rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第37章

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droids；　the　potential　danger　was　staggering。　Was　that　why　Sifo…Dyas　had　missioned　the　clone　army？　Had　the　Master　sensed　this　growing　danger；　perhaps？　But　if　that　was　true；　then　what　was　the　tie　between　Jango　Fett　and　this　group　on　Geonosis？　Was　it　mere　coincidence　that　the　man　chosen　as　source　for　the　clone　army　to　defend　the　Republic　had　been　hired　by　the　Trade　Federation　to　kill　Senator　Amidala？　It　seemed　too　much　a　coincidence　to　Obi…Wan；　but　he　had　little　else　to　go　on。　He　wanted　to　hang　around　and　listen　in　some　more；　but　he　knew　then　that　he　had　to　get　out　of　there；　had　to　return　to　his　ship　and　R4；　and　get　a　warning　out　across　the　galaxy　to　the　Jedi　Council。
　
　Over　the　last　hours；　Obi…Wan　had　seen　nothing　but　armies；　clone　and　droid；　and　he　knew　that　it　would　all　be　ing　together　very　quickly　in　an　explosion　beyond　anything　the　galaxy　had　seen　in　many；　many　centuries。
　
　Chapter　Twenty
　
　She　wasn't　seeing　much　with　her　eyes。　Caked　with　blood　and　swollen　from　the　beatings；　they　would　hardly　open。　She　wasn't　hearing　much　with　her　ears；　for　the　sounds　around　her　were　harsh　and　threatening；　relentlessly　so。　And　she　wasn't　feeling　with　her　body；　for　there　was　nothing　there　but　pain。
　
　No；　Shmi　had　fallen　inside　herself；　reliving　those　moments　long　ago；　when　she　and　Anakin　had　lived　their　lives　as　Watto's　slaves。　It　was　not　an　easy　life；　but　she　had　her　Annie　with　her；　and　given　that；　Shmi　could　remember　those　times　fondly。　Only　now；　with　the　prospects　for　ever　seeing　her　son　again　so　distant；　did　she　truly　appreciate　how　much　she　had　missed　the　boy　over　the　last　ten　years。　All　those　times　staring　up　at　the　night　sky；　she　had　thought　of　him；　had　imagined　him　soaring　across　the　galaxy；　rescuing　the　downtrodden；　saving　planets　from　ravaging　monsters　and　evil　tyrants。
　
　But　she　had　always　expected　to　see　her　Annie　again；　had　always　expected　him　to　walk　onto　the　moisture　farm　one　day；　that　impish　smile　of　his；　the　one　that　could　light　up　a　room；　greeting　her　as　if　they　had　never　been　apart。　Shmi　had　loved　Cliegg　and　Owen。　Truly　she　had。　Cliegg　was　her　rescuer；　her　dashing　knight；　and　Owen　had　been　like　the　son　she　had　lost；　always　passionate；　always　happy　to　listen　to　her　endless　stories　of　Anakin's　exploits。　And　Shmi　was　growing　to　love　Beru；　too。　Who　could　not？　Beru　was　that　special　bination　of　passion　and　quiet　inner　strength。
　
　But　despite　the　good　fortune　that　had　brought　those　three　into　her　life；　improving　her　lot　a　millionfold；　Shmi　Skywalker　had　always　kept　a　special　place　in　her　heart　reserved　for　her　Annie；　her　son；　her　hero。　And　so　now；　as　it　seemed　the　end　of　her　life　was　imminent；　Shmi's　thoughts　focused　on　those　memories　she　had　of　Anakin；　while　at　the　same　time；　she　reached　out　to　him　with　her　heart。　He　was　always　different　with　such　feelings；　always　so　attuned　to　that　mysterious　Force。　The　Jedi　who　had　e　to　Tatooine　had　seen　it　in　him　clearly。
　
　Perhaps；　then；　Annie　would　feel　her　love　for　him　now。　She　needed　that；　needed　to　plete　the　cycle；　to　let　her　son　recognize　that　through　it　all；　through　the　missing　years　and　the　great　distances　between　them；　she　had　loved　him　unconditionally　and　had　thought　of　him　constantly。
　
　Annie　was　her　fort；　her　place　to　hide　from　the　pain　the　Tuskens　had；　and　were；　exacting　upon　her　battered　body。　Every　day　they　came　in　and　tortured　her　a　bit　more；　prodding　her　with　sharp　spears　or　beating　her　with　the　blunt　shafts　and　short　whips。　It　was　more　than　a　desire　to　inflict　pain；　Shmi　realized；　though　she　didn't　speak　their　croaking　language。　This　was　the　Tusken　way　of　measuring　their　enemies；　and　from　the　nods　and　the　tone　of　their　voices；　she　realized　that　her　resilience　had　impressed　them。
　
　They　didn't　know　that　her　resilience　was　wrought　of　a　mother's　love。　Without　the　memories　of　Annie　and　the　hope　that　he　would　feel　her　love　for　him；　she　would　surely　have　given　up　long　ago　and　allowed　herself　to　die。
　
　　Under　the　pale　light　of　a　full　moon；　Anakin　Skywalker　pulled　the　speeder　bike　to　the　ridge　of　a　high　dune　and　peered　across　the　desert　wastes　of　Tatooine。　Not　too　far　below　him；　he　saw　an　encampment　spread　about　a　small　oasis；　and　he　knew　at　once；　even　before　spotting　a　figure；　that　it　was　a　Tusken　camp。　He　could　sense　his　mother　down　there；　could　feel　her　pain。
　
　He　crept　closer；　studying　the　straw　and　skin　huts　for　any　anomalies　that　might　clue　him　in　to　their　respective　purposes。　One　especially　sturdy　hut　at　the　edge　of　the　oasis　caught　and　held　his　attention：　It　seemed　less　tended　than　the　others；　yet　more　solidly　constructed。　As　he　came　around　a　bit　more；　he　grew　even　more　intrigued；　noting　that　only　one　hut　was　guarded；　by　a　pair　of　Tuskens　flanking　the　entrance。　〃Oh；　Mom；〃　Anakin　whispered。
　
　Silent　as　a　shadow；　the　Padawan　slipped　through　the　encampment；　moving　hut　to　hut；　flat　against　walls　and　belly…crawling　across　open　spaces；　working　his　way　gradually　toward　the　hut　he　felt　held　his　mother。　He　came　against　its　side　at　last；　and　put　his　hands　against　the　soft　skin　wall；　feeling　the　emotions　and　pain　of　the　person　within。　A　quick　glance　around　the　front　showed　him　the　two　Tusken　guards；　sitting　a　short　distance　in　front　of　the　door。
　
　Anakin　drew　and　ignited　his　lightsaber；　then　crouched　low；　shielding　the　glow　as　much　as　he　could。　He　slid　the　energy　blade　through　the　wall　and　easily　cut　the　material　away；　then；　without　even　pausing　to　see　if　any　Tuskens　were　inside；　he　crawled　through。
　〃Mom；〃　he　breathed　again；　and　his　legs　weakened　beneath　him。　The　room　was　lit　by　dozens　of　candles；　and　by　a　shaft　of　pale　moonlight；　streaming　through　a　hole　in　the　roof；　illuminating　the　figure　of　Shmi；　tied　facing　against　a　rack　to　the　side　of　the　tent。　Her　arms　were　outstretched；　bound　at　bloodied　wrists；　and　her　face；　when　she　turned　to　the　side；　showed　the　weeks　of　beatings。
　
　Anakin　quickly　cut　her　free　and　gently　lowered　her　from　the　perch；　into　his　arms　and　then　down　to　the　floor。
　〃Mom　。　。　。　Mom　。　。　。　Mom；〃　he　whispered　softly。　Anakin　knew　that　she　was　alive；　though　she　did　not　immediately　respond　and　had　e　down　so　pitifully　limp。　He　could　feel　her　in　the　Force；　though　she　was　a　thin；　thin　sensation。
　
　He　cradled　her　head　and　kept　repeating　her　name　softly；　and　finally；　Shmi's　eyelids　fluttered　open　as　much　as　she　could　manage　through　the　swelling　and　the　dried　blood。
　〃Annie？〃　she　whispered　back。　He　could　feel　her　wheezing　as　she　tried　to　speak；　and　knew　that　many　of　her　ribs　had　been　crushed。　〃Annie？　Is　it　you？〃　Gradually　her　eyes　began　to　focus　upon　him；　and　he　could　see　a　thin　smile　of　recognition　ing　to　her　battered　face。
　〃I'm　here；　Mom；〃　he　told　her。　〃You're　safe　now。　Hang　on。　I'm　going　to　get　you　out　of　here。〃
　〃Annie？　Annie？〃　Shmi　replied；　and　she　tilted　her　head；　the　way　she　often　had　when　Anakin　was　a　boy；　seeming　quite　amused　by　him。　〃You　look　so　handsome。〃
　〃Save　your　strength；　Mom；〃　he　said；　trying　to　calm　her。　〃We've　got　to　get　away　from　here。〃
　〃My　son；〃　Shmi　went　on；　and　she　seemed　to　be　in　a　different　place　than　Anakin；　a　safer　place。　〃My　grown…up　son。　I　knew　you'd　e　back　to　me。　I　knew　it　all　along。〃
　
　Anakin　tried　again　to　tell　her　to　lie　still　and　save　her　strength；　but　the　words　simply　wouldn't　e　out　of　his　mouth。　〃I'm　so　proud　of　you；　Annie。　So　proud。　I　missed　you　so　much。〃
　〃I　missed　you；　too；　Mom；　but　we　can　talk　later　。。。〃　〃Now　I　am　plete；〃　Shmi　announced　then；　and　she　looked　straight　up；　past　Anakin；　past　the　hole　in　the　ceiling；　to　the　shining　moon；　it　seemed。
　
　Somewhere　deep　inside；　Anakin　understood。　〃Just　stay　with　me；　Mom；〃　he　pleaded；　and　he　had　to　work　very　hard　to　keep　the　desperation　out　of　his　voice。　〃I'm　going　to　make　you　well　again。　Everything's　。　。　。　going　to　be　fine。〃
　〃I　love。。。〃　Shmi　started　to　say；　but　then　she　went　very　still；　and　Anakin　saw　the　light　leave　her　eyes。
　
　Anakin　could　hardly　draw　his　breath。　Wide…eyed　with　disbelief；　he　lifted　Shmi　to　his　breast　and　rocked　her　there　for　a　long　time。　She　couldn't　be　gone！　She　just　couldn't！　He　pulled　her　back　again；　staring　into　her　eyes；　silently　pleading　with　her　to　answer　him。　But　there　was　no　light　there；　no　flicker　of　life。　He　hugged　her　close；　rocking　her。
　
　Then　he　laid　her　back　to　the　floor　and　gently　closed　her　eyes。　Anakin　didn't　know　what　to　do。　He　sat　motionless；　staring　at　his　dead　mother；　then　looked　up；　his　blue　eyes　blazing　with　hatred　and　rage。　He　replayed　all　of　the　recent　events　of　his　life　in　his　head；　wondering　what　he　might　have　done　differently；　done　better；　to　keep　Shmi　alive。　He　should　never　have　left　her　here　in　the　first　place；　he　realized；　should　never　have　let　Qui…　Gon　take　him　away　from　Tatooine　without　bringing　his　mother　along；　as　well。
　
　She　said　she　was　proud　of　him；　but　how　could　he　deserve　her　pride　if　he　could　not　even　save　her？
　
　He　wanted　Shmi　to　be　proud　of　him；　wanted　to　tell　his　mom　all　about　the　things　that　had　e　into　his　life；　his　Jedi　training；　all　the　good　work　he　had　already　done；　and　most　of　all；　about　Padme。　Oh　how　he　had　wanted　his　mom　to　get　to　know　Padme！　She　would　have　loved　her。　How　could　she　not？　And　Padme　would　have　loved　her。
　
　Now　what　was　he　going　to　do？
　
　The　minutes　slipped　past　and　Anakin　just　sat　there；　immobilized　by　his　confusion；　by　a　budding　rage　and　the　most　profound　sense　of　emptiness　he　had　ever　known。　Only　when　the　pale　light　began　to　grow　around　him；　making　the　low…burning　candles　seem　even　thinner；　did　he　even　remember　where　he　was。
　
　He　looked　about；　wondering　how　he　might　get　his　mother's　body　out　of　there…　for　he　certainly　wasn't　going　to　leave　it　to　the　Tusken　Raiders。　He　could　hardly　move；　though。　There　seemed　a　profound　pointlessness　to　it　all；　a　series　of　motions　without　meaning。
　
　At　that　time；　the　only　meaning；　the　only　purpose；　that　Anakin　could　fathom　was　that　of　the　rage　building　within　him；　an　anger　at　losing　someone　he　did　not　wish　to　give　up。
　
　Some　small　part　of　him　warned　him　not　to　give　in　to　that　anger；　warned　him　that　such　emotions　were　of　the　dark　side。
　
　Then　he　looked　at　Shmi　lying　there；　so　still；　seeming　at　peace　but　covered　with　the　clear　evidence　of　all　the　pain　that　had　been　inflicted　upon　her　poor　body　these　last　days。
　
　The　Jedi　Padawan　climbed　to　his　feet　and　took　up　his　lightsaber；　then　boldly　strode　through　the　door。
　
　The　two　Tusken　guards　gave　a　yelp　and　lifted　their　staves；　rushing　for　him；　but　the　blue…glowing　blade　ignited；　and　in　a　flash　of　killing　light；　Anakin　took　them　down；　left　and　right。
　
　The　rage　was　not　sated。
　
　　Deep　in　his　meditations；　peering　through　the　dark　side；　Master　Yoda　felt　a　sudden　surge　of　anger；　of　outrage　beyond　control。　The　diminutive　Master's　eyes　popped　open　wide　at　the　overwhelming　strength　of　that　rage。　And　then　he　heard　a　voice；　a　familiar　voice；　crying；　〃No；　Anakin！　No！　Don't！　No！〃
　
　It　was　Qui…Gon。　Yoda　knew　that　it　was　Qui…Gon。　But　Qui…Gon　was　dead；　had　bee　one　with　the　Force！　One　could　not　retain　consciousness　and　sense　of　self　in　that　state；　one　could　not　speak　from　beyond　the　grave。　But　Yoda　had　heard　the　ghostly　call；　and　in　his　deep　meditative　state；　his　thoughts　focused　as　precisely　as　they　had　ever　been；　the　Jedi　Master　knew　that　he　had　not　been　mistaken。
　
　He　wanted　to　focus　on　th