rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第48章

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　〃Anakin！〃　Obi…Wan　cried。　He　grabbed　at　the　plummeting　crane　with　the　Force；　and　Anakin；　startled　awake；　did　so；　as　well。　Even　working　together；　they　hadn't　the　strength　left　to　stop　its　crushing　descent。
　
　But　Yoda　did。
　
　Yoda　grabbed　the　crane　and　held　it　fast；　but　in　doing　so；　he　had　to　release　Dooku。　The　Count　wasted　no　time；　sprinting　away；　leaping　up　the　ramp　to　his　sail　ship。　As　Yoda　began　to　move　the　fallen　crane　harmlessly　aside；　the　sail　ship's　engine　roared　to　life；　and　all　three　Jedi　watched　helplessly　as　Count　Dooku　blasted　away。
　
　As　Anakin　and　Obi…Wan　walked　over　to　the　exhausted　Yoda；　Padme　rushed　in；　running　to　Anakin　and　wrapping　the　sorely　wounded　young　man　in　a　tight；　desperate　hug。
　〃A　dark　day；　it　is；〃　Yoda　said　quietly。
　
　Epilogue
　
　　In　the　gutters　of　lower　Coruscant；　a　graceful　sail　ship　glided　down；　its　wings　folding　delicately　as　it　went　to　its　more　conventional　drives；　settling　easily　inside　the　broken　pavement　of　a　seemingly　abandoned　building。
　
　Count　Dooku　climbed　out　of　his　ship；　walking　to　the　shadows　at　the　side　of　the　secret　landing　ramp；　where　a　hooded　figure　waited。　He　moved　before　the　shadowy　figure　and　bowed　reverently。
　〃The　Force　is　with　us；　Master　Sidious。〃
　〃Wele　home；　Lord　Tyranus；〃　the　Sith　Lord　replied。　〃You　have　done　well。〃
　〃I　bring　you　good　news；　my　lord。　The　war　has　begun。〃
　〃Excellent；〃　Sidious　said；　his　gravelly　voice　hinting　at　a　hiss。　From　underneath　the　dark　shadows　of　his　huge　cowl；　the　Dark　Lord's　smile　widened。　〃Everything　is　going　as　planned。〃
　
　Across　the　city；　in　the　somber　Jedi　Temple；　so　many　lamented　the　loss　of　friends　and　colleagues。　Obi…Wan　and　Mace　Windu　stood　staring　out　the　window　of　Master　Yoda's　apartment　while　the　diminutive　Master　sat　in　a　chair　across　the　way；　contemplating　the　troubling　events。
　〃Do　you　believe　what　Count　Dooku　said　about　Sidious　controlling　the　Senate？〃　Obi…Wan　asked；　breaking　the　contemplative　silence。　〃It　doesn't　feel　right。〃
　
　Mace　started　to　respond；　but　Yoda　interjected；　〃Bee　unreliable；　Dooku　has。　Joined　the　dark　side。　Lies；　deceit；　creating　mistrust　are　his　ways　now。〃
　〃Nevertheless；　I　feel　we　should　keep　a　closer　eye　on　the　Senate；〃　Mace　put　in；　and　Yoda　agreed。
　
　After　some　more　quiet　contemplation；　Mace　turned　a　curious　gaze　upon　Obi…　Wan。　〃Where　is　your　apprentice？〃
　〃On　his　way　to　Naboo；〃　Obi…Wan　answered。　〃Escorting　Senator　Amidala　home。〃　Mace　nodded；　and　Obi…Wan　caught　a　glimmer　of　concern　in　his　dark　eyes…　concern　that　Obi…Wan　shared　about　Anakin　and　Padme。　They　let　it　go　at　that　time；　though；　for　there　seemed　greater　problems　at　hand。　Again；　it　was　Obi…　Wan　who　broke　the　silence。
　〃I　have　to　admit；　without　the　clones；　it　would　not　have　been　a　victory。〃
　〃Victory？〃　Yoda　echoed　with　great　skepticism。　〃Victory；　you　say？〃
　
　Obi…Wan　and　Mace　Windu　turned　as　one　to　the　great　Jedi　Master；　catching　clearly　the　profound　sadness　in　his　tone。
　〃Master　Obi…Wan；　not　victory；〃　Yoda　went　on。　〃The　shroud　of　the　dark　side　has　fallen。　Begun；　this　Clone　War　has！〃
　
　His　words　hung　in　the　air　about　them；　thick　with　emotion　and　concern；　as　dire　a　prediction　as　anyone　in　the　Jedi　Council　had　ever　heard　uttered。　Senator　Bail　Organa　and　Mas　Amedda　flanked　Supreme　Chancellor　Palpatine　as　he　stood　on　the　balcony；　overlooking　the　deployment　of　the　Republic　army。　Below　them；　tens　of　thousands　of　clone　troopers　marched　about　in　tight　formations；　an　orderly　procession　that　brought　them　in　files　ascending　the　landing　ramps　of　the　huge　military　assault　ships。
　
　A　deep　sadness　marked　the　handsome　features　of　Bail　Organa；　but　when　he　looked　over　at　the　Supreme　Chancellor；　he　saw　there　a　grim　determination。
　
　On　distant　Naboo；　in　a　rose…covered　arbor　overlooking　the　sparkling　lake；　Anakin　and　Padme　stood　hand　in　hand；　Anakin　in　his　formal　Jedi　robes　and　Padme　in　a　beautiful　white　gown　with　flowered　trim。　Anakin's　new　mechanical　arm　hung　at　his　side；　the　fingers　clenching　and　opening　in　reflexive　movements。
　
　Before　them　stood　a　Naboo　holy　man；　his　hands　raised　above　their　heads　as　he　recited　the　ancient　texts　of　marriage。
　
　And　when　the　proclamation　was　made；　R2…D2　and　C…3PO；　bearing　witness　to　the　union；　whistled　and　clapped。
　
　And　Anakin　Skywalker　and　Padme　Amidala　shared　their　first　kiss　as　husband　and　wife。
　
　
　
　
　
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