rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第20章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃I'd　be　disappointed　in　you　if　you　didn't；〃　Padme　answered　him；　her　voice　soft　and　full　of　sympathy。　〃You　didn't　leave　her　in　the　best　of　circumstances。〃
　
　Anakin　winced；　as　if　those　words　had　hurt　him。
　〃But　it　was　right　that　you　left；〃　Padme　reminded　him；　taking　his　arm。　She　held　his　gaze　with　her　own。　〃Your　leaving　was　what　your　mother　wanted　for　you。　What　she　needed　for　you。　The　opportunity　that　Qui…Gon　offered　you　gave　her　hope。　That's　what　a　parent　needs　for　her　child；　to　know　that　he；　that　you；　had　been　given　a　chance　at　a　better　life。〃
　〃But　the　dreams…〃
　〃You　can't　help　but　feel　a　little　guilty　about　leaving；　I　suppose；〃　Padm　answered；　and　Anakin　was　shaking　his　head；　as　if　she　was　missing　the　point。　But　she　didn't　believe　that　to　be　the　case；　so　she　continued。　〃It's　only　natural　that　you'd　want　your　mother　off　Tatooine；　out　here　with　you；　perhaps。　Or　on　Naboo；　or　Coruscant；　or　someplace　that　you　feel　is　safer；　and　more　beautiful。　Trust　me；　Anakin；〃　she　said　softly　but　intently；　and　she　put　her　hand　on　his　forearm　again。　〃You　did　the　right　thing　in　going。　For　yourself；　but　more　importantly；　for　your　mother。〃
　
　Her　expression；　so　full　of　passion；　so　full　of　caring；　was　not　one　that　Anakin　Skywalker　could　argue　against。
　
　　The　great　port　city　of　Theed　was　in　many　ways　akin　to　Coruscant；　with　freighters　and　shuttles　ing　down　from　the　skies　in　lines。　Unlike　Coruscant；　though；　this　city　on　Naboo　was　soft　in　appearance；　with　few　towering；　imposing　skyscrapers　of　hard　metal　and　shining　transparisteel。　The　buildings　here　were　of　stone　and　many　other　materials；　with　rounded　rooflines　and　delicate　colors。　Vines　of　all　sorts　were　everywhere；　crawling　up　the　sides　of　the　buildings；　adding　vibrancy　and　scents。　Adding　fort。　Anakin　and　Padme　lugged　their　bags　across　a　familiar　square；　a　place　where　they　had　seen　battle　a　decade　before　against　the　droids　of　the　Trade　Federation。　R2…D2　came　behind　them；　rolling　along　easily；　whistling　a　happy　song；　as　if　he　were　an　extension　of　the　fortable　aura　of　Theed。　Padme　kept　covertly　glancing　at　Anakin；　noting　the　serenity　on　his　face；　the　widening　grin。
　〃If　I　grew　up　here；　I　don't　think　I'd　ever　leave；〃　Anakin　remarked。
　
　Padme　laughed。　〃I　doubt　that。〃
　〃No；　really。　When　I　started　my　training；　I　was　very　homesick　and　very　lonely。　This　city　and　my　mom　were　the　only　pleasant　things　I　had　to　think　about。〃
　
　Padme's　expression　turned　to　one　of　curiosity　and　confusion。　Anakin's　time　here　had　been　spent；　mostly；　in　deadly　battle！　Had　he　so　obsessed　about　her；　about　Naboo；　that　even　the　bad　memories　paled　against　his　warm　feelings？
　
　〃The　problem　was；〃　Anakin　went　on；　〃the　more　I　thought　about　my　mom；　the　worse　I　felt。　But　I　would　feel　better　if　I　thought　about　Naboo　and　the　palace。〃
　
　He　didn't　say　it　outright；　but　Padme　knew　that　what　he　really　meant　was　that　he　felt　better　when　he　thought　about　her；　or　at　least　that　he　would　include　her　in　those　pleasant　thoughts。
　〃The　way　the　palace　shimmers　in　the　sunlight；　the　way　the　air　always　smells　of　flowers。〃
　〃And　the　soft　sound　of　the　distant　waterfalls；〃　Padme　added。　She　could　not　deny　the　sincerity　in　Anakin's　voice　and　in　his　words；　and　she　found　herself　agreeing　and　embracing　that　truth　of　Naboo；　despite　her　resolve　to　stay　away　from　those　feelings。　〃The　first　time　I　saw　the　capital；　I　was　very　young。　I'd　never　seen　a　waterfall　before。　I　thought　they　were　so　beautiful。　I　never　thought　that　one　day　I'd　live　in　the　palace。〃
　〃Well；　tell　me；　did　you　dream　of　power　and　politics　when　you　were　a　little　girl？〃
　
　Again　Padme　had　to　laugh　aloud。　〃No；　that　was　the　last　thing　I　thought　of。〃　She　could　feel　the　wistfulness　creeping　into　her；　the　memories　of　those　long…ago　days　before　her　innocence　had　been　shattered　by　war；　and　even　more　so；　by　the　constant　deceptions　and　conniving　of　politics。　She　could　hardly　believe　that　she　was　opening　up　to　Anakin　like　this。　〃My　dream　was　to　work　in　the　Refugee　Relief　Movement。　I　never　thought　of　running　for　elected　office。　But　the　more　history　I　studied；　the　more　I　realized　how　much　good　politicians　could　do。　So　when　I　was　eight；　I　joined　the　Apprentice　Legislators；　which　is　like　making　a　formal　announcement　that　you're　entering　public　service　here　on　Naboo。　From　there；　I　went　on　to　bee　a　Senatorial　Adviser；　and　attacked　my　duties　with　such　a　passion　that　before　I　knew　it；　I　was　elected　Queen。〃
　
　Padme　looked　at　Anakin　and　shrugged；　trying　not　to　throw　all　humility　away。　〃Partly　because　I　scored　so　high　on　my　education　certificate；〃　she　explained。　〃But　for　the　most　part；　my　ascent　was　because　of　my　conviction　that　reform　was　possible。　The　people　of　Naboo　embraced　that　dream　wholeheartedly；　so　much　so　that　my　age　was　hardly　an　issue　in　the　campaign。　I　wasn't　the　youngest　Queen　ever　elected；　but　now　that　I　think　back　on　it；
　
　I'm　not　sure　I　was　old　enough。〃　She　paused　and　locked　stares　with　Anakin。
　〃I'm　not　sure　I　was　ready。〃　　　〃The　people　you　served　thought　you　did　a　good　job；〃　Anakin　reminded　her。　〃I　heard　they　tried　to　amend　the　constitution　so　that　you　could　stay　in　office。〃
　〃Popular　rule　is　not　democracy；　Anakin。　It　gives　the　people　what　they　want；　not　what　they　need。　And　truthfully；　I　was　relieved　when　my　two　terms　were　up。〃　Padme　chuckled　as　she　continued；　adding　emphasis。　〃So　were　my　parents！　They　worried　about　me　during　the　blockade　and　couldn't　wait　for　it　all　to　be　over。　Actually；　I　was　hoping　to　have　a　family　by　now。　。　。　〃
　
　She　turned　away　a　bit；　feeling　her　face　flushing。　How　could　she　be　so　open　to　him；　and　so　quickly？　He　was　not　a　longtime　friend；　she　reminded　herself；　but　the　warning　sounded　hollow　in　her　thoughts。　She　looked　back　at　Anakin；　and　she　felt　so　at　ease；　so　fortable　with　him；　almost　as　if　they　had　been　friends　for　all　their　lives。　〃My　sister　has　the　most　amazing；　wonderful　kids。〃　Her　eyes　were　sparkling；　she　knew；　but　she　blinked　the　emotion　away；　as　Padme　had　often　blinked　away　her　personal　desires　for　the　sake　of　what　she　perceived　to　be　the　greater　good。　〃But　when　the　Queen　asked　me　to　serve　as　Senator；　I　couldn't　refuse　her；〃　she　explained。
　〃I　agree！〃　Anakin　replied。　〃I　think　the　Republic　needs　you。　I'm　glad　you　chose　to　serve…I　feel　things　are　going　to　happen　in　our　generation　that　will　change　the　galaxy　in　profound　ways。〃
　〃A　Jedi　premonition？〃　Padme　kidded。
　
　Anakin　laughed。　〃A　feeling；〃　he　explained；　or　tried　to　explain；　for　it　was　obvious　that　he　wasn't　quite　sure　what　he　was　trying　to　say。　〃It　just　seems　to　me　as　if　it's　all　grown　stale；　as　if　something　has　to　happen…〃
　〃I　think　so；　too；〃　Padme　put　in　sincerely。
　
　They　had　arrived　at　the　great　doors　of　the　palace；　and　paused　to　take　in　the　beautiful　scene。　Unlike　most　of　Coruscant's　buildings；　which　seemed　to　have　been　designed　with　utter　efficiency　in　mind；　this　structure　was　more　akin　to　the　Jedi　Temple；　an　understanding　that　aesthetics　were　important；　that　form　went　hand　in　hand　with　purpose。
　
　Padme　knew　her　way　about　the　place；　obviously；　and　she　was　well　known　by　almost　all　of　the　people　within；　and　so　the　two　walked　along　easily　to　the　throne　room；　where　they　were　announced　at　once。
　
　Smiling　faces　greeted　them。　Sio　Bibble；　Padme's　dear　friend　and　her　trusted　adviser　when　she　was　Queen；　stood　by　the　throne；　flanking　Queen　Jamillia　as　he　had　so　often　flanked　Padme。　He　hadn't　aged　much　over　the　last　years；　his　white　hair　and　beard　still　distinguished　and　perfectly　coiffed；　his　eyes　still　full　of　that　intensity　that　Padme　so　loved。
　
　Beside　him；　Jamillia　looked　every　bit　the　part　of　Queen。　She　wore　a　great　headdress　and　flowing　embroidered　robes；　the　same　type　of　outfit　Padme　had　worn　for　so　very　long；　and　the　Senator　thought　that　Jamillia　looked　at　least　as　regal　in　them　as　she　had。
　
　Handmaidens；　advisers；　and　guards　were　all　about；　and　Padme　reflected　that　one　of　the　side　effects　of　being　Queen；　and　not　a　pleasant　one；　was　that　one　was　never　allowed　to　be　alone。
　
　Queen　Jamillia；　standing　perfectly　straight　so　that　her　headdress　did　not　topple；　rose　and　walked　over　to　take　Padme's　hand。　〃We've　been　worried　about　you。　I'm　so　glad　you're　here；　Padme；〃　she　said；　her　voice　rich　and　with　a　southeastern　accent　that　made　her　enunciate　the　consonants　powerfully　〃Thank　you；　Your　Highness。　I　only　wish　I　could　have　served　you　better　by　staying　on　Coruscant　for　the　vote。〃
　〃Supreme　Chancellor　Palpatine　has　explained　it　all；〃　Sio　Bibble　interjected。　〃Returning　home　was　the　only　real　choice　you　could　have　made。〃　Padme　gave　him　a　resigned　nod。　Still；　being　sent　home　to　Naboo　bothered　her；　she　had　worked　so　very　hard　against　the　creation　of　a　Republic　army。　〃How　many　systems　have　joined　Count　Dooku　and　the　separatists？〃　Queen　Jamillia　asked　bluntly。　She　had　never　been　one　for　small　talk。
　〃Thousands；〃　Padme　answered。　〃And　more　are　leaving　the　Republic　every　day。　If　the　Senate　votes　to　create　an　army；　I'm　sure　it's　going　to　push　us　into　civil　war。〃
　
　Sio　Bibble　punched　his　fist　into　his　open　hand。　〃It's　unthinkable！〃　he　said；　gnashing　his　teeth　with　every　word。　〃There　hasn't　been　a　full…scale　war　since　the　formation　of　the　Republic。〃
　〃Do　you　see　any　way；　through　negotiations；　to　bring　the　separatists　back　into　the　Republic？〃　Jamillia　asked；　staying　calm　despite　Sio　Bibble's　obvious　agitation。
　〃Not　if　they　feel　threatened。〃　It　amazed　Padme　to　realize　how　secure　she　was　in　these　estimations。　She　felt　as　if　she　was　beginning　to　fully　understand　the　nuances　of　her　position；　as　if　she　could　trust　her　instincts　implicitly。　And　all　of　her　talents　would　be　needed；　she　knew。　〃The　separatists　don't　have　an　army；　but　if　they　are　provoked；　they　will　move　to　defend　themselves。　I'm　sure　of　that。　And　with　no　time　or　money　to　build　an　army；　my　guess　is　they　will　turn　to　the　merce　Guild　or　the　Trade　Federation　for　help。〃
　〃The　armies　of　merce！〃　Queen　Jamillia　echoed　with　anger　and　distaste。　All　on　Naboo　knew　well　the　problems　associated　with　such　free…ranging　groups。　The　Trade　Federation　had　nearly　brought　Naboo　to　its　knees；　and　would　have　had　it　not　been　for　the　heroics　of　Amidala；　a　pair　of　Jedi；　a　young　Anakin；　and　the　brave　flying　of　the　dedicated　Naboo　pilots。　Even　that　would　not　have　been　enough；　had　not　Queen　Amidala　forged　an　unexpected　alliance　with　the　heroic　Gungans。　〃Why　has　nothing　been　done　in　the　Senate　to　restrain　them？〃
　〃I'm　afraid　that；　despite　the　Chancellor's　best　efforts；　there　are　still　many　bureaucrats；　judges；　and　even　Senators　on　the　payrolls　of　the　guilds；〃　Padme　admitted。
　〃Then　it　is　true　that　the　guilds　have　moved　closer　to　the　separatists；　as　we　suspected；〃　Queen　Jamillia　reasoned。
　
　Sio　Bibble　punched　his　open　palm　again；　drawing　their　attention。　〃It's　outrageous！〃　he　said。　〃It's　outrageous　that　after　all　those　hearings　and　four　trials　in　the　Supreme　Court；　Nute　Gunray　is　still　the　viceroy　of　the　Trade　Federation。　Do　those　money…mongers　control　everything？〃
　〃Remember；　Counselor；　the　courts　were　able　to　reduce　the　Trade　Federation's　armies；〃　Jamillia　reminded；　again　holding　her　calm　and　controlled　voice。
　〃That's　a　move　in　the　right　direction。〃
　
　Padme　winced；　knowing　that　she　had　to　report　honestly。　〃There　are　rumors；　Your　Highness；　that　the　Federation's　army　was　not　reduced　as　they　were　order