rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第39章

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　Padme　sat　back　a　bit；　too　stunned　to　respond。　She　knew　that　Anakin　needed　her　to　say　something　or　do　something；　but　she　was　paralyzed。　He　wasn't　even　looking　at　her…he　was　just　staring　off　into　the　distance。　But　then　he　lowered　his　head　and　began　to　sob；　his　lean；　strong　shoulders　shaking。　Padme　pulled　him　in　and　hugged　him　close；　never　wanting　to　let　go。　She　still　didn't　know　what　to　say。
　〃Why　do　I　hate　them？〃　Anakin　asked　her。
　〃Do　you　hate　them；　or　do　you　hate　what　they　did　to　your　mother？〃
　〃I　hate　them！〃　he　insisted。
　〃And　they　earned　your　anger；　Anakin。〃
　
　He　looked　up　at　her；　his　eyes　wet　with　tears。　〃But　it　was　more　than　that；〃　he　started　to　say；　and　then　he　shook　his　head　and　buried　his　face　against　the　softness　of　her　breast。
　
　A　moment　later；　he　looked　back　up；　his　expression　showing　that　he　was　determined　to　explain。　〃I　didn't　。。。　I　couldn't。。。〃　He　held　one　hand　up　outstretched；　then　clenched　it　into　a　fist。　〃I　couldn't　control　myself；〃　he　admitted。　〃I　。。。　I　don't　want　to　hate　them…I　know　that　there　is　no　place　for　hatred。　But　I　just　can't　forgive　them！〃
　〃To　be　angry　is　to　be　human；〃　Padme　assured　him。
　〃To　control　your　anger　is　to　be　a　Jedi；〃　Anakin　was　quick　to　reply；　and　he　pulled　away　from　her　and　stood　up；　turning　to　face　the　open　door　and　the　desert　beyond。
　
　Padme　was　right　there　beside　him；　draping　her　arms　about　him。　〃Shhh；〃　she　said　softly。　She　kissed　him　gently　on　the　cheek。　〃You're　human。〃
　〃No；　I'm　a　Jedi。　I　know　I'm　better　than　this。〃　He　looked　at　her　directly；　shaking　his　head。　〃I'm　sorry。　I'm　so　sorry。〃
　〃You're　like　everybody　else；〃　Padme　said。　She　tried　to　draw　closer；　but　Anakin　held　himself　back　from　her。
　
　He　couldn't　hold　the　pose　of　defiance　for　long；　though；　before　he　broke　down　again　in　sobs。
　
　Padme　was　there　to　hold　him　and　rock　him　and　tell　him　that　everything　would　be　all　right。
　
　　Obi…Wan　Kenobi　slumped　back　in　the　seat　of　his　starfighter；　shaking　his　head　in　frustration。　It　had　taken　him　a　long　while　to　extract　himself　safely　from　the　factory　city；　and　when　he　had　at　last　found　his　starfighter；　he　had　thought　the　adventure　over。　But　not　so。　〃The　transmitter　is　working；〃　he　told　R4；　who　tootled　his　agreement。　〃But　we're　not　receiving　a　return　signal。　Coruscant's　too　far。〃　He　spun　to　face　the　droid。　〃Can　you　boost　the　power？〃
　
　The　beeps　that　came　back　at　him　were　not　forting。
　〃Okay；　then　we'll　have　to　try　something　else。〃　Obi…Wan　looked　around　for　an　answer。　He　didn't　want　to　lift　off　from　the　planet　and　risk　detection；　but　so　far　out　and　within　the　heavy　and　metallic　Geonosian　atmosphere；　he　had　no　chance　of　reaching　distant　Coruscant。
　〃Naboo　is　closer；〃　he　said　suddenly；　and　R4　beeped。　〃Maybe　we　can　contact　Anakin　and　get　the　information　relayed。〃
　
　R4　replied　with　enthusiasm　and　Obi…Wan　climbed　back　out　of　the　cockpit　to　repeat　the　message　with　the　changes　for　Anakin。
　
　A　few　moments　later；　though；　the　droid　signaled　him　that　something　was　wrong。
　
　With　a　frustrated　growl；　the　Jedi　climbed　back　up　into　the　cockpit。
　〃How　can　he　not　be　on　Naboo？〃　he　asked；　and　R4　gave　an　〃oooo。〃　　Rather　than　argue　with　a　droid；　Obi…Wan　checked　the　instruments　himself。　Sure　enough；　Anakin's　signal　was　not　to　be　found　ing　from　Naboo。
　〃Anakin？　Anakin？　Do　you　copy？　This　is　Obi…Wan　Kenobi？〃　he　said；　lifting　his　ship　m　directly　and　shooting　the　call　out　toward　the　general　area　of　Naboo。
　
　After　several　minutes　with　no　response；　the　Jedi　put　the　m　back　down　and　turned　to　R4。　〃He's　not　on　Naboo；　Arfour。　I'm　going　to　try　to　widen　the　search。　I　hope　nothing's　happened　to　him。〃
　
　He　sat　back　as　the　minutes　slipped　past。　He　knew　that　he　was　losing　precious　time；　but　his　choices　were　limited。　He　couldn't　head　back　to　the　city　and　risk　capture；　not　with　so　much　vital　news　to　relay　to　the　Jedi　Council；　nor　did　he　want　to　blast　away；　for　the　same　reasons。　He　still　had　so　much　to　learn　here。
　
　So　he　waited；　and　finally；　some　time　later；　R4　tootled　emphatically。　Obi…　Wan　moved　to　the　controls；　his　eyes　widening　as　he　got　the　confirmation。
　〃That's　Anakin's　tracking　signal　all　right；　but　it's　ing　from　Tatooine！　What　in　the　blazes　is　he　doing　there？　I　told　him　to　stay　on　Naboo！〃　R4　gave　another　〃oooo。〃
　〃All　right；　we're　all　set…we'll　get　these　answers　later。〃　He　climbed　back　out　of　the　cockpit　and　jumped　to　the　ground。　〃Transmit；　Arfour。　We　haven't　much　time。〃
　
　The　droid　locked　on　to　him　immediately。
　〃Anakin？〃　Obi…Wan　asked。　〃Anakin；　do　you　copy？　This　is　Obi…Wan　Kenobi。〃　R4　relayed　the　response；　a　series　of　beeps　and　whistles　that　the　R4…P　didn't　normally　use；　but　ones　quite　familiar　to　Obi…Wan。
　〃Artoo？　Good；　are　you　reading　me　clearly？〃
　
　The　whistle　came　back　affirmative。
　〃Record　this　message　and　take　it　to　the　Jedi　Skywalker；〃　Obi…Wan　instructed　the　distant　droid。
　
　Another　affirmative　beep。
　〃Anakin；　my　long…range　transmitter　is　knocked　out。　Retransmit　this　message　to　Coruscant。〃
　
　The　Jedi　began　to　tell　his　tale　then。　He　didn't　know　that　the　Geonosians　had　picked　up　his　signal　broadcasts　and　had　triangulated　those　receptions　to　locate　his　starfighter。　Wound　up　in　his　tale；　he　didn't　notice　the　approach　of　the　armed　droidekas；　rolling　up　near　to　him；　then　unrolling　to　their　attack　posture。
　
　　Even　the　two　blazing　Tatooine　suns　could　not　brighten　the　somber　mood；　the　tangible　grayness　permeating　the　air；　around　the　new　grave　outside　the　Lars　pound。　Two　old　headstones　marked　the　ground　next　to　the　new　one；　a　poignant　reminder　of　the　difficulties　of　life　on　the　harsh　world　of　Tatooine。　The　five　of　them…Cliegg；　Anakin；　Padme；　Owen；　and　Beru…had　gathered；　along　with　C…3PO；　to　bid　farewell　to　Shmi。
　〃I　know　wherever　you　are；　it's　bee　a　better　place；〃　Cliegg　Lars　said；　and　he　took　a　handful　of　sand　and　tossed　it　on　the　new　grave。　〃You　were　the　most　loving　partner　a　man　could　ever　have。　Good…bye；　my　darling　wife。　And　thank　you。〃
　
　He　glanced　briefly　at　Anakin；　then　lowered　his　head　and　fought　back　tears。　Anakin　stepped　forward　and　knelt　before　the　marker。　He　picked　up　a　handful　of　sand　and　let　it　slip　through　his　fingers。
　〃I　wasn't　strong　enough　to　save　you；　Mom；〃　the　young　man　said；　suddenly　feeling　more　like　a　boy。　His　shoulders　bobbed　once　or　twice；　but　he　fought　to　regain　control；　and　took　a　deep　and　determined　breath。　〃I　wasn't　strong　enough。　But　I　promise　I　won't　fail　again。〃　His　breathing　came　in　short　rasps　as　another　wave　of　grief　nearly　toppled　him。　But　the　young　Padawan　squared　his　shoulders　and　determinedly　stood　up。　〃I　miss　you　so　much。〃
　
　Padme　came　forward　and　put　her　hand　on　Anakin's　shoulder；　and　all　of　them　stood　silent　before　the　grave。
　
　The　moment　held　only　briefly；　though；　broken　by　a　series　of　urgent　beeps　and　whistles。　They　turned　as　one　to　see　R2…D2　rolling　their　way。
　〃Artoo；　what　are　you　doing　here？〃　Padme　asked。
　
　The　droid　whistled　frantically。
　〃It　seems　that　he　is　carrying　a　message　from　someone　named　Obi…Wan　Kenobi；〃
　
　C…3PO　quickly　translated。　〃Does　that　mean　anything　to　you；　Master　Anakin？〃　Anakin　squared　his　shoulders。　〃What　is　it？〃
　
　R2…D2　beeped　and　whistled。　〃Retransmit？〃　Anakin　asked。　〃Why；　what's　wrong？〃
　〃He　says　it's　quite　important；〃　C…3PO　observed。
　
　With　a　look　to　Cliegg　and　the　other　two；　silently　seeking　their　permission；　Anakin；　Padme；　and　C…3PO　followed　the　excited　droid　back　to　the　Naboo　ship。　As　soon　as　they　got　inside；　R2　beeped　and　spun；　and　projected　an　image　of　Obi…Wan　in　front　of　them。
　〃Anakin；　my　long…range　transmitter　has　been　knocked　out；〃　the　Jedi's　hologram　explained。　〃Retransmit　this　message　to　Coruscant。〃　R2　stopped　the　message　there；　with　Obi…Wan　seeming　to　freeze　in　place。
　
　Anakin　looked　at　Padme。　〃Patch　it　through　to　the　Jedi　Council　chamber。〃
　
　Padme　stepped　over　and　flipped　a　button；　then　waited　for　confirmation　that　the　signal　was　getting　through。　She　nodded　to　Anakin；　who　turned　back　to　R2。
　〃Go　ahead；　Artoo。〃
　
　The　droid　gave　a　beep；　and　Obi…Wan's　hologram　began　to　move　once　more。　〃I　have　tracked　the　bounty　hunter　Jango　Fett　to　the　droid　foundries　of　Geonosis。　The　Trade　Federation　is　to　take　delivery　of　a　droid　army　here　and　it　is　clear　that　Viceroy　Gun…ray　is　behind　the　assassination　attempts　on　Senator　Amidala。〃
　
　Anakin　and　Padme　exchanged　knowing　glances；　neither　of　them　very　surprised　by　that　information。　Padme　thought　back　to　her　meeting　with　Typho　and　Panaka　on　Naboo；　before　she　had　left　for　Coruscant；　secretly　escorting　the　doomed　starship。　〃The　merce　Guild　and　Corporate　Alliance　have　both　pledged　their　armies　to　Count　Dooku　and　are　forming　an…〃
　
　The　hologram　swung　about。　〃Wait！　Wait！〃
　
　Anakin　and　Padme　cringed　as　droidekas　appeared　in　the　hologram　along　with　Obi…Wan；　grabbing　at　him　and　restraining　him。　The　hologram　flickered；　then　broke　apart。
　
　Anakin　jumped　up　and　rushed　at　R2…D2；　but　pulled　up　short；　realizing　that　there　was　nothing　he　could　do。
　
　Nothing　at　all。
　
　　On　distant　Coruscant；　Yoda　and　Mace　Windu　and　the　other　members　of　the　Jedi　Council　watched　the　hologram　transmission　with　trepidation　and　great　sadness。
　〃He　is　alive；〃　Yoda　announced；　after　yet　another　viewing。　〃I　feel　him　in　the　Force。〃
　〃But　they　have　taken　him；〃　Mace　put　in。　〃And　the　wheels　have　begun　to　spin　more　dangerously。〃
　〃More　happening　on　Geonosis；　I　feel；　than　has　been　revealed。〃
　〃I　agree；〃　Mace　said。　〃We　must　not　sit　idly　by。〃　He　looked　at　Yoda；　as　did　everyone　else　in　the　room；　and　the　little　Jedi　Master　closed　his　eyes；　seemingly　very　weary　and　very　pained　by　it　all。
　〃The　dark　side；　I　feel；〃　he　said。　〃And　all　is　cloudy。〃
　
　Mace　nodded　and　turned　a　grim　expression　on　the　others。
　〃Assemble；〃　he　ordered；　a　mand　that　had　not　been　given　to　the　Jedi　Council　in　many；　many　years。
　〃We　will　deal　with　Count　Dooku；〃　Mace　said　through　the　link　to　Anakin。
　〃The　most　important　thing　for　you；　Anakin；　is　to　stay　where　you　are。　Protect　the　Senator　at　all　costs。　That　is　your　first　priority。〃
　〃Understood；　Master；〃　Anakin　replied。
　
　His　tone；　so　full　of　resignation　and　defeat；　struck　Padme　profoundly。　It　galled　the　fiery　Senator　to　think　that　Anakin　would　be　stuck　here　looking　over　her；　when　his　Master　was　in　obvious　danger。
　
　As　the　hologram　switched　off；　she　moved　to　the　ship's　console　and　began　flicking　switches　and　checking　coordinates；　confirming　what　she　already　knew。　〃They　have　to　e　halfway　across　the　galaxy；〃　she　said；　turning　to　Anakin；　who　seemed　not　to　care。　〃They'll　never　get　there　in　time　to　save　him。〃
　
　Still　no　response。
　〃Look；　Geonosis　is　less　than　a　parsec　away！〃　Padme　announced；　flipping　a　few　more　controls　to　show　the　flight　line　on　the　viewscreen。　〃Anakin？〃
　〃You　heard　him。〃
　〃They　can't　get　from　Coruscant　in　time　to　save　him！〃　Padme　reiterated；　her　voice　rising。　She　started　flicking　the　switches　on　the　panel；　preparing　the　engines　for　firing；　but　Anakin　gently　put　his　hand　over　hers；　stopping　her。
　〃If　he's　still　alive；〃　the　young　Jedi　answered　somberly。
　
　Padme　stared　at　him　hard；　and　he　turned　away　and　walked　off。
　〃Anakin；　are　you　just　going　to　sit　here　and　let　him　die？〃　she　cried；　chasing　across　the　bridge　to　grab　him　roughly　by　the　arm。　〃He's　your　friend！　Your　mentor！〃
　〃He's　like