rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第16章

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　　〃I　am　concerned　for　my　Padawan；〃　Obi…Wan　Kenobi　said　to　Yoda　and　Mace　Windu　as　the　three　walked　along　the　corridors　of　the　Jedi　Temple。　〃He　is　not　ready　to　be　given　this　assignment　on　his　own。〃
　〃The　Council　is　confident　in　this　decision；　Obi…Wan；〃　Yoda　said。
　〃The　boy　has　exceptional　skills；〃　Mace　agreed。
　〃But　he　still　has　much　to　learn；　Master；〃　Obi…Wan　explained。　〃His　skills　have　made　him　。　。　。　well；　arrogant。〃
　〃Yes；　yes；〃　Yoda　agreed。　〃It's　a　flaw　more　and　more　mon　among　Jedi。　Too　sure　of　themselves；　they　are。　Even　the　older；　more　experienced　Jedi。〃
　
　Obi…Wan　considered　the　words　with　an　assenting　nod。　They　certainly　rang　true；　and　the　current　conditions　among　the　Jedi　in　this　time　of　mounting　tension　were　a　bit　unsettling；　with　many　off　on　their　own　far　from　Coruscant。　And　had　not　arrogance　played　a　major　role　in　Count　Dooku's　decision　to　depart　the　Order；　and　the　Republic？
　
　〃Remember；　Obi…Wan；〃　Mace　remarked；　〃if　the　prophecy　is　true；　your　apprentice　is　the　only　one　who　can　bring　the　Force　into　balance。〃　How　could　Obi…Wan　ever　forget　that　little　fact？　Qui…Gon　had　been　the　first　to　see　it；　the　first　to　predict　that　Anakin　would　be　the　one　to　fulfill　the　prophecy。　What　Qui…Gon；　or　anyone　else　for　that　matter；　had　failed　to　explain；　was　exactly　what　bringing　balance　to　the　Force　might　mean。
　〃If　he　follows　the　right　path；〃　the　Jedi　Knight　said　to　the　two　Masters；　and　neither　of　them　corrected　him。
　〃Attend　to　your　own　duties；　you　must；〃　Yoda　reminded；　drawing　Obi…Wan　from　his　distracting　contemplation　as　surely　as　if　he　was　reading　the　Jedi's　mind。　〃When　solved　is　this　mystery　of　the　assassin；　other　riddles　might　be　answered。〃
　〃Yes；　Master；〃　Obi…Wan　replied；　and　he　held　the　small　dart　he　had　taken　from　the　dead　Clawdite　up　before　his　eyes。
　
　　With　gentle　hands；　Shmi　Skywalker　Lars　lifted　the　dull　bronze　chest　piece　up　to　the　wiry　droid；　setting　it　in　place。　She　smiled　at　C…3PO；　and；　though　his　face　could　not　similarly　twist；　she　could　tell　that　he；　too；　in　that　curious　droidlike　way；　was　pleased。　How　often　he　had　plained　about　the　sand　blowing　into　his　wiring；　chipping　away　at　the　silicon　coverings；　even　breaking　through　and　causing　jarring　jolts　on　a　couple　of　occasions。　And　now　Shmi　was　taking　care　of　that　problem；　was　finishing　what　Anakin　had　started　in　building　the　droid。
　〃Now？〃　she　managed　to　ask　aloud；　through　lips　caked　with　dried　blood。　No；　she　realized；　it　was　not　now。　She　had　covered　C…3PO　all　those　days　ago…or　was　it　weeks　ago；　or　even　years　ago？…when　Cliegg　had　taken　her　to　the　moisture　farm。　Yes；　there　were　spare　coverings　to　fit　the　protocol　droid　in　the　garage　area；　against　the　wall；　under　an　old　workbench。
　
　She　remembered　that；　so　clearly；　but　she　had　no　idea　of　when　it　had　been。
　
　And　now　。　。　。　now　she　was　。　。　。　somewhere。
　
　She　couldn't　open　her　eyes　to　look　around；　she　didn't　have　the　strength　at　that　moment；　and　the　blood　on　them　had　dried；　making　any　flutter　of　her　eyelids　painful。
　
　She　thought　it　curious　that　her　eyelids　were　the　only　place　where　she　actually　felt　any　real　pain　at　that　moment。　She　thought　she　was　injured。
　
　She　thought。　。　。
　
　Shmi　heard　something　behind　her。　Shuffling　footsteps？　Then　some　mumbling。
　
　Yes；　they　were　always　mumbling。
　
　Her　thoughts　went　back　to　C…3PO；　poor　3PO；　who　still　needed　his　battered　wiry　arms　covered。　Gently；　she　lifted　the　covering。　。　。
　
　She　heard　a　sharp　sound…or　she　knew　it　was　a　sharp　sound；　though　she　heard　it　only　distantly…then　felt　a　brush　across　her　back。
　
　There　were　no　nerves　left　there　to　register　the　bite　of　the　whip　any　more　clearly　than　that。
　
　Chapter　Ten
　
　Anakin　Skywalker　and　Jar　Jar　Binks　stood　at　the　door　separating　Padme's　bedroom　from　the　anteroom　where　Anakin　and　Obi…Wan　had　kept　watch　the　night　before。　Looking　through　the　room　to　the　broken　window；　the　pair　watched　the　Coruscant　skyline；　the　endless　lines　of　traffic。
　
　Padme　and　her　handmaiden　Dorme　rushed　about　the　bedroom；　throwing　the　luggage　together；　and　from　her　sharp　movements；　both　Anakin　and　Jar　Jar　knew　that　they　would　do　well　to　keep　a　fair　distance　from　the　upset　and　angry　young　Senator。　As　the　Jedi　had　requested；　Chancellor　Palpatine　had　intervened　to　bid　Padme　to　return　to　Naboo。　She　was　plying；　but　that　did　not　mean　that　she　was　happy　about　it。
　
　With　a　profound　sigh；　Padme　stood　straight；　one　hand　on　her　lower　back；　which　ached　from　all　the　bending。　She　sighed　again　and　moved　before　the　two　observers。
　〃I'm　taking　an　extended　leave　of　absence；〃　she　said　to　Jar　Jar；　her　voice　thick　and　somber；　as　if　she　was　hoping　to　inject　some　of　that　gravity　into　the　goofy　Gungan。　〃It　will　be　your　responsibility　to　take　my　place　in　the　Senate。　Representative　Binks；　I　know　I　can　count　on　you。〃
　〃Mesa　honored。。。〃　Jar　Jar　blurted　in　reply；　standing　at　attention；　except　that　his　head　was　wagging；　and　his　ears　were　flopping。　One　could　dress　a　Gungan　up　like　a　dignitary；　but　such　a　creature's　nature　was　not　so　easily　changed。
　〃What？〃　Padme's　voice　was　stern　and　showed　more　than　a　little　exasperation。　She　was　entrusting　something　important　to　Jar　Jar；　and　was　obviously　not　thrilled　to　hear　him　acting　like　his　old；　goofy　self。　Obviously　embarrassed；　Jar　Jar　cleared　his　throat　and　stood　a　bit　straighter。　〃Mesa　honored　to　be　taken　on　dissa　heavy　burden。　Mesa　accept　this　with　muy　。　。　。　muy　humility　andda…〃
　〃Jar　Jar；　I　don't　wish　to　hold　you　up；〃　Padme　interrupted。　〃I'm　sure　you　have　a　great　deal　to　do。〃
　〃Of　course；　M'Lady。〃　With　a　great　bow；　as　if　trying　to　use　pretense　to　cover　up　the　fact　that　he　was　blushing　like　a　Darellian　fire　crab；　the　Gungan　turned　and　left；　flashing　a　bright　smile　Anakin's　way　as　he　passed。　Anakin's　eyes　followed　the　retreating　Gungan；　but　any　levity　or　sense　of　calm　he　felt　from　that　last　exchange　was　washed　away　a　moment　later；　when　Padme　addressed　him　in　a　tone　that　reminded　him　that　she　was　not　in　the　best　of　moods。
　〃I　do　not　like　this　idea　of　hiding；〃　she　said　emphatically。
　〃Don't　worry。　Now　that　the　Council　has　ordered　an　investigation；　it　won't　take　Master　Obi…Wan　long　to　find　out　who　hired　that　bounty　hunter。　We　should　have　done　that　from　the　beginning。　It　is　better　to　take　the　offensive　against　such　a　threat；　to　find　out　the　source　rather　than　try　to　react　to　the　situation。〃　He　meant　to　go　on；　to　claim　credit　for　asking　for　such　an　investigation　from　the　very　beginning；　to　let　Padme　know　that　he　had　been　right　all　along　and　that　it　had　taken　the　Council　long　enough　to　e　around　to　his　way　of　thinking。　He　could　see；　though；　that　her　eyes　were　already　beginning　to　glaze　over；　so　he　quieted　and　let　her　speak。
　〃And　while　your　Master　investigates；　I　have　to　hide　away。〃
　〃That　would　be　most　prudent；　yes。〃
　
　Padme　gave　a　little　sigh　of　frustration。　〃I　haven't　worked　for　a　year　to　defeat　the　Military　Creation　Act　not　to　be　here　when　its　fate　is　decided！〃
　〃Sometimes　we　have　to　let　go　of　our　pride　and　do　what　is　requested　of　us；〃　Anakin　replied…a　rather　unconvincing　statement；　ing　from　him…and　he　knew　as　soon　as　he　spoke　the　words　that　he　probably　shouldn't　have　phrased　things　quite　like　that。
　〃Pride！〃　came　the　roaring　response。　〃Annie；　you're　young；　and　you　don't　have　a　very　firm　grip　on　politics。　I　suggest　you　reserve　your　opinions　for　some　other　time。〃
　〃Sorry；　M'Lady；　I　was　only　trying　to…〃
　〃Annie！　No！〃
　〃Please　don't　call　me　that。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Annie。　Please　don't　call　me　'Annie。'　〃
　〃I've　always　called　you　that。　It　is　your　name；　isn't　it？〃
　〃My　name　is　Anakin；〃　the　young　Jedi　said　calmly；　his　jaw　firm；　his　eyes　strong。　〃When　you　say　Annie；　it's　like　I'm　still　a　little　boy。　And　I'm　not。〃
　
　Padme　paused　and　looked　him　over；　head　to　toe；　nodding　as　she　took　the　sight　of　him　in　pletely。　He　could　see　sincerity　on　her　face　as　she　nodded　her　agreement；　and　her　tone；　too；　became　one　of　more　respect。　〃I'm　sorry；　Anakin。　It's　impossible　to　deny　you've　。　。　。　that　you've　grown　up。〃
　
　There　was　something　in　the　way　she　said　that；　Anakin　sensed；　some　suggestion；　some　recognition　from　Padme　that　he　was　indeed　a　man　now；　and　perhaps　a　handsome　one　at　that。　That；　bined　with　the　little　smile　she　flashed　him；　had　him　a　bit　flushed　and　put　him　back　up　on　his　heels。　He　found　an　ornament　sitting　on　a　shelf　to　the　side；　then；　and　using　the　Force；　picked　it　up；　letting　it　hover　above　his　fingers；　needing　the　distraction。
　
　Still；　he　had　to　clear　his　throat　to　cover　his　embarrassment；　for　he　was　afraid　that　his　voice　would　break　apart　as　he　admitted；　〃Master　Obi…Wan　manages　not　to　see　it。　He　criticizes　my　every　move；　as　if　I　was　still　a　child。　He　didn't　listen　to　me　when　I　insisted　that　we　go　in　search　of　the　source　of　the　assassination…〃
　〃Mentors　have　a　way　of　seeing　more　of　our　faults　than　we　would　like；〃　Padm　agreed。　〃It's　the　only　way　we　grow。〃
　
　With　a　thought；　Anakin　used　the　Force　to　lift　the　little　globe　ornament　higher　into　the　air；　manipulating　it　all　about。　〃Don't　get　me　wrong；〃　he　remarked。　〃Obi…Wan　is　a　great　mentor；　as　wise　as　Master　Yoda　and　as　powerful　as　Master　Windu。　I　am　truly　thankful　to　be　his　learner。　Only。。。〃
　
　He　paused　and　shook　his　head；　looking　for　the　words。　〃Only；　although　I'm　a　Padawan　learner；　in　some　ways…in　a　lot　of　ways…I'm　ahead　of　him。　I'm　ready　for　the　trials。　I　know　I　am！　He　knows　it；　too。　He　feels　I'm　too　unpredictable…other　Jedi　my　age　have　gone　through　the　trials　and　made　it。　I　know　I　started　my　training　late；　but　he　won't　let　me　move　on。〃　Padme's　expression　grew　curious；　and　Anakin　could　well　understand　her　puzzlement；　for　he；　too；　was　surprised　at　how　openly　he　was　speaking；　critically；　of　Obi…Wan。　He　thought　that　he　should　stop　right　there；　and　silently　berated　himself。
　
　But　then　Padme　said；　with　all　sympathy；　〃That　must　be　frustrating。〃
　〃It's　worse！〃　Anakin　cried　in　response；　willingly　diving　into　that　warm　place。　〃He's　overly　critical！　He　never　listens！　He　just　doesn't　understand！　It's　not　fair！〃
　
　He　would　have　gone　on　and　on；　but　Padme　began　to　laugh；　and　that　stopped　Anakin　as　surely　as　a　slap　across　the　face。
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　she　said　through　her　giggles。　〃You　sounded　exactly　like　that　little　boy　I　once　knew；　when　he　didn't　get　his　way。〃
　〃I'm　not　whining！　I'm　not。〃
　
　Across　the　room；　Dorme；　too；　began　to　chuckle。
　〃I　didn't　say　it　to　hurt　you；〃　Padme　explained。
　
　Anakin　took　a　deep　breath；　then　blew　it　all　out　of　him；　his　shoulders　visibly　relaxing。　〃I　know。〃
　
　He　seemed　so　pitiable　then；　not　pitiful；　but　just　like　a　lost　little　soul。
　
　Padme　couldn't　resist。　She　walked　over　to　him　and　lifted　her　hand　to　gently　stroke　his　cheek。　〃Anakin。〃
　
　For　the　first　time　since　they　had　been　reunited；　Padme　truly　looked　into　the　blue　eyes　of　the　young　Padawan；　locked　stares　with　him　so　that　they　each　could　see　beneath　the　surface；　so　that　they　each　could　view　the　other's　heart。　It　was　a　fleeting　moment；　made　so　by　Padme's　mon　sense。
　
　She　quickly　altered　the　mood　with　a　sincere　but　lighthearted　request。
　〃Don't　try　to　grow　up　too　fast。〃
　〃I　am　grown　up；〃　Anakin　replied。　〃You　said　it　yourself。〃　He　finished　by　making　his　reply　into　something　suggestive；　as　he　looked　deeply　into　Padme's　beautiful　brown　eyes　again；　this　time　even　more　intens