rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第35章

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hem　soon　after；　riding　into　a　group　of　the　brown…　and　black…robed　creatures；　their　inquisitive　red　eyes　poking　out　at　him　from　the　shadows　of　huge　cowls；　their　ceaseless　chatter　humming　like　strange　music　all　about　him。
　
　It　took　him　a　long　time　to　convince　the　Jawas　that　he　wasn't　interested　in　purchasing　any　droids；　and　a　longer　time　to　get　them　to　understand　that　he　was　merely　looking　for　information　about　any　Tusken　Raiders。
　
　The　Jawas　talked　excitedly　among　themselves；　pointing　this　way　and　that；　hopping　all　about。　Jawas　were　no　friends　of　Tuskens；　who　preyed　on　them　as　they　preyed　on　anyone　else　they　found　vulnerable。　Even　worse　to　the　Jawa　salesman　mentality；　Tuskens　never　purchased　any　droids！
　
　The　group　eventually　came　to　agreement；　and　pointed　as　one　to　the　east。　With　a　nod；　Anakin　sped　away。　The　lack　of　monetary　pensation　seemed　to　aggravate　the　Jawas；　but　Anakin　had　no　time　to　care。
　
　　The　asteroids　rolled　along　their　silent　way；　undisturbed；　seemingly　unshaken　from　the　explosions　and　zigzagging　vessels。
　
　In　a　deep　depression　on　the　back　side　of　one　such　rock　huddled　a　small　starfighter；　its　definitive　outline　and　consistent　colors　showing　stark　contrast　to　the　rough…edged　and　bleeding；　broken　mineral　streaks　of　the　asteroid。
　〃Blast。　This　is　why　I　hate　flying；〃　Obi…Wan　said　to　R4；　and　the　droid's　responding　beeps　showed　that　he　was　in　plete　agreement。　Few　things　could　rattle　the　Jedi　Knight；　but　engaging　in　a　space　battle　with　a　pilot　as　obviously　skilled　as　Jango　Fett　was　surely　one　of　them。　Unlike　many　of　his　Jedi　associates；　Obi…Wan　Kenobi　had　never　much　enjoyed　space　travel；　let　alone　piloting。
　
　He　winced　as　his　asteroid　came　over　and　around；　showing　him　again　a　glowing　piece　of　torn　metal　that　had　taken　up　orbit　within　the　belt。　His　ship　was　wounded　from　the　laser　blast…　nothing　substantial；　just　a　thruster…angler…　and　he　had　understood　that　he　could　not　hope　to　outmaneuver　the　clever　torpedo。　So　he　had　ordered　R4　to　eject　all　the　spare　parts　canisters；　and　fortunately；　that　had　been　enough　to　detonate　the　missile。　Despite　the　success；　between　the　shock　of　that　blast　and　landing　hard　and　fast　on　the　asteroid　to　plete　the　ruse；　Obi…Wan　was　relieved　to　see　that　his　ship　had　remained　intact。
　
　He　wanted　no　further　space　fights　with　Jango　and　his　strange；　and　supremely　efficient；　ship；　though；　and　so　he　had　sat　here　as　the　minutes　slipped　past。
　〃Have　you　got　their　last　trajectory　logged？〃　he　asked　the　droid；　then　nodded　as　R4　assured　him　that　he　did。　〃Well；　I　think　we've　waited　long　enough。　Let's　go。〃　Obi…Wan　paused　for　a　moment；　trying　to　digest　all　the　amazing　things　he　had　seen　on　the　trail　of　Jango　Fett。　〃This　mystery　gets　more　wound　up　all　the　time；　Arfour。　Think　maybe　we'll　finally　get　some　answers？〃　R4　gave　a　sound　that　Obi…Wan　could　only　think　of　as　a　verbal　shrug。
　
　Following　the　path　taken　by　Slave　/；　Obi…Wan　was　not　surprised　that　it　led　straight　for　the　red　planet；　Geonosis。　What　did　surprise　him；　though；　was　that　they　were　not　alone　up　there。
　
　A　series　of　beeps　and　whistles　from　R4　alerted　him；　and　Obi…Wan　adjusted　his　scan　screen　accordingly；　locking　on　to　a　huge　fleet　of　vessels；　settled　on　the　other　side　of　the　asteroid　belt。
　〃Trade　Federation　ships；〃　he　mused　aloud　as　he　angled　to　get　a　better　view。
　〃So　many？〃　He　shook　his　head　in　confusion；　noting　several　of　the　great　battleships　among　the　group；　their　unique　design　made　them　hard　to　miss…a　sphere　surrounded　by　a　nearly　enclosed　ring。　If　the　clone　army　was　for　the　Republic；　missioned　by　a　Jedi　Master；　and　Jango　Fett　was　the　basis　for　the　clones；　then　what　ties　would　Jango　have　to　the　Trade　Federation？　And　if　Jango　was　indeed　behind　the　assassination　attempts　on　Senator　Amidala；　the　leading　voice　of　opposition　to　creating　a　Republic　army；　then　why　would　the　Trade　Federation　approve？
　
　It　occurred　to　Obi…Wan　that　he　might　have　misjudged　Jango；　or　misjudged　his　motivations；　at　least。　Maybe　Jango；　like　Obi…Wan　and　Anakin；　had　been　chasing　the　bounty　hunter　who　had　tried　to　kill　Amidala。　Maybe　the　toxic　dart　had　been　fired　not　to　silence　the　would…be　assassin；　but　as　punishment　for　the　attempt　on　Amidala's　life。
　
　The　Jedi　couldn't　convince　himself　of　that；　though。　He　still　believed　that　Jango　was　the　man　behind　the　assassination　attempt；　and　that　he　had　killed　the　changeling　so　that　she　could　not　give　him　up。　But　why　the　clone　army？　And　why　the　Trade　Federation　ties？　There　was　no　apparent　logic　to　it。　He　knew　that　he　would　get　no　answers　up　here；　so　he　took　his　ship　down　toward　Geonosis；　keeping　the　asteroid　belt　between　him　and　the　Trade　Federation　fleet。
　
　He　went　down　low　as　soon　as　he　broke　Geonosis'　atmosphere；　ducking　below　any　tracking　systems　that　might　be　in　place；　skimming　the　red　plains　and　broken　stones；　weaving　around　the　buttes　and　mesas。　The　whole　of　the　planet　seemed　a　barren　and　arid　red　plain；　but　his　scanners　did　pick　up　some　activity　in　the　distance。　Obi…Wan　skimmed　that　way；　climbing　one　mesa　and　running　low　to　its　far　end。　He　slid　his　ship　under　a　rocky　overhang　and　put　her　down；　then　climbed　out　and　walked　to　the　mesa　edge。　The　night　air　had　a　curious　metallic　taste　to　it；　and　the　temperature　was　fortable。　A　strong　breeze　blew　in　Obi…Wan's　face；　carrying　that　metallic　taste　and　odor；　and　the　occasional　strange　cry。
　〃I'll　be　back；　Arfour。〃
　
　The　droid　gave　a　long　〃ooooo。〃
　〃You'll　be　fine；〃　Obi…Wan　assured　him。　〃And　I　won't　be　long。〃　Glad　to　be　back　on　the　ground　once　again；　Obi…Wan　checked　his　bearings；　measured　against　the　area　where　he　had　noted　the　activity；　and　started　off；　moving　along　a　rocky　trail。
　
　　The　hours　were　unbearable　for　Padme。　Owen　and　Beru　were　friendly　enough；　and　Cliegg　was　obviously　glad　for　the　added　pany　in　his　time　of　great　concern　and　profound　grief；　but　she　could　hardly　speak　to　them；　so　worried　was　she　for　Anakin。　She　had　never　seen　him　in　a　mood　like　the　one　that　had　taken　him　from　the　moisture　farm；　his　determination　so　palpable；　so　consuming；　that　it　seemed　almost　destructive。　She　had　felt　Anakin's　power　in　that　parting；　an　inner　strength　beyond　anything　she　had　ever　known。
　
　If　his　mother　was　indeed　alive；　and　she　believed　that　Shmi　was；　since　Anakin　had　said　so；　Padme　knew　that　no　army　would　be　strong　enough　to　keep　the　young　Jedi　from　her。
　
　She　didn't　sleep　that　night；　rising　often　from　her　bed　and　pacing　all　about　the　pound。　She　wandered　into　the　garage　area；　alone　with　her　thoughts…or　so　she　believed。
　〃Hello；　Miss　Padme；〃　came　a　chipper　voice；　and　as　soon　as　Padme　got　over　the　initial　shock；　she　recognized　the　speaker。
　〃You　can't　sleep？〃　C…3PO　asked。
　〃No；　I　have　too　many　things　on　my　mind；　I　guess。〃
　〃Are　you　worried　about　your　work　in　the　Senate？〃
　〃No；　I'm　just　concerned　about　Anakin。　I　said　things　。　。　。　I'm　afraid　I　might　have　hurt　him。　I　don't　know。　Maybe　I　only　hurt　myself。　For　the　first　time　in　my　life；　I'm　confused。〃
　〃I'm　not　sure　it　will　make　you　feel　any　better；　Miss　Padme；　but　I　don't　think　there's　been　a　time　in　my　life　when　I　haven't　been　confused。〃
　〃I　want　him　to　know　that　I　care　about　him；　Threepio；〃　Padme　said　quietly。
　〃I　do　care　about　him。　And　now　he's　out　there；　and　in　danger…〃
　〃Don't　worry　about　Master　Annie；〃　the　droid　assured　her；　moving　over　to　pat　her　shoulder。　〃He　can　take　care　of　himself。　Even　in　this　awful　place。〃
　〃Awful？〃　Padme　asked。　〃You're　not　happy　here？〃
　
　C…3PO　stepped　back　and　held　his　hands　out　wide；　showing　his　battered　coverings　and　the　chipped　insulation　in　those　areas　where　some　of　his　wiring　showed。　Padme　moved　forward；　bending　to　see；　and　noticed　sand　clinging　in　many　of　the　droid's　joints。
　〃Well；　this　is　a　very　harsh　environment；　I'm　afraid；〃　the　droid　explained。
　〃And　when　Master　Annie　made　me；　he　never　quite　found　the　time　to　give　me　any　outer　coverings。　Mistress　Shmi　did　well　in　finishing　me；　but　even　with　the　coverings；　the　wind　and　the　sand　are　quite　harsh。　It　gets　in　under　my　coverings；　and　it's　quite　。　。　。　itchy。〃　〃Itchy？〃　Padme　echoed　with　a　laugh…　a　much…needed　laugh。
　〃I　do　not　know　how　else　to　describe　it；　Miss　Padme。　And　I　fear　that　the　sand　is　doing　damage　to　my　wiring。〃
　
　Padme　looked　all　around；　her　gaze　settling　on　a　chain　hoist　over　an　open　tub　of　dark　liquid。　〃You　need　an　oil　bath；〃　she　said。
　〃Oh；　I　would　wele　a　bath！〃
　
　Glad　for　the　distraction；　Padme　moved　to　the　oil　tub　and　began　sorting　out　the　hoist　chain。　In　a　short　while　she　had　C…3PO　secured　and　everything　in　place；　and　she　gently　lowered　the　droid　into　the　oil。
　〃Oooh！〃　the　droid　cried。　〃That　tickles！〃
　〃Tickles？　You're　sure　it's　not　an　itch？〃
　〃I　do　know　the　difference　between　a　tickle　and　an　itch；〃　C…3PO　answered。
　
　Padme　giggled　and　forgot；　for　a　while；　all　of　her　troubles。
　
　　As　soon　as　he　came　upon　the　grisly　scene；　Anakin　knew　that　it　was　the　work　of　Tuskens。　Three　farmers；　likely　some　of　those　whom　Cliegg　had　been　with　before　being　forced　to　return　home；　lay　dead　about　a　campfire；　their　bodies　battered　and　torn。　A　pair　of　copies；　long…legged　dromedaries　with　big　padded　feet　and　equine　faces　that　showed　little　intelligence；　stood　tethered　nearby；　lowing　mournfully；　and　beyond　them　hung　the　smoking　remains　of　a　speeder。
　
　Anakin　ran　his　fingers　through　his　short　hair。　〃Calm　down；〃　he　told　himself。　〃Find　her。〃　He　fell　within　himself　then；　within　the　Force；　and　sent　his　senses　out　far　and　wide；　needing　the　confirmation　that　his　mother　had　not　yet　met　a　similar　fate。
　
　A　stab　of　pain　assaulted　him；　and　a　cry　that　was　both　hopeful　and　helpless　entered　his　mind。
　〃Mom；〃　he　mouthed　breathlessly；　and　he　knew　that　time　was　running　out；　that　Shmi　was　in　terrible　pain　and　was　barely　holding　on。　He　didn't　have　the　time　to　bury　the　poor　farmers；　but　he　did　resolve　to　e　back　for　them。　He　jumped　astride　the　speeder　bike　and　put　it　flat　out；　rushing　across　the　dark　desert　landscape；　following　Shmi's　call。
　
　　The　trail　was　narrow　and　steep；　but　at　least　Obi…Wan　was　back　on　solid　footing。
　
　Or　almost　solid；　he　realized；　as　a　shrill　shriek　split　the　air；　startling　him。　His　foot　slipped。　He　nearly　tumbled　but　caught　his　balance；　as　a　bunch　of　stones　fell　loose；　bouncing　down　the　side　of　the　mesa。
　
　The　Jedi　drew　out　his　lightsaber　but　did　not　ignite　it。　He　moved　along　cautiously；　down　and　around　a　bend　in　the　rocky　path。
　
　He　saw　the　large；　lizardlike　creature　ing　for　him；　its　huge　fangs　dripping　lines　of　drool。　It　stood　on　strong　hind　legs；　its　little　forelegs　twitching　eagerly。　The　lightsaber　hummed　to　life　and　Obi…Wan　dived　down　to　the　side；　slashing　back　as　he　fell；　opening　the　creature's　side　from　foreleg　to　hind。　The　creature　landed　and　tried　to　turn；　but　as　it　spasmed　in　pain；　it　overbalanced　and　fell　off　the　trail；　plummeting　hundreds　of　feet　and　shrieking　all　the　way。
　
　Obi…Wan　had　no　time　to　watch　the　descent；　though；　for　another　of　the　beasts　appeared；　ing　at　him　fast；　its　toothy　maw　open　wide。　The　Jedi　filled　that　maw　with　lightsaber；　shearing　through　teeth　and　gums；　driving　the　blade　right　through　the　back　of　the　creature's　head。　He　pulled　hard　to　the　side；　the　energy　blade　tearing　right　through　the　beast's　skull；　and　turned　to　face　yet　another　leaping　beast。　Falling　back　and　down；　he　let　th