Duncan Idaho

Dune. Arrakis. Desert-planet of the empire. The sun was a merciless glare on the endless dunes. Duncan Idaho looked to the mountains looming in the distance. Would he find the Fremen there? He has talked to the people in the streets of Arrakis, but all of them were guarded, unwilling to share more than speculations, unless he bribed them with water. Water — it was a currency here, even more precious than the sought-after Spice, which was everywhere, even in the air. It smelled like cinnamon and roasted almonds, and left a sharp, lingering earthy after-taste on the tongue. Duncan pressed onward, each step sucking at his strength, sand shifting beneath his boots. The air shimmered with heat; every breath burned. He knew Arrakis was dangerous, but he had not anticipated this. A distant tremor beneath his feet made him pause. At first he thought it an illusion, then the ground roared. A massive ridge of sand peeled away, and a giant sandworm surfaced. Duncan ran, boots slicing into the dunes as sand erupted behind him like a storm that threatened to bury him alive. Ahead, a jagged rock formation rose dark against the desert light. Duncan dove for it, tumbling against sharp stone. Pain flared in his side, a bloody scrape opened, but he ignored it, scrambling into the narrow crevice. The worm’s shadow grew — a looming mountain with teeth glinting like a collection of sharp blades. With a guttural roar, it smashed against the rocks. The ground shook. Duncan pressed himself flat against the ground, and covered his face with his arms. The vibrations rattled his teeth, and for the first time he was scared. Finally, the rumbling faded, swallowed by the dunes once more. Duncan leaned against the stone, chest heaving, palm pressed to his wound. His mind raced. Would he be able to make it to the distant mountains? ___ The character of Duncan Idaho belongs to Frank Herbert. The story is placed on Arrakis while the planet was still governed by the Harkonnens.