his balance on the scree； Duncan made his way to a small hollowed…out hole in the lumpy sandstone。 He avoided the patches of remaining snow； keeping to the iron…frozen dirt so as to leave no obvious tracks。
The tracer implant would bring them directly to him； no matter where he ran。
Above the cave hollow； an overhang in the near…vertical bluff wall provided his second opportunity： loose； lichen…covered sandstone chunks； heavy boulders。 Perhaps he could move them 。。。。
Duncan crawled inside the shelter of the cave hollow； where he found it no warmer at all。 Just darker。 The opening was low enough that a grown man would have to belly…crawl inside； there was no other way out。 This cave wouldn't offer him much protection。 He'd have to hurry。
Squatting there； he switched on the small handlight； pulled off his stained shirt； and brought out the knife。 He felt the lump of the tracer implant in the meat of his upper left arm； the back of the tricep at his shoulder。
His skin was already numb from the cold； his mind dulled by the shock of his circumstances。 But when he jabbed with the knife； he felt the point dig into his muscle； lighting the nerves on fire。 Closing his eyes against reflexive resistance； he cut deeply； prodding and poking with the tip of the blade。
He stared at the dark wall of the cave； saw skeletal shadows cast by the wan light。 His right hand moved mechanically； like a probe excavating the tiny tracer。 The pain shrank to a dim corner of his awareness。
At last the beacon fell out； a bloody piece of micro…constructed metal clinking to the dirty floor of the cave。 Sophisticated technology from Richese。 Reeling with pain； Duncan picked up a rock to smash the tracer。 Then； thinking better of it； he set the rock down again and moved the tiny device deep into the shadows where no one could see it。
Better to leave the tracer there。 As bait。
Crawling outside again； Duncan scooped up a handful of grainy snow。 Red droplets spattered on the pale sandstone ledge。 He packed the snow against the blood streaming from his shoulder； and the sharp cold deadened the pain of his self…inflicted cut。 He pressed the ice hard against the wound until pink…tinged snow melted between his fingers。 He grabbed another handful； no longer caring about the obvious marks he left in the drift。 The Harkonnens would e to this place anyway。
At least the snow had stanched the flow of blood。
Then Duncan scrambled up and away from the cave； careful to leave no sign of where he was going。 He saw the bobbing lights down in the valley split up； members of the hunting party had chosen different routes as they climbed the bluff。 A darkened ornithopter whirred overhead。
Duncan moved as quickly as he could； but took care not to splash fresh blood again。 He tore strips from his shirt to dab the oozing wound； leaving his chest naked and cold； then he pulled the ragged garment back over his shoulders。 Perhaps the forest predators would smell the iron blood scent and hunt him down for food rather than sport。 That was a problem he didn't want to consider right then。
With loose pebbles pattering around him； he circled back until he reached the overhang above his former shelter。 Duncan's instinct was to run blindly； as far as he could go。 But he made himself stop。 This would be better。 He squatted behind the loose； heavy chunks of rock； tested them to be sure of his strength； and dropped back to wait。
Before long； the first hunter came up the slope to the cave hollow。 Clad in suspensor…augmented armor； the hunter slung a lasgun in front of him。 He glanced down at a handheld device； counterpart to the Richesian tracer。
Duncan held his breath； making no move； disturbing no pebbles or debris。 Blood sketched a hot line down his left arm。
The hunter paused in front of the hollow； noting the disturbed snow； the bloodstains； the targeting blip on his tracer。 Though Duncan couldn't see the man's face； he knew the hunter wore a grin of scornful triumph。
Thrusting the lasgun into the hollow ahead of him； the hunter ducked low； bending stiffly in his protective chest padding。 On his belly； he crawled partway into the darkness。 〃Found you； little boy！〃
Using his feet and the strength of his leg muscles； Duncan shoved a lichen…smeared boulder over the edge。 Then he moved to the second one and kicked it hard； pushing it to the abrupt dropoff。 Both heavy stones fell； tumbling in the air。
He heard the sounds of impact and a crack。 A sickening crunch。
Then the gasp and gurgle of the man below。
Duncan scrambled to the edge； saw that one of the boulders had struck to one side； bouncing off and rolling down the steep slope； gathering momentum and taking loose scree along with it。
The other boulder had landed on the small of the hunter's back； crushing his spine even through the padding； pinning him to the ground like a needle through an insect specimen。
Duncan climbed down； gasping； slipping。 The hunter was still alive； though paralyzed。 His legs twitched； thumping the toes of his boots against the frost…hard ground。 Duncan wasn't afraid of him anymore。
Squeezing past the man's bulky； armored body into the hollow； Duncan shone his handlight down into the man's glazed； astonished eyes。 This wasn't a game。 He knew what the Harkonnens would do to him； had already seen what Rabban had done to his parents。
Now Duncan would play by their rules。
The dying hunter croaked something unintelligible at him。 Duncan did not hesitate。 His eyes dark and narrow no longer the eyes of a child he bent forward。 The knife slipped in under the man's jawline。 The hunter squirmed； raising his chin as if in acceptance rather than defiance and the dull blade cut through skin and sinew。 Jugular blood spurted out with enough force to splash and spatter before forming a dark； sticky pool on the floor of the cave。
Duncan could not spend time thinking about what he ha