rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第29章

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　He　shuddered　and　looked　to　his　Kaminoan　guide。　〃e；〃　Lama　Su　bade　him；　walking　along　the　corridor。
　
　Next　on　the　tour　was　a　huge　classroom；　with　desks　in　neat；　orderly　rows　and　with　students　in　neat；　orderly　rows。　They　all　looked　to　be　about　ten　years　of　age。　All　dressed　the　same；　all　with　the　same　haircut；　all　with　exactly　the　same　features　and　posture　and　expressions。　Obi…Wan　reflexively　looked　at　the　shining　white　walls　of　the　huge　room；　almost　expecting　to　see　mirrors　there；　playing　a　trick　on　his　eyes　to　make　one　boy　seem　to　be　many。　The　students　went　about　their　studies　without　paying　any　more　heed　to　the　visitors　than　a　quick　glance。
　
　Disciplined；　Obi…Wan　thought。　Much　more　so　than　any　normal　children。　Another　thought　grabbed　him。　〃You　mentioned　growth　acceleration…〃
　〃Oh　yes；　it's　essential；〃　the　Prime　Minister　replied。　〃Otherwise　a　mature　clone　would　take　a　lifetime　to　grow。　Now　we　can　do　it　in　half　the　time。　The　units　you　will　soon　see　on　the　parade　ground　we　started　ten　years　ago；　when　Sifo…Dyas　first　placed　the　order；　and　they're　already　mature　and　quite　ready　for　duty。〃
　〃And　these　were　started　about　five　years　ago？〃　the　Jedi　reasoned；　and　Lama　Su　nodded。
　〃Would　you　care　to　inspect　the　final　product　now？〃　the　Prime　Minister　asked；　and　Obi…Wan　could　hear　excitement　in　his　voice。　Clearly　he　was　proud　of　this　acplishment。　〃I　would　like　your　approval　before　you　take　delivery。〃
　
　The　callousness　of　it　all　struck　Obi…Wan　profoundly。　Units。　Final　product。　These　were　living　beings　they　were　talking　about。　Living；　breathing；　and　thinking。　To　create　clones　for　such　a　singular　purpose；　under　such　control；　even　stealing　half　their　childhood　for　efficiency；　assaulted　his　sense　of　right　and　wrong；　and　the　fact　that　a　Jedi　Master　had　begun　all　of　this　was　almost　too　much　to　digest。
　
　The　tour　took　him　through　the　missary　next；　where　hundreds　of　adult　clones…all　young　men　Anakin's　age…sat　in　neat　rows；　all　dressed　in　red；　all　eating　the　same　food　in　the　same　manner。
　〃You'll　find　that　they　are　totally　obedient；〃　Lama　Su　was　saying；　seemingly　oblivious　to　the　Jedi's　disfort。　〃We　modified　their　genetic　structure　to　make　them　less　independent　than　the　original；　of　course。〃
　〃Who　was　the　original？〃
　〃A　bounty　hunter　named　Jango　Fett；〃　Lama　Su　offered　without　any　hesitation。
　〃We　felt　that　a　Jedi　would　be　the　perfect　choice；　but　Sifo…Dyas　handpicked　Jango　himself。〃
　
　The　notion　that　a　Jedi　might　have　been　used　nearly　floored　Obi…Wan。　An　army　of　clones　strong　in　the　Force？
　
　〃Where　is　this　bounty　hunter　now？〃　he　asked。
　〃He　lives　here；〃　Lama　Su　replied。　〃But　he's　free　to　e　and　go　as　he　pleases。〃　He　kept　walking　as　he　spoke；　leading　Obi…Wan　along　a　long　corridor　filled　with　narrow　transparent　tubes。
　
　The　Jedi　watched　with　amazement　as　clones　climbed　up　into　those　tubes　and　settled　in　place；　closing　their　eyes　and　going　to　sleep。
　〃Very　disciplined；〃　he　remarked。
　〃That　is　the　key；〃　Lama　Su　replied。　〃Disciplined；　and　yet　with　the　ability　to　think　creatively。　It　is　a　mighty　bination。　Sifo…Dyas　explained　to　us　the　Jedi　aversion　to　leading　droids。　He　told　us　Jedi　could　only　mand　an　army　of　lifeforms。〃
　
　And　you　wanted　a　Jedi　as　host？　Obi…Wan　thought；　but　he　did　not　it　say　aloud。　He　took　a　deep　breath；　wondering　how　Master　Sifo…Dyas；　how　any　Jedi；　could　have　so　willingly　and　unilaterally　crossed　the　line　to　create　any　army　of　clones。　Obi…Wan　realized　that　he　had　to　suppress　his　need　for　a　direct　answer　to　that　right　now；　and　simply　listen　and　observe；　gather　as　much　information　as　he　could　so　that　he　and　the　Jedi　Council　might　sort　it　out。　〃So　Jango　Fett　willingly　remains　on　Kamino？〃　〃The　choice　is　his　alone。　Apart　from　his　pay；　which　is　considerable；　I　assure　you；　Fett　demanded　only　one　thing…an　unaltered　clone　for　himself。　Curious；　isn't　it？〃　〃Unaltered？〃
　〃Pure　genetic　replication；〃　the　Prime　Minister　explained。　〃No　tampering　with　the　structure　to　make　it　more　docile。　And　no　growth　acceleration。〃
　〃I　would　very　much　like　to　meet　this　Jango　Fett；〃　Obi…Wan　said；　as　much　to　himself　as　to　Lama　Su。　He　was　intrigued。　Who　was　this　man　selected　by　Sifo…　Dyas　as　the　perfect　source　for　a　clone　army？
　
　Lama　Su　looked　to　Taun　We；　who　nodded　and　said；　〃I　would　be　most　happy　to　arrange　it　for　you。〃
　
　She　left　them；　then；　as　the　tour　continued；　with　Lama　Su　taking　Obi…Wan　along　the　areas　that　showed　him　pretty　much　the　entire　routine　of　the　clones　at　every　level　of　their　development。　The　culmination　came　later　on；　when　Taun　We　rejoined　the　pair　on　a　balcony；　sheltered　from　the　brutal　wind　and　rain　and　overlooking　a　huge　parade　ground。　Below　them；　thousands　and　thousands　of　clone　troopers；　dressed　in　white　armor　and　wearing　full…face　helmets；　marched　and　drilled　with　all　the　precision　of　programmed　droids。　Entire　formations；　each　made　up　of　hundreds　of　soldiers；　moved　as　one。
　〃Magnificent；　aren't　they？〃　Lama　Su　said。
　
　Obi…Wan　looked　up　at　the　Kaminoan；　to　see　his　eyes　glowing　with　pride　as　he　looked　out　upon　his　creation。　There　were　no　ethical　dilemmas　as　far　as　Lama　Su　was　concerned；　Obi…Wan　knew　immediately。　Perhaps　that　was　why　the　Kaminoans　were　so　good　at　cloning：　their　consciences　never　got　in　the　way。　Lama　Su　looked　down　at　him；　smiling　widely；　prompting　a　response；　and　Obi…　Wan　offered　a　silent　nod。
　
　Yes；　they　were　magnificent；　and　the　Jedi　could　only　imagine　the　brutal　efficiency　this　group　would　exhibit　in　battle；　in　the　arena　for　which　they　were　grown。
　
　Once　again；　a　shudder　coursed　down　Obi…Wan　Kenobi's　spine。　For　the　first　time；　he　appreciated　Senator　Amidala's　crusade　to　stop　the　creation　of　an　Army　of　the　Republic；　and　the　inevitable　consequence：　war！
　
　　A　Jedi　Knight　here　on　Kamino。　The　thought　was　more　than　a　little　unsettling　to　Jango　Fett。
　
　The　bounty　hunter　fell　back　in　his　seat　and　tightened　his　face　in　frustration…such　were　the　problems　with　working　for　the　Trade　Federation。　They　were　masters　at　weaving　deception　within　deception；　and　they　were　up　to　so　much　right　now　that　there　was　no　single　focus　Jango　could　determine。　He　looked　across　the　room　at　Boba；　who　was　hard　at　work　poring　over　the　schematics　and　capabilities　of　a　Delta…7　starfighter；　and　matching　them　up　against　the　known　strengths　and　weaknesses　of　an　R4…P　unit。　Life　was　so　simple　for　the　boy；　Jango　thought　with　a　touch　of　envy。　For　Boba；　there　was　the　love　of　and　for　his　father；　and　his　studies。　Other　than　those　two　givens；　the　only　real　challenge　before　the　boy　was　in　finding　enjoyable　things　to　do　at　those　times　when　Jango　was　away　or　busy　with　the　Kaminoans。
　
　At　that　moment；　looking　at　his　son；　Jango　Fett　felt　vulnerable；　so　very　vulnerable；　and　it　was　not　an　emotion　with　which　he　was　the　least　bit　fortable。　He　almost　told　Boba　to　go　and　pack；　then　and　there；　so　they　could　blast　away　from　Kamino；　but　he　recognized　the　danger　of　that　course。　He　would　be　leaving　without　learning　anything　about　his　potential　enemy；　this　Jedi　Knight　who　had　arrived　unexpectedly。　His　boss　would　want　that　information。
　
　And　Jango　would　need　that　information。　If　he　took　off　now；　after　receiving　a　note　from　Taun　We　telling　him　that　he　would　be　receiving　a　visitor　later　that　same　day；　it　would　be　fairly　obvious　that　he　was　fleeing。
　
　Then　he'd　have　a　Jedi　Knight　on　his　tail；　and　one　about　whom　he　knew　practically　nothing。
　
　Jango　continued　to　stare　at　Boba；　at　the　only　thing　that　really　mattered。
　〃Play　it　cool；〃　he　whispered　to　himself。　〃You're　nothing　more　than　a　clone　source；　well　paid　enough　to　want　to　know　nothing　about　why　you're　being　cloned。〃
　
　That　was　his　litany；　that　was　his　plan。　And　it　had　to　work。　For　Boba's　sake。
　
　　A　wave　of　Taun　We's　hand　brought　forth　the　chime　of　an　unseen　bell；　reminding　Obi…Wan　yet　again　of　how　foreign　this　world　of　Kamino；　this　city　of　Tipoca；　really　was。　He　didn't　give　it　much　thought；　though；　for　he　was　focused　on　the　locking　mechanism　on　the　door　before　him；　an　elaborate　electronic　clasp　and　bolt。　Quite　a　bit　of　security；　it　seemed　to　him；　given　the　supposedly　genteel　nature　of　Jango　Fett's　relationship　with　the　Kaminoans；　and　the　obvious　control　the　cloners　held　over　their　city。　Was　the　locking　mechanism　designed　to　keep　people　out；　or　to　keep　Jango　in？　Likely　the　former；　he　reasoned。　Jango　was　a　bounty　hunter；　after　all。
　
　Perhaps　he　had　made　more　than　a　few　dangerous　enemies。
　
　He　was　still　studying　the　device　when　the　door　suddenly　opened；　revealing　a　young　boy；　an　exact　replica　of　those　Obi…Wan　had　been　viewing　all　day。　The　identical　one　that　Jango　had　demanded；　only　this　one　was　actually　ten　years　old。
　〃Boba；〃　Taun　We　said　with　great　familiarity；　〃is　your　father　home？〃　Boba　Fett　stood　staring　at　the　human　visitor　for　a　long　moment。　〃Yep。〃
　〃May　we　see　him？〃
　〃Sure；〃　Boba　answered。　He　stepped　back；　but　his　eyes　never　left　Obi…Wan　as　the　Jedi　and　Taun　We　stepped　across　the　threshold。
　〃Dad！　〃Boba　yelled。
　
　The　title　struck　Obi…Wan　as　curious；　given　that　this　was　a　clone　and　not　a　natural　son。　Was　there　a　connection　here？　A　real　one？　Had　Jango　wanted　the　exact　replica　not　for　any　professional　gain　but　simply　because　he　had　wanted　a　son？
　
　〃Dad！〃　the　boy　shouted　again。　〃Taun　We's　here！〃
　
　Jango　Fett　walked　in；　dressed　in　simple　shirt　and　trousers。　Obi…Wan　recognized　him　immediately；　though　he　was　many　years　older　than　the　oldest　clone；　his　face　scarred　and　pitted；　and　unshaven。　His　body　had　thickened　with　age；　but　he　was　still　physically　imposing；　much　like　many　of　the　old　gutter　dwellers　Obi…Wan　encountered　in　far…flung　places。　A　few　extra　pounds；　sure；　but　those　covered　muscles　hardened　by　years　of　tough　living。　Tattoos　crossed　both　of　Jango's　muscular　forearms；　of　a　strange　design　that　Obi…Wan　did　not　recognize。
　
　As　he　glanced　up；　he　recognized　the　clear　suspicion　with　which　Jango　was　eyeing　him。　The　man　was　on　edge　here；　dangerously　so；　Obi…Wan　understood。
　〃Wele　back；　Jango；〃　Taun　We　remarked。　〃Was　your　trip　productive？〃
　
　Obi…Wan　studied　the　bounty　hunter　intensely。　Back　from　where？　But　Jango　was　a　professional；　and　his　expression　revealed　not　the　slightest　tic　or　wince。
　〃Fairly；〃　the　man　casually　offered。　He　continued　to　size　up　Obi…Wan　as　he　spoke；　his　eyes　narrowing　in　an　almost　open　threat。
　〃This　is　Jedi　Master　Obi…Wan　Kenobi；〃　Taun　We　said；　her　tone　lighter；　obviously　an　attempt　to　relieve　some　of　the　palpable　tension。　〃He's　e　to　check　on　our　progress。〃
　〃That　right？〃　If　Jango　cared；　his　tone　didn't　show　it。
　〃Your　clones　are　very　impressive；〃　Obi…Wan　said。　〃You　must　be　very　proud。〃
　〃I'm　just　a　simple　man　trying　to　make　my　way　in　the　universe；　Master　Jedi。〃
　〃Aren't　we　all？〃　Obi…Wan　finally　broke　eye　contact　with　Jango　as　he　spoke；　scanning　the　room；　looking　for　clues。　He　focused　on　the　half…open　door　through　which　Jango　had　appeared；　and　thought　he　saw　pieces　of　body　armor　in　there；　battered　and　stained；　much　like　that　worn　by　a　rocket…man　after　delivering　a　toxic　dart　into　the　changeling　Zam　Wesell。　And　he　saw　a　curving　bluish　line；　like　the　goggle　and　breather　area　of　the　helmet　he　had　seen　back　on　Coruscant。　Before　he　could　scrutinize　the　sight　any　more　closely；　though；　Jango　walked　in　front　of　him；　pointedly　blocking　his　view。
　〃Ever　make　your　wa