rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第10章

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　〃Mesa　bustin　wit　happiness　seein　yousa　again；　Annie。〃
　〃She　didn't　even　recognize　me；〃　Anakin　said；　staring　at　the　door　through　which　Padme　had　departed。　He　shook　his　head　despondently　and　turned　to　the　Gungan。　〃I've　thought　about　her　every　day　since　we　parted；　and　she's　forgotten　me　pletely。〃
　〃Why　yousa　sayen　that？〃　Jar　Jar　asked。
　〃You　saw　her；〃　Anakin　replied。
　〃Shesa　happy；〃　the　Gungan　assured　him。　〃Happier　than　mesa　see'en　her　in　a　longo　time。　These　are　bad　times；　Annie。　Bombad　times！〃
　
　Anakin　shook　his　head　and　started　to　repeat　his　distress；　but　he　noted　Obi…　Wan　moving　toward　him　and　wisely　held　his　tongue。
　
　Except　that　his　observant　Master　had　already　discerned　the　conversation。　〃You're　focusing　on　the　negative　again；〃　he　said　to　Anakin。　〃Be　mindful　of　your　thoughts。　She　was　pleased　to　see　us…leave　it　at　that。　Now；　let's　check　the　security　here。　We　have　much　to　do。〃
　
　Anakin　bowed。　〃Yes；　Master。〃
　
　He　could　say　the　pliant　words　because　he　had　to；　but　the　young　Padawan　could　not　dismiss　that　which　was　in　his　heart　and　in　his　thoughts。
　
　　Padme　sat　at　her　vanity；　brushing　her　thick　brown　hair；　staring　into　the　mirror　but　not　really　seeing　anything　there。　Her　thoughts　were　replaying　again　and　again　the　image　of　Anakin；　the　look　he　had　given　her。　She　heard　his　words　again；
　
　〃。。。　grown　more　beautiful；〃　and　though　Padme　was　undeniably　that；　those　were　not　words　she　was　used　to　hearing。　Since　she　had　been　a　young　girl；　Padme　had　been　involved　in　politics；　quickly　rising　to　powerful　and　influential　positions。　Most　of　the　men　she　had　e　into　contact　with　had　been　more　concerned　with　what　she　could　bring　to　them　in　practical　terms　than　with　her　beauty；　or；　for　that　matter；　with　any　true　personal　feelings　for　her。　As　Queen　of　Naboo　and　now　as　Senator；　Padme　was　well　aware　that　she　was　attractive　to　men　in　ways　deeper　than　physical　attraction；　in　ways　deeper　than　any　emotional　bond。
　
　Or　perhaps　not　deeper　than　the　latter；　she　told　herself；　for　she　could　not　deny　the　intensity　in　Anakin's　eyes　as　he　had　looked　at　her。
　
　But　what　did　it　mean？
　
　She　saw　him　again；　in　her　thoughts。　And　clearly。　Her　mental　eye　roamed　over　his　lean　and　strong　frame；　over　his　face；　tight　with　the　intensity　that　she　had　always　admired；　and　yet　with　eyes　sparkling　with　joy；　with　mischief；　with。　。　。
　
　With　longing？
　
　That　thought　stopped　the　Senator。　Her　hands　slipped　down　to　her　sides；　and　she　sat　there；　staring　at　herself；　judging　her　own　appearance　as　Anakin　might。
　
　After　a　few　long　moments；　Padme　shook　her　head；　telling　herself　that　it　was　crazy。　Anakin　was　a　Jedi　now。　That　was　their　dedication　and　their　oath；　and　those　things；　above　all　else；　were　things　Padme　Amidala　admired。
　
　How　could　he　even　look　at　her　in　such　a　manner？
　
　So　it　was　all　her　imagination。
　
　Or　was　it　her　fantasy？
　
　Laughing　at　herself；　Padme　lifted　her　brush　to　her　hair　again；　but　she　paused　before　she　had　even　begun。　She　was　wearing　a　silky　white　nightgown；　and　there　were；　after　all；　security　cams　in　her　room。　Those　cams　had　never　really　bothered　her；　since　she　had　always　looked　at　them　clinically。
　
　Security　cams；　with　guards　watching　her　every　move；　were　a　fact　of　her　existence；　and　so　she　had　learned　to　go　about　her　daily　routines；　even　the　private　ones；　without　a　second　thought　to　the　intrusive　eyes。
　
　But　now　she　realized　that　a　certain　young　Jedi　might　be　on　the　other　end　of　those　lenses。
　
　Chapter　Seven
　
　　Clad　in　gray　armor　that　was　somewhat　outdated；　burned　from　countless　blaster　shots；　but　still　undeniably　effective；　the　bounty　hunter　stood　easily　on　the　ledge；　a　hundred　stories　and　more　up　from　the　Coruscant　street。　His　helmet；　too；　was　gray；　except　for　a　blue　ridge　crossing　his　eyes　and　running　down　from　brow　to　chin。　His　perch　seemed　somewhat　precarious；　considering　the　wind　at　this　height；　but　to　one　as　agile　and　skilled　as　Jango；　and　with　a　penchant　for　getting　himself　into　and　out　of　difficult　places；　this　was　nothing　out　of　the　ordinary。
　
　Right　on　time；　a　speeder　pulled　up　near　the　ledge　and　hovered　there；　Jango's　associate；　Zam　Wesell；　nodded　to　him　and　climbed　out；　stepping　lithely　onto　the　ledge　in　front　of　a　couple　of　bright　advertisement　windows。　She　wore　a　red　veil　over　the　bottom　half　of　her　face。　This　was　not　a　statement　of　modesty　or　fashion。　Like　everything　else　she　wore；　from　her　blaster　to　her　armor　to　her　other　concealed　and　equally　deadly　weapons；　Zam's　veil　was　a　practical　implement；　used　to　hide　her　Clawdite　features。　Clawdites　were　not　a　trusted　species；　for　obvious　reasons。
　〃You　know　that　we　failed？〃　Jango　asked；　getting　right　to　the　point。　〃You　told　me　to　kill　those　in　the　Naboo　starship；〃　Zam　said。　〃I　hit　the　ship；　but　they　used　a　decoy。　Those　who　were　aboard　are　all　dead。〃
　
　Jango　fixed　her　with　a　smirk；　and　didn't　bother　to　call　her　words　a　dodge。
　〃We'll　have　to　try　something　more　subtle　this　time。　My　client　is　getting　impatient。　There　can　be　no　more　mistakes。〃　As　he　finished；　he　handed　Zam　a　hollow；　transparent　tube　containing　a　pair　of　whitish　centipedelike　creatures　as　long　as　his　forearm。
　〃Kouhuns；〃　he　explained。　〃Very　poisonous。〃
　
　Zam　Wesell　lifted　the　tube　to　examine　the　marvelous　little　murderers　more　closely；　her　black　eyes　sparkling　with　excitement；　and　her　cheekbones　lifting　as　her　mouth　widened　beneath　the　veil。　She　looked　back　at　Jango　and　nodded。
　
　Certain　that　she　understood；　Jango　nodded　and　started　around　the　corner　toward　his　waiting　speeder。　He　paused　before　stepping　in；　and　looked　back　at　his　hired　assassin。
　〃There　can　be　no　mistakes　this　time；〃　he　said。
　
　The　Clawdite　saluted；　tapping　the　tube　containing　the　deadly　kouhuns　to　her　forehead。
　〃Tidy　yourself　up；〃　Jango　instructed；　and　he　headed　away。
　
　Zam　Wesell　turned　back　to　her　own　waiting　speeder　and　pulled　off　her　veil。　Even　as　she　lifted　the　cloth；　her　features　began　to　morph；　her　mouth　tightening；　her　black　eyes　sinking　back　into　shapely　sockets；　and　the　ridges　on　her　forehead　smoothing。　In　the　time　it　took　her　to　unhook　her　veil；　she　had　already　assumed　a　shapely　and　attractive　female　human　form；　with　dark　and　sensuous　features。　Even　her　clothing　seemed　to　fit　her　differently；　flowing　down　gracefully　from　her　face。
　
　Off　to　the　side；　Jango　nodded　approvingly　and　sped　away。　As　a　Clawdite；　a　changeling；　Zam　Wesell　did　bring　some　advantages　to　the　trade；　he　had　to　admit。
　
　　The　vast　Jedi　Temple　sat　on　a　flat　plain。　Unlike　so　many　of　Coruscant's　buildings；　monuments　of　efficiency　and　spare　design；　this　building　itself　was　a　work　of　art；　with　many　ornate　columns　and　soft；　rounded　lines　that　drew　in　the　eye　and　held　it。　Bas…reliefs　and　statues　showed　in　many　areas；　with　lights　set　at　varying　angles　to　distort　the　shadows　into　designs　of　mystery。
　
　Inside；　the　Temple　was　no　different。　This　was　a　place　of　contemplation；　a　place　whose　design　invited　the　mind　to　wander　and　to　explore；　a　place　whose　lines　themselves　asked　for　interpretation。　Art　was　as　much　a　part　of　what　it　was　to　be　a　Jedi　Knight　as　was　warrior　training。　Many　of　the　Jedi；　past　and　present；　considered　art　to　be　a　conscious　link　to　the　mysteries　of　the　Force；　and　so　the　sculptures　and　portraits　that　lined　every　hall　were　more　than　mere　replicas…they　were　artistic　interpretations　of　the　great　Jedi　they　represented；　saying　in　form　alone　what　the　depicted　Masters　might　speak　in　words。
　
　Mace　Windu　and　Yoda　walked　slowly　down　one　polished　and　decorated　corridor；　the　lights　low；　but　with　a　brightly　illuminated　room　in　the　distance　before　them。
　〃Why　couldn't　we　see　this　attack　on　the　Senator？〃　Mace　pondered；　shaking　his　head。　〃This　should　have　been　no　surprise　to　the　wary；　and　easy　for　us　to　predict。〃
　〃Masking　the　future　is　this　disturbance　in　the　Force；〃　Yoda　replied。　The　diminutive　Jedi　seemed　tired。　Mace　understood　well　the　source　of　that　weariness。　〃The　prophecy　is　ing　true。　The　dark　side　is　growing。〃
　〃And　only　those　who　have　turned　to　the　dark　side　can　sense　the　possibilities　of　the　future；〃　Yoda　said。　〃Only　by　probing　the　dark　side　can　we　see。〃
　
　Mace　spent　a　moment　digesting　that　remark；　for　what　Yoda　referred　to　was　no　small　thing。　Not　at　all。　Journeys　to　the　edges　of　the　dark　side　were　not　to　be　taken　lightly。　Even　more　dire；　the　fact　that　Master　Yoda　believed　that　the　disturbance　all　the　Jedi　had　sensed　in　the　Force　was　so　entrenched　in　the　dark　side　was　truly　foreboding。
　〃It's　been　ten　years　and　the　Sith　still　have　not　shown　themselves；〃　Mace　remarked；　daring　to　say　it　aloud。　The　Jedi　didn't　like　to　even　mention　the　Sith；　their　direst　of　enemies。　Many　times　in　the　past；　the　Jedi　had　dared　hope　that　the　Sith　had　been　eradicated；　their　foul　stench　cleansed　from　the　galaxy；　and　so　they　all　would　have　liked　to　deny　the　existence　of　the　mysterious　dark　Force…users。
　
　But　they　could　not。　There　could　be　no　doubt　and　no　denying　that　the　being　who　had　slain　Qui…Gon　Jinn　those　ten　years　before　on　Naboo　was　a　Sith　Lord。
　〃Do　you　think　the　Sith　are　behind　this　present　disturbance？〃　Mace　dared　to　ask。
　〃Out　there；　they　are；〃　Yoda　said　with　resignation。　〃A　certainty　that　is。〃　Yoda　was　referring　to　the　prophecy；　of　course；　that　the　dark　side　would　rise　and　that　one　would　be　born　who　would　bring　balance　to　the　Force　and　to　the　galaxy。　Such　a　potential　chosen　one　was　now　known　among　them；　and　that；　too；　brought　more　than　a　little　trepidation　to　these　hallowed　halls。
　〃Do　you　think　Obi…Wan's　learner　will　be　able　to　bring　balance　to　the　Force？〃　Mace　asked。
　
　Yoda　stopped　walking　and　slowly　turned　to　regard　the　other　Master；　his　expression　showing　a　range　of　emotions　that　reminded　Mace　that　they　didn't　know　what　bringing　balance　to　the　Force　might　truly　mean。　〃Only　if　he　chooses　to　follow　his　destiny；〃　Yoda　replied；　and　as　with　Mace's　question；　the　answer　hung　in　the　air　between　them；　a　spoken　belief　that　could　only　lead　to　more　uncertainty。
　
　Both　Yoda　and　Mace　Windu　understood　the　places　that　some　of　the　Jedi；　at　least；　might　have　to　travel　to　find　the　true　answers；　and　those　places；　emotional　stops　and　not　physical；　could　well　test　all　of　them　to　the　very　limits　of　their　abilities　and　sensibilities。
　
　They　resumed　their　walk；　the　only　sound　the　patter　of　their　footsteps。　In　their　ears；　though；　both　Mace　and　Yoda　heard　the　ominous　echo　of　the　diminutive　Jedi　Master's　dire　words。
　〃Only　by　probing　the　dark　side　can　we　see。〃
　
　Chapter　Eight
　
　The　door　chime　was　not　unexpected；　somehow；　Padme　had　known　that　Anakin　would　e　to　speak　with　her　as　soon　as　the　opportunity　presented　itself。　She　started　for　the　door；　but　paused；　and　moved　instead　to　retrieve　her　robe；　aware　suddenly　that　her　nightgown　was　somewhat　revealing。　Her　movements　again　struck　her　as　curious；　though；　for　never　before　had　Padme　Amidala　harbored　any　feelings　of　modesty。
　
　Still；　she　pulled　the　robe　up　tight　as　she　opened　the　door；　finding；　predictably；　Anakin　Skywalker　standing　before　her。
　〃Hello；〃　he　said；　and　it　seemed　as　if　he　could　hardly　draw　his　breath。
　〃Is　everything　all　right？〃
　
　Anakin　stuttered　over　a　response。　〃Oh　yes；〃　he　finally　managed　to　say。
　〃Yes；　my　Master　has　gone　to　the　lower　levels　to　check　on　Captain　Typho's　se