Something was about to happen to him--something, but not this.

The crowd behind the ropes were shouting, he knew that he was himself running, but it seemed that only his body was moving, his real self was standing back, gazing at those white clouds--waiting.
He knew that he made no attempt to escape the man in front of him; he seemed to run straight into his arms; he heard a little sigh go up from behind the ropes, as he tumbled to the ground, letting the ball trickle feebly from his fingers.

A try missed if ever one was! No one said anything, but he felt the disappointment in the air.

He knew what they were saying--"One of Dune's off days! I always said you couldn't depend upon the man.

He's just too sidey to care what happens.
.