rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第34章

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　　Obi…Wan　used　the　Force　to　grab　the　trailing；　loose　end　of　the　wire　that　still　held　him　by　the　wrists；　and　he　threw　that　end　out；　looping　it　over　a　crossbeam　in　the　platform　structure。　His　descent　stopped　with　a　sudden　jerk。
　
　He　glanced　around；　then　began　to　swing；　back　and　forth；　gaining　momentum　until　he　was　far　enough　out　to　pull　himself　free　of　the　bond　and　drop　lightly　onto　a　small　service　platform；　barely　above　the　lashing　waves。　He　took　only　a　moment　to　catch　his　breath；　and　then　opened　the　door　of　the　service　turbolift　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　Even　before　the　door　opened　at　the　landing　platform；　he　heard　the　engines　of　the　bounty　hunter's　ship　roar　to　life。　　　He　came　over　the　lip；　spotting　his　lightsaber　immediately　and　calling　it　in　to　him　with　the　Force。
　
　But　he　was　too　late。　The　ship　was　already　shuddering；　ready　to　blast　away。　Obi…Wan　pulled　a　small　transmitter　from　his　belt　and　threw　it　out　long　and　far　at　Slave　I。　The　magnetic　lock　of　the　tracking　device　grasped　on　to　the　ship's　hull　just　in　time。
　
　Rain　and　steam　pouring　all　about　him；　Obi…Wan　Kenobi　stood　there　for　a　long　while　until　Slave　I　disappeared　from　view。
　
　He　looked　around　at　the　platform；　replaying　the　battle　in　his　head；　his　respect　for　this　bounty　hunter；　Jango　Fett；　growing　considerably。　He　understood　now　why　Jango　had　been　selected　by　Sifo…Dyas；　or　Tyranus；　or　whoever　it　was　that　selected　him。　The　man　was　good；　full　of　tricks　and　full　of　skill。
　
　He　had　taken　Obi…Wan　Kenobi；　a　Jedi　Knight；　the　man　who　had　defeated　the　Sith　Lord　Darth　Maul；　to　the　very　precipice　of　disaster。
　
　But　Obi…Wan　was　still　pleased　at　the　way　it　had　played　out。　He　would　track　Jango　now。　Perhaps　at　the　end　of　the　ing　journey；　he　would　finally　get　some　answers　instead　of　even　more　riddles。
　
　Chapter　Nineteen
　
　Boba　sat　quietly；　sensing　the　tension；　as　Slave　I　blasted　away　from　Kamino。　He　wanted　to　talk　about　his　shot　with　the　laser　cannon；　about　how　he　had　knocked　the　Jedi　down　and　sent　his　lightsaber　flying　away。　But　this　wasn't　the　time；　he　knew；　for　Jango　wore　an　intense　expression　that　Boba　recognized　all　too　well；　one　that　told　him　clearly　that　now　was　not　the　time　for　him　to　speak。
　
　The　boy　rested　back　against　the　wall　farthest　from　his　father　as　Jango　worked　the　controls；　setting　the　coordinates　for　the　jump　to　hyperspace。　〃e　on；　e　on；〃　Jango　said　repeatedly；　rocking　back　and　forth　as　if　urging　the　ship　on；　and　glancing　over　at　the　sensors　every　few　seconds　as　if　he　expected　a　fleet　of　starships　to　be　chasing　them　away。
　
　Then　he　gave　a　shout　of　victory　and　punched　the　hyperdrive；　and　Boba　went　back　against　the　wall；　watching　the　stars　elongate。
　
　Jango　Fett　slumped　back　in　his　seat　and　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief；　his　expression　softening　almost　immediately。　〃Well；　that　was　a　bit　too　close；〃　he　said　with　a　laugh。
　〃You　smashed　him　good；〃　Boba　replied；　his　excitement　beginning　to　bubble　up　again。　〃He　never　had　a　chance　against　you；　Dad！〃
　
　Jango　smiled　and　nodded。　〃To　tell　the　truth；　Son；　he　had　me　in　real　trouble　there；〃　he　admitted。　〃After　he　dodged　that　explosive　pack；　I'd　about　run　out　of　tricks。〃
　
　Boba　frowned　at　first；　wanting　to　argue　against　anyone　ever　getting　the　upper　hand　on　his　father；　but　then；　as　he　considered　the　moment　Jango　had　mentioned；　his　frown　became　a　wide　smile。　〃I　got　him　good　with　the　laser　cannon！〃
　〃You　did　great；〃　Jango　replied。　〃You　fired　at　just　the　right　time；　and　were　right　there；　ready　to　help　me　in　when　it　was　time　for　us　to　go。　You're　learning　well；　Boba。　Better　than　I　ever　believed　possible。〃
　〃That's　because　I'm　a　little　you；〃　the　boy　reasoned；　but　Jango　was　shaking　his　head。
　〃You're　better　than　I　was　at　your　age；　and　by　a　long　way。　And　if　you　keep　working　hard；　you'll　be　the　best　bounty　hunter　this　galaxy's　ever　seen。〃
　〃Which　was　your　plan　from　the　beginning　with　the　Kaminoans；　right；　Dad？　That's　why　you　wanted　me！〃
　
　Jango　Fett　moved　over　and　lifted　one　hand　to　tousle　Boba's　hair。　〃That　and　a　lot　of　other　reasons；〃　he　said　quietly；　reverently。　〃And　in　every　regard；　in　every　hope　and　dream；　you've　done　better　than　I　ever　expected。〃
　
　There　was　nothing　that　anyone　in　all　the　galaxy　could　ever　have　said　to　young　Boba　Fett　to　make　him　feel　better　than　those　words　from　his　father。
　
　Jango　took　Slave　l　out　of　hyperspace　a　bit　early；　so　that　Bob　could　have　some　time　piloting　the　ship　on　the　approach　to　Geonosis。　For　Boba；　sitting　in　the　chair　beside　his　father；　working　the　controls　deftly；　even　showing　off　a　bit；　there　could　be　no　greater　moment；　and　the　boy　was　saddened　by　the　sight　of　the　red　planet；　Geonosis；　and　the　asteroid　belts　that　ringed　it。
　〃Security's　tight　here；〃　Jango　explained；　taking　the　helm。　〃It'll　be　better　if　I　put　her　down。〃
　
　Boba　sat　back　in　the　chair　without　plaint。　He　knew　his　father　was　right；　and　even　if　he　had　disagreed；　he　wouldn't　have　done　so　openly。　He　turned　his　attention　to　the　scan　screens；　showing　the　position　of　the　asteroid　field　nearby；　and　some　distant　traffic　around　the　other　side　of　the　planet。
　
　He　noted　one　blip　in　particular；　disengaging　from　the　asteroid　belt　and　moving　out　behind　Slave　I。　He　didn't　think　too　much　of　it　at　first；　until　a　second　blip　appeared；　right　behind　Slave　I；　though　nothing　substantial　enough　to　be　a　separate　ship。
　〃Nearly　there；　Son；〃　Jango　remarked。
　〃Dad；　I　think　we're　being　tracked；〃　Boba　told　him。　〃Look　at　the　scan　screen。　Isn't　that　a　cloaking　shadow　of　our　own　ship？〃
　
　Jango　looked　at　him　doubtfully；　then　turned　that　skeptical　expression　upon　the　scan　screen。　Boba　watched　with　mounting　excitement　as　his　father's　gaze　turned　intense　and　he　slowly　began　to　nod。
　〃That　Jedi　must　have　put　a　tracking　device　on　our　hull　before　we　left　Kamino；〃　he　agreed。　〃But　how？　I　thought　he　was　dead。〃
　〃Someone's　following　us；〃　Boba　observed。
　〃We'll　fix　that；〃　Jango　assured　him。　〃Hang　on；　son！　Watch　me　put　us　into　that　asteroid　field…he　won't　be　able　to　follow　us　there。〃　He　looked　over　at　Boba　and　winked。　〃And　if　he　does；　we'll　leave　him　a　couple　of　surprises。〃
　
　Jango　opened　a　side　panel　and　pulled　a　lever；　releasing　an　electric　charge　along　his　hull　that　was　designed　to　destroy　just　such　tracking　devices。　A　quick　look　at　the　scan　screen　showed　that　the　cloaking　shadow　had　disappeared。
　〃Here　we　go；〃　Jango　said；　and　he　dived　Slave　I　into　the　asteroid　field；　pulling　a　fast　circuit　over　and　around　a　nearby　rock；　then　diving　out　fast　to　the　side；　rolling　about　a　spinning　boulder；　and　cutting　fast　between　another　pair。　In　and　around　he　wove；　with　no　apparent　pattern；　and　a　few　moments　later；　Boba；　who　was　still　studying　the　scanner；　announced；　〃He's　gone。〃
　〃Maybe　he's　smarter　than　I　thought　and　headed　on　toward　the　planet　surface；〃　Jango　said　with　a　grin　and　another　wink。　Even　as　he　finished；　though；　the　scanner　beeped。　〃Look；　Dad！〃　Boba　cried；　pointing　out　the　blip；　now　inside　the　asteroid　field；　as　well。　〃He's　back！〃
　〃Hang　on！〃　Jango　said；　and　he　put　Slave　I　through　a　wild　series　of　dips；　climbs；　and　turns；　then　finished　with　a　straight…out　run；　while　uncapping　a　firing　trigger　and　squeezing　the　plunger。　〃Seismic　charge；〃　he　explained　to　Boba；　who　grinned。
　
　But　then　the　boy　was　screaming　a　warning　as　the　forward　viewscreen　filled　up　with　an　asteroid。
　
　Jango　was　already　on　it；　turning　the　amazingly　maneuverable　Slave　I　up　on　its　end　and　running　up　over　the　giant　space　rock。
　〃Stay　calm；　son；〃　he　assured　Boba。　〃We'll　be　fine。　That　Jedi　won't　be　able　to　follow　us　through　this。〃
　
　His　declaration　was　accentuated　by　a　sudden　flash　and　a　jarring　buck　as　the　sonic　charge　detonated　far　behind　them。
　〃He　got　through　it！〃　Boba　cried　a　moment　later；　seeing　the　Jedi's　ship　reappear　on　the　scan　screen。
　〃This　guy　can't　take　a　hint；〃　said　Jango；　who　remained　unrattled。　〃Well；　if　we　can't　lose　him；　we'll　have　to　finish　him。〃
　
　Boba　cried　out　again；　but　his　father　was　in　plete　control。　He　put　the　ship　down　a　narrow　tunnel　creasing　one　of　the　larger　asteroids。　He　had　to　slow　a　bit　to　maneuver；　and　when　Slave　I　came　out　the　other　end；　Jango　and　Boba　saw　the　Jedi　starfighter　stream　over　and　past　them。　The　hunted　had　suddenly　bee　the　hunters。
　〃Get　him；　Dad！〃　Boba　cried　out。　〃Get　him！　Fire！〃
　
　Laser　bolts　burst　out　of　Slave　I；　tracing　lines　all　about　the　starfighter；　which　cut　a　snap…roll　to　the　right　and　down。
　
　Jango　stayed　with　him；　trying　to　line　up　another　shot；　but　the　Jedi　was　good；　snap…rolling　one　after　another；　each　time　ing　out　near　an　asteroid　and　sliding　behind　it　for　cover。
　
　Boba　continued　to　urge　his　father　on；　but　Jango　kept　his　patience；　figuring　that　sooner　or　later；　the　Jedi　was　going　to　run　out　of　hiding　places。　A　fast　dive；　then　a　sudden　turn　back　up；　then　a　sudden　roll　and　bank　to　the　right　had　the　Jedi　moving　behind　yet　another　asteroid；　but　this　time；　instead　of　following；　Jango　cut　in　short　of　the　rock　and　fired　blindly　past　it。
　
　Out　came　the　Jedi's　starfighter；　right　into　the　line　of　fire；　and　the　ship　bucked；　pieces　flying；　as　a　laser　bolt　clipped　it。
　〃You　got　him！〃　Boba　yelled　in　victory。
　〃And　now　we　just　have　to　finish　him；〃　the　ever…cool　Jango　explained。
　〃There'll　be　no　more　dodging。〃　He　pushed　a　series　of　buttons；　arming　a　torpedo　and　sliding　open　the　tube；　then　moved　to　punch　the　red　trigger。　He　paused；　though；　and　smiled；　and　nodded　for　Boba　to　move　closer。
　
　Boba　could　hardly　breathe　as　his　father　slid　his　hand　onto　the　smooth　trigger　grip；　then　looked　down　at　him　and　nodded。　The　boy　punched　the　trigger　and　Slave　I　jolted　as　the　torpedo　slid　away；　diving　at　the　Jedi　starfighter　and　taking　up　the　chase　as　the　starfighter　bolted　and　tried　to　evade。
　
　A　few　brief　moments　later；　Slave　Fs　viewscreen　lit　up　in　the　light　of　a　tremendous　explosion；　forcing　Boba　and　Jango　to　shield　their　eyes　with　their　arms。　When　they　recovered　and　looked　back；　they　were　greeted　by　pieces　of　wreckage　and　torn　chunks　of　metal。　The　scan　screen　was　clear。
　〃Got　him！〃　Boba　shouted。　〃Yeahhhh！〃　〃Nice　shot；　kid；〃　Jango　said；　and　he　tousled　Boba's　hair　again。　〃You　earned　that　one。　We　won't　see　him　again。〃
　
　A　few　deft　turns　had　Slave　I　out　of　the　asteroids　and　speeding　down　toward　Geonosis；　and　despite　his　earlier　reasoning；　Jango　Fett　allowed　Boba　to　guide　the　craft　down。　Truly；　this　was　no　flight　for　a　boy　to　pilot；　but　Boba　Fett　was　so　far　above　any　ordinary　boy。
　
　　Anakin　traveled　through　great　canyons　of　multicolored　stone；　across　dunes　of　blowing　and　shifting　sand；　and　along　an　ancient；　long…dry　riverbed。　His　only　guide　was　the　sensation　of　Shmi；　of　her　pain。　But　it　was　not　a　definitive　homing　beacon；　and　though　he　suspected　he　was　moving　in　the　general　direction；　the　landscape　of　Tatooine　was　vast　and　empty；　and　none　knew　how　to　hide　among　the　sand　and　stones　better　than　the　Tusken　Raiders。　On　a　high　bluff；　Anakin　paused　and　scanned　the　horizon。
　
　Off　to　the　south；　he　noted　a　huge　vehicle；　resembling　a　gigantic　tilting　box；　plodding　along　on　a　single　huge　track。　Nodding　with　recognition　of　the　Jawas；　and　well　aware　that　no　one　knew　the　movements　of　all　creatures　among　the　desert　better　than　they；　he　kicked　his　speeder　bike　away。　He　caught　up　to　them　soon　after；　riding　into　a　group　of　the