rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第43章

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　〃Do　you　have　anything　to　say　before　your　sentence　is　carried　out？〃　Archduke　Poggle　the　Lesser　asked。
　
　Unshaken；　the　cool　Senator　stared　the　Geonosian　straight　in　the　eye。　〃You　are　mitting　an　act　of　war；　Archduke。　I　hope　you　are　prepared　for　the　consequences。〃
　
　The　Geonosian　chuckled。　〃We　build　weapons；　Senator。　That　is　our　business！　Of　course　we're　prepared！〃
　〃Get　on　with　it！〃　came　the　voice　of　Nute　Gunray　from　the　side。　〃Carry　out　the　sentence。　I　want　to　see　her　suffer。〃
　
　Padme　only　shook　her　head。　All　this　because　she　had　foiled　the　Neimoidian's　plans　to　exploit　her　planet　when　she　was　Queen。　All　this　because　she　hadn't　rolled　over　before　the　power　of　Gun…ray　and　his　followers。　And　to　think　that　she　had　agreed　to　mercy　for　the　Neimoidians　after　their　defeat　on　Naboo！
　
　〃Your　other　Jedi　friend　is　waiting　for　you；　Senator；〃　Archduke　Poggle　the　Lesser　announced；　and　he　waved　to　the　guards。　〃Take　them　to　the　arena！〃
　
　　At　the　back　of　the　hall；　the　young　boy　soaked　it　all　in　and　looked　up　at　his　father；　a　perfect　older…version　replica　of　himself。　〃Are　they　going　to　feed　them　to　the　beasts？〃　Boba　Fett　asked。
　
　Jango　Fett　looked　down　at　his　eager　son　and　chuckled。　〃Yes；　Boba。〃　He　had　many　times　told　Boba　stories　of　the　Geonosian　arena。
　〃Oh；　I　hope　they　use　an　acklay；〃　said　Boba　matter…of…factly。　〃I　want　to　see　if　it's　as　powerful　as　I've　read。〃
　
　Jango　just　smiled　and　nodded；　amused　that　his　son　was　already　so　interested　in　such　things；　and　glad　for　the　dispassion　in　his　tone。　Boba　was　being　strictly　pragmatic　here；　even　in　the　face　of　the　executions　of　three　people。　He　was　taking　in　the　entire　scenario　with　the　cool　and　collected　pragmatism　that　would　allow　him　to　survive　in　the　harsh　galaxy。　He　was　a　good　learner。
　
　　The　jumble　of　information　they　were　downloading　into　C…3PO　would　surely　have　overwhelmed　the　droid；　conditioning　him　as　intended；　had　his　circuits　not　already　been　filled　to　near　capacity　with　linguistic　information。　C…3PO　engaged　in　multiple　translations　of　each　instruction　pattern；　and　in　doing　so；　managed　to　water　them　down　enough　so　that　they　lost　any　real　effect。　His　subtlety　seemed　lost　on　the　brutes　programming　him；　and　after　a　few　short　hours；　they　led　him　out　of　the　room　and　across　the　large　assembly　hall。
　
　It　was　there　that　C…3PO　heard　a　plaintive　and　familiar　whine。
　〃Artoo！〃　he　called；　swiveling　his　head。　There　was　his　dome…shaped　panion；　working　at　a　console。　R2…D2　swiveled　his　head　and　gave　another　〃oooo。〃
　〃Oh；　Artoo！〃　C…3PO　wailed；　and　before　he　could　even　consider　the　action；　he　brought　a　laser　sight　up　before　his　eyes；　focusing　on　the　restraining　bolt　set　into　his　friend。
　
　A　single　blast　flew　out；　skimming　the　bolt　from　R2…D2；　then　ricocheting　about　the　room。
　〃Hey！〃　cried　one　of　the　instructor　droids；　moving　fast　to　C…3PO's　side。
　〃Looks　like　this　one　needs　more　programming；〃　another　said。
　
　The　chief　maintenance　droid　looked　about　the　room　and　shook　his　dome。
　〃Nah；〃　he　said。　〃No　damage　done。　Get　this　one　out　to　the　yard　and　out　of　here！〃
　
　They　led　C…3PO　away。
　
　Soon　after　they　were　gone；　B2…D2　rolled　away　from　his　console　without　notice。　Since　all　of　the　relatively　benign　droids　working　in　here　were　restrained　by　bolts；　there　were　no　real　guards　in　the　room。　The　little　droid　was　out　and　free　soon　after。
　
　　The　tunnel　was　dark　and　fittingly　gloomy；　and　quiet；　except　for　the　occasional　echo　of　cheering　from　the　huge　crowd　gathered　in　the　arena　stands　beyond。　A　single　cart　was　in　there；　an　open　oval　with　a　sloping　front　end　that　somewhat　resembled　an　insect's　head　with　the　top　half　cut　away。　Anakin　and　Padme　were　unceremoniously　thrown　into　it；　then　strapped　in　place　against　the　framework；　facing　each　other。
　
　Both　of　them　jerked　as　the　cart　started　into　motion；　gliding　along　the　dark　tunnel。
　〃Don't　be　afraid；〃　Anakin　whispered。
　
　Padme　smiled　at　him；　her　expression　one　of　genuine　calm。　〃I'm　not　afraid　to　die；〃　she　replied；　her　voice　thick　and　soft。　〃I've　been　dying　a　little　bit　each　day　since　you　came　back　into　my　life。〃
　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　
　Then　she　said　it；　and　it　was　real　and　genuine　and　warm。　〃I　love　you。〃
　〃You　love　me？〃　he　asked；　overwhelmed。　〃You　love　me！　I　thought　we　decided　not　to　fall　in　love。　That　we　would　be　forced　to　live　a　lie。　That　it　would　destroy　our　lives。〃　But　her　words　had　brought　a　wash　of　contentment　over　him。
　〃I　think　our　lives　are　about　to　be　destroyed　anyway；〃　Padme　replied。　〃My　love　for　you　is　a　puzzle；　Annie；　for　which　I　have　no　answers。　I　can't　control　it…and　now　I　don't　care。　I　truly；　deeply　love　you；　and　before　we　die；　I　want　you　to　know。〃
　
　Padme　leaned　against　her　restraints　and　craned　her　head　forward；　and　Anakin　did　likewise；　the　two　ing　close　enough　for　their　lips　to　meet　in　a　soft　and　gentle　kiss；　one　that　lingered　and　deepened；　one　that　said　everything　they　both　realized　they　should　have　spoken　to　each　other　before。　One　that；　to　them；　mocked　their　false　heroics　in　denying　the　feelings　they'd　had　for　each　other　all　along。
　
　The　sweet　moment　was　just　that；　though；　a　moment；　for　a　crack　of　the　driver's　whip　had　the　cart　jerking　out　of　the　tunnel　and　into　the　blinding　daylight；　rolling　onto　the　floor　of　a　great　stadium　filled　with　Geonosian　spectators。
　
　Four　sturdy　posts；　a　meter　in　diameter；　were　centered　on　the　arena　floor；　each　set　with　chains；　and　one　holding　a　familiar　figure。
　〃Obi…Wan！〃　Anakin　cried　as　he　was　pulled　down　from　the　cart；　dragged　over；　and　chained　to　the　post　beside　his　Master。
　〃I　was　beginning　to　wonder　if　you　had　gotten　my　message；〃　Obi…Wan　replied。　Both　he　and　Anakin　winced　as　Padme　was　similarly；　roughly　dragged　over　to　the　post　next　to　Anakin；　and　roughly　chained　up。　They　saw　her　curl　a　bit；　defensively；　in　what　seemed　a　futile　resistance。　What　they　didn't　see；　though；　was　the　resourceful　Padme　managing　to　slip　out　a　wire　she　had　hidden　in　her　belt。
　〃I　retransmitted　your　message　just　as　you　requested；　Master；〃　Anakin　explained。　〃Then　we　decided　to　e　and　rescue　you。〃
　〃Good　job！〃　came　Obi…Wan's　quick　and　sarcastic　reply。　He　ended　with　a　grunt　as　his　arms　were　pulled　up　above　his　head；　locking　him　helplessly　in　place。　Anakin　and　Padme　were　receiving　similar　treatment。　They　could　turn　a　bit　side　to　side；　though；　and　so　all　three　were　able　to　watch　the　arrival　of　the　dignitaries；　the　masters　of　ceremony…faces　they　had　e　to　know　all　too　well。
　〃The　felons　before　you　have　been　convicted　of　espionage　against　the　Sovereign　System　of　Geonosis；〃　announced　the　lackey；　Sun　Fac。　〃Their　sentence　of　death　is　to　be　carried　out　in　this　arena　immediately！〃　The　wild　cheering　deafened　the　doomed　trio。　〃They　like　their　executions；〃　Obi…Wan　said　dryly。
　
　At　the　dignitary　box；　Sun　Fac　gave　way　to　Archduke　Poggle　the　Lesser；　who　patted　his　hands　in　the　air；　calling　for　quiet。　〃I　have　decided　on　an　especially　entertaining　contest　this　day；〃　he　announced；　to　more　appreciative　roaring。　〃Which　of　our　pets　would　be　most　suited　to　carry　out　the　executions　of　such　distinguished　criminals？　I　asked　myself　this　over　and　over；　and　for　many　hours；　could　find　no　answer。
　〃And　finally；　I　chose…〃　He　paused　dramatically　and　the　crowd　hushed。　〃…the　reek！〃　At　the　side　of　the　arena；　a　gate　was　lifted　and　out　stepped　a　huge　quadruped　with　massive　shoulders；　an　elongated　face；　and　three　deadly　horns；　one　sticking　up　from　its　snout　and　the　other　two　protruding　forward　from　either　side　of　its　wide　mouth。　The　reek　stood　as　tall　as　a　Wookiee；　as　wide　as　a　human　male　was　tall；　and　more　than　four　meters　long。　It　was　prodded　forward　into　the　arena　by　a　line　of　picadors　carrying　long　spears　and　riding　creatures　that　were　bovine　in　size；　with　elongated　snouts。　After　the　cheering　died　away；　Poggle　surprised　the　crowd　by　announcing；
　
　〃The　nexu！〃　A　second　gate　rose；　revealing　a　large　feline　creature。　Its　head　was　an　extraordinary　thing；　half　the　size　of　its　body　and　with　a　fang…　filled　mouth　that　could　open　wide　enough　to　bite　a　large　human　in　half。　A　ridge　of　fur　stood　straight　in　a　line　from　head　to　rump；　ending　right　before　its　whipping；　felinoid　tail。
　
　Before　the　surprised　crowd　could　erupt　again；　Poggle　shouted；　〃And　the　acklay！〃　and　a　third　gate　rose　and　the　most　hideous　creature　of　all　rushed　in。　It　moved　spiderlike　on　four　legs；　each　ending　in　huge　elongated　claws。　Other　arms　waved　menacingly；　similarly　topped　with　claws　that　snapped　in　the　air。　Its　head；　crested　by　a　long　and　wavy　horn；　was　more　than　two　meters　above　the　ground；　glancing　about　hungrily；　and　while　the　other　two　creatures　seemed　to　need　the　prodding　of　the　picadors；　this　one　surely　did　not。
　
　This　last　one；　the　acklay；　seemed　to　be　the　true　crowd…pleaser；　especially　to　the　young　boy；　Jango　Fett's　cloned　son；　sitting　with　the　dignitaries。　Boba　grinned　and　began　reciting　all　that　he　had　read　of　the　deadly　beast's　exploits。
　〃Well；　this　should　be　fun…for　them；　at　least；〃　lamented　Obi…Wan；　watching　the　frenzy　mounting　around　him。
　〃What？　〃Anakin　asked。
　〃Never　mind；〃　Obi…Wan　replied。　〃You　ready　for　the　fight？〃
　〃The　fight？〃　Anakin　asked　skeptically；　looking　up　at　his　chained　wrists；　then　back　at　the　three　monsters；　which　had　been　milling　about；　and　only　now　seemed　to　take　note　that　lunch　had　been　served。
　〃You　want　to　give　the　crowd　its　money's　worth；　don't　you？〃　Obi…Wan　asked。
　〃You　take　the　one　on　the　right。　I'll　take　the　one　on　the　left。〃
　〃What　about　Padme？〃　The　two　turned　to　discover　that　their　clever　panion　had　already　used　the　concealed　wire　to　pick　the　lock　on　one　of　her　shackles；　and　had　turned　her　body　about；　facing　the　post。　She　climbed　right　up　the　chain　to　the　top　of　that　post；　then　went　to　work　on　the　other　shackle。
　〃She　seems　to　be　on　top　of　things；〃　Obi…Wan　mented　wryly。
　
　Anakin　looked　back　just　in　time　to　react　to　the　charge　of　the　reek。　Acting　purely　on　reflex；　the　young　Jedi　leapt　straight　up；　and　the　beast　plowed　into　the　pole　beneath　him。　Seeing　an　opportunity；　Anakin　dropped　upon　the　beast's　back　and　wrapped　his　chain　about　its　strong　horn。　The　reek　bucked　and　tugged；　tearing　the　chain　free　of　the　post；　and　they　were　off；　the　reek　bucking　and　Anakin　holding　on　for　dear　life。　He　slapped　the　free　end　of　the　chain　at　the　side　of　the　reek's　head；　and　the　vicious　beast　bit　it　and　held　on；　its　stubbornness　providing　Anakin　a　makeshift　bridle。　
　
　After　downloading　the　schematics；　R2…D2　had　little　trouble　navigating　the　huge　factory　plex。　The　small　droid　rolled　along；　whistling　casually　to　deflect　any　suspicion　on　the　part　of　the　many　Geonosians　milling　about。　None　of　them　seemed　interested　in　him；　anyway；　though；　and　R2　thought　he　knew　why。　He　had　learned　of　a　huge　event　taking　place；　a　triple　execution。　He　could　easily　enough　guess　the　identities　of　the　unfortunate　prisoners。
　
　He　wandered　along　a　meandering　course　through　the　plex；　avoiding　as　many　Geonosians　as　possible；　passing　those　he　could　not　with　an　air　of　detachment；　trying　not　to　look　out　of　place。
　
　He　knew　that　it　would　get　more　crowded　as　he　neared　the　arena；　though；　and　could　only　hope　that　the　Geonosians　there　would　be　too　distracted　by　the　thrilling　events　to　bother　with　a　little　astromech　droid。
　
　　Obi…Wan　quickly　came　to　learn　why　the　acklay