rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第2章

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hen　Jedi　Knights　were　promising　him　all　of　his　dreams？　Of　course；　at　that　time；　Shmi　had　not　known　that　she　would　meet　Cliegg　Lars　that　fateful　day　in　Mos　Espa；　and　that　the　moisture　farmer　would　fall　in　love　with　her；　buy　her　from　Watto；　and　free　her；　and　only　then；　once　she　was　a　free　woman；　ask　her　to　marry　him。　Would　she　have　let　Anakin　go　if　she　had　known　the　changes　that　would　e　into　her　life　so　soon　after　his　departure？
　
　Wouldn't　her　life　be　better　now；　more　plete　by　far；　if　Anakin　were　beside　her？
　
　Shmi　smiled　as　she　thought　about　it。　No；　she　realized；　she　would　still　have　wanted　Annie　to　go；　even　if　she　had　foreseen　the　dramatic　changes　that　would　soon　e　into　her　life。　Not　for　herself；　but　for　Anakin。　His　place　was　out　there。　She　knew　that。
　
　Shmi　shook　her　head；　overwhelmed　by　the　enormity　of　it　all；　by　the　many　winding　turns　in　her　life's　path；　in　Anakin's　path。　Even　in　hindsight；　she　could　not　be　sure　that　this　present　situation　was　not　the　best　possible　oute；　for　both　of　them。
　
　But　still；　there　remained　a　deep　and　empty　hole　in　her　heart。
　
　Chapter　Two
　
　〃I　can　help　with　that；〃　Beru　said　politely；　moving　to　join　Shmi；　who　was　cooking　dinner。　Cliegg　and　Owen　were　out　closing　down　the　perimeter　of　the　pound；　securing　the　farm　from　the　oning　night…a　night　that　promised　a　dust　storm。
　
　Smiling　warmly；　and　glad　that　this　young　woman　was　soon　to　be　a　member　of　their　family；　Shmi　handed　a　knife　over　to　Beru。　Owen　hadn't　said　anything　yet　about　marrying　Beru；　but　Shmi　could　tell　from　the　way　the　two　looked　at　each　other。　It　was　only　a　matter　of　time；　and　not　much　time　at　that；　if　she　knew　her　stepson。　Owen　was　not　an　adventurous　type；　was　as　solid　as　the　ground　beneath　them；　but　when　he　knew　what　he　wanted；　he　went　after　it　with　single…minded　purpose。
　
　Beru　was　exactly　that；　and　she　obviously　loved　Owen　as　deeply　as　he　loved　her。　She　was　well　suited　to　be　the　wife　of　a　moisture　farmer；　Shmi　thought；　watching　her　methodically　go　about　her　duties　in　the　kitchen。　She　never　shied　from　work；　was　very　capable　and　diligent。
　
　And　she　doesn't　expect　much；　or　need　much　to　make　her　happy；　Shmi　thought；　for　that；　in　truth；　was　the　crux　of　it。　Their　existence　here　was　simple　and　plain。　There　were　few　adventures；　and　none　at　all　that　were　weled；　for　excitement　out　here　usually　meant　that　Tusken　Raiders　had　been　seen　in　the　region；　or　that　a　gigantic　sandstorm　or　some　other　potentially　devastating　weather　phenomenon　was　blowing　up。
　
　The　Lars　family　had　only　the　simple　things；　mostly　the　pany　of　each　other；　to　keep　them　amused　and　content。　For　Cliegg；　this　had　been　the　only　way　of　life　he　had　ever　known；　a　lifestyle　that　went　back　several　generations　in　the　Lars　family。　Same　thing　for　Owen。　And　while　Beru　had　grown　up　in　Mos　Eisley；　she　seemed　to　fit　right　in。
　
　Yes；　Owen　would　marry　her；　Shmi　knew；　and　what　a　happy　day　that　would　be！
　
　The　two　men　returned　soon　after；　along　with　C…3PO；　the　protocol　droid　Anakin　had　built　back　in　the　days　when　he　had　Watto's　junkyard　to　rummage　through。
　〃Two　more　tangaroots　for　you；　Mistress　Shmi；〃　the　thin　droid　said；　handing　Shmi　a　pair　of　orange…and…green　freshly　picked　vegetables。　〃I　would　have　brought　more；　but　I　was　told；　and　not　in　any　civil　way；　that　I　must　hurry。〃　Shmi　looked　to　Cliegg；　and　he　gave　her　a　grin　and　a　shrug。　〃Could've　left　him　out　there　to　get　sandblasted　clean；　I　suppose；〃　he　said。　〃Of　course；　some　of　the　bigger　rocks　that　are　sure　to　be　flying　about　might've　taken　out　a　circuit　or　two。〃
　〃Your　pardon；　Master　Cliegg；〃　C…3PO　said。　〃I　only　meant…〃
　〃We　know　what　you　meant；　Threepio；〃　Shmi　assured　the　droid。　She　placed　a　forting　hand　on　his　shoulder；　then　quickly　pulled　it　away；　thinking　that　a　perfectly　silly　gesture　to　offer　to　a　walking　box　of　wires。　Of　course；　C…　3PO　was　much　more　than　a　box　of　wires　to　Shmi。　Anakin　had　built　the　droid。　Almost。　When　Anakin　had　left　with　the　Jedi；　3PO　had　been　perfectly　functional；　but　uncovered；　his　wires　exposed。　Shmi　had　left　him　that　way　for　a　long　time；　fantasizing　that　Anakin　would　return　to　plete　the　job。　Just　before　marrying　Cliegg　had　Shmi　finished　the　droid　herself；　adding　the　dull　metal　coverings。　It　had　been　quite　a　touching　moment　for　Shmi；　an　admission　of　sorts　that　she　was　where　she　belonged　and　Anakin　was　where　he　belonged。　The　protocol　droid　could　be　quite　annoying　at　times；　but　to　Shmi；　C…3PO　remained　a　reminder　of　her　son。
　〃Course；　if　there　are　Tuskens　about；　they'd　likely　have　gotten　him　under　wraps　before　the　storm；〃　Cliegg　went　on；　obviously　taking　great　pleasure　in　teasing　the　poor　droid。　〃You're　not　afraid　of　Tusken　Raiders；　are　you；　Threepio？〃
　〃There　is　nothing　in　my　program　to　suggest　such　fear；〃　3PO　replied；　though　he　would　have　sounded　more　convincing　if　he　hadn't　been　shaking　as　he　spoke；　and　if　his　voice　hadn't　e　out　all　squeaky　and　uneven。
　〃Enough；〃　Shmi　demanded　of　Cliegg。　〃Oh；　poor　Threepio；〃　she　said；　patting　the　droid's　shoulder　again。　〃Go　ahead；　now。　I've　got　more　than　enough　help　this　evening。〃　As　she　finished；　she　waved　the　droid　away。
　〃You're　just　terrible　to　that　poor　droid；〃　she　remarked；　moving　beside　her　husband　and　playfully　patting　him　across　his　broad　shoulder。
　〃Well；　if　I　can't　have　fun　with　him；　I'll　have　to　set　my　sights　on　someone　else；〃　the　rarely　mischievous　Cliegg　replied；　narrowing　his　eyes　and　scanning　the　room。　He　finally　settled　a　threatening　gaze　on　Beru。
　〃Cliegg；〃　Shmi　was　quick　to　warn。
　〃What？〃　he　protested　dramatically。　〃If　she's　thinking　to　e　out　and　live　here；　then　she　had　better　learn　to　defend　herself！〃　〃Dad！　〃Owen　cried。
　〃Oh；　don't　fret　about　old　Cliegg；〃　Beru　piped　in；　emphasizing　the　word　old。
　〃A　fine　wife　I　would　make　if　I　couldn't　out…duel　that　one　in　a　war　of　words！〃
　〃Aha！　A　challenge！〃　Cliegg　roared。
　〃Not　so　much　of　one　from　where　I'm　sitting；〃　Beru　dryly　returned；　and　she　and　Cliegg　began　exchanging　some　good…natured　insults；　with　Owen　chiming　in　every　now　and　again。
　
　Shmi　hardly　listened；　too　engaged　in　merely　watching　Beru。　Yes；　she　would　certainly　fit　in；　and　well；　about　the　moisture　farm。　Her　temperament　was　perfect。　Solid；　but　playful　when　the　situation　allowed。　Gruff　Cliegg　could　verbally　spar　with　the　best　of　them；　but　Beru　had　to　be　counted　among　that　elite　lot。　Shmi　went　back　to　her　dinner　preparations；　her　smile　growing　wider　every　time　Beru　hit　Cliegg　with　a　particularly　nasty　retort。
　
　Intent　on　her　work；　Shmi　never　saw　the　missile　ing；　and　when　the　overripe　vegetable　hit　her　on　the　side　of　the　face；　she　let　out　a　shriek。　Of　course；　that　only　made　the　other　three　in　the　room　howl　with　laughter。　Shmi　turned　to　see　them　sitting　there；　staring　at　her。　From　the　embarrassed　expression　on　Beru's　face；　and　from　the　angle；　with　Beru　sitting　directly　behind　Cliegg；　it　seemed　obvious　to　Shmi　that　Beru　had　launched　the　missile；　aiming　for　Cliegg；　but　throwing　a　bit　high。
　〃The　girl　listens　when　you　tell　her　to　stop；〃　Cliegg　Lars　said；　his　sarcastic　tone　shattered　by　a　burst　of　laughter　that　came　right　from　his　belly。
　
　He　stopped　when　Shmi　smacked　him　with　a　piece　of　juicy　fruit；　splattering　it　across　his　shoulders。
　
　A　food　fight　began…measured；　of　course；　and　with　more　threats　hurled　than　actual　missiles。
　
　When　it　ended；　Shmi　began　the　cleanup；　the　other　three　helping　for　a　bit。　〃You　two　go　and　spend　some　time　together　without　your　troublemaking　father；〃　Shmi　told　Owen　and　Bern。　〃Cliegg　started　it；　so　Cliegg　will　help　clean　it　up。　Go　on；　now。　I'll　call　you　back　when　dinner's　on　the　table。〃　Cliegg　gave　a　little　laugh。
　〃And　if　you　mess　up　the　next　one；　you're　going　to　be　hungry；〃　Shmi　told　him；　threateningly　waving　a　spoon　his　way。　〃And　lonely！〃
　〃Whoa！　Never　that！〃　Cliegg　said；　holding　his　hands　up　in　a　sign　of　surrender。
　
　With　a　wave　of　the　spoon；　Shmi　further　dismissed　Owen　and　Beru；　and　the　two　went　off　happily。
　〃She'll　make　him　a　fine　wife；〃　Shmi　said　to　Cliegg。
　
　He　walked　up　beside　her　and　grabbed　her　about　the　waist；　pulling　her　tight。
　〃We　Lars　men　fall　in　love　with　the　best　women。〃
　
　Shmi　looked　back　to　see　his　warm　and　sincere　smile；　and　she　returned　it　in　kind。　This　was　the　way　it　was　supposed　to　be。　Good　honest　work；　a　sense　of　true　acplishment；　and　enough　free　time　for　some　fun；　at　least。　This　was　the　life　Shmi　had　always　wanted。　This　was　perfect；　almost。
　
　A　wistful　look　came　over　her　face。
　〃Thinking　of　your　boy　again；〃　Cliegg　Lars　stated；　instead　of　asked。　Shmi　looked　at　him；　her　expression　a　mixture　of　joy　and　sadness；　a　single　dark　cloud　crossing　a　sunny　blue　sky。　〃Yes；　but　it's　okay　this　time；〃　she　said。　〃He's　safe；　I　know；　and　doing　great　things。〃　〃But　when　we　have　such　fun；　you　wish　he　could　be　here。〃
　
　Shmi　smiled　again。　〃I　do；　and　in　all　other　times；　as　well。　I　wish　Anakin　had　been　here　from　the　beginning；　since　you　and　I　first　met。〃
　〃Five　years　ago；〃　Cliegg　remarked。
　〃He　would　love　you　as　I　do；　and　he　and　Owen　。　。　。〃　Her　voice　weakened　and　trailed　away。
　〃You　think　that　Anakin　and　Owen　would　be　friends？〃　Cliegg　asked。　〃Bah！　Of　course　they　would！〃
　〃You've　never　even　met　my　Annie！〃　Shmi　scolded。
　〃They'd　be　the　best　of　friends；〃　Cliegg　assured　her；　tightening　his　hug　once　again。　〃How　could　they　not　be；　with　you　as　that　one's　mother？〃　Shmi　accepted　the　pliment　gracefully；　looked　back　and　gave　Cliegg　a　deep　and　appreciative　kiss。　She　was　thinking　of　Owen；　of　the　young　man's　flowering　romance　with　the　lovely　Beru。　How　Shmi　loved　them　both！
　
　But　that　thought　brought　with　it　some　level　of　disfort。　Shmi　had　often　wondered　if　Owen　had　been　part　of　the　reason　she　had　so　readily　agreed　to　marry　Cliegg。　She　looked　back　at　her　husband；　rubbing　her　hand　over　his　broad　shoulder。　Yes；　she　loved　him；　and　deeply；　and　she　certainly　couldn't　deny　her　joy　at　finally　being　relieved　of　her　slave　bonds。　But　despite　all　of　that；　what　part　had　the　presence　of　Owen　played　in　her　decisions？　It　had　been　a　question　that　had　stayed　with　her　all　these　years。　Had　there　been　a　need　in　her　heart　that　Owen　had　filled？　A　mother's　need　to　cover　the　hole　left　by　Anakin's　departure？
　
　In　truth；　the　two　boys　were　very　different　in　temperament。　Owen　was　solid　and　staid；　the　rock　who　would　gladly　take　over　the　farm　from　Cliegg　when　the　time　came；　as　this　moisture　farm　had　been　passed　down　in　the　Lars　family　from　generation　to　generation。　Owen　was　ready；　and　even　thrilled；　to　be　the　logical　and　rightful　heir　to　the　place；　more　than　able　to　accept　the　often　difficult　lifestyle　in　exchange　for　the　pride　and　sense　of　honest　acplishment　that　came　with　running　the　place　correctly。
　
　But　Annie　。　。　。
　
　Shmi　nearly　laughed　aloud　as　she　considered　her　impetuous　and　wanderlust…　filled　son　put　in　a　similar　situation。　She　had　no　doubts　that　Anakin　would　give　Cliegg　the　same　fits　he　had　always　given　Watto。　Anakin's　adventurous　spirit　would　not　be　tamed　by　any　sense　of　generational　responsibility；　Shmi　knew。　His　need　to　leap　out　for　adventure；　to　race　the　Pods；　to　fly　among　the　stars；　would　not　have　been　diminished；　and　it　surely　would　have　driven　Cliegg　crazy。
　
　Now　Shmi　did　giggle；　picturing　Cliegg　turning　red…faced　with　exasperation　when　Anakin　had　let　his　duties　slide　once　again。
　
　Cliegg　hugged　her　all　the　ti