rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第28部分

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nounced　at　once。
　
　Smiling　faces　greeted　them。　Sio　Bibble；　Padme's　dear　friend　and　her　trusted　adviser　when　she　was　Queen；　stood　by　the　throne；　flanking　Queen　Jamillia　as　he　had　so　often　flanked　Padme。　He　hadn't　aged　much　over　the　last　years；　his　white　hair　and　beard　still　distinguished　and　perfectly　coiffed；　his　eyes　still　full　of　that　intensity　that　Padme　so　loved。
　
　Beside　him；　Jamillia　looked　every　bit　the　part　of　Queen。　She　wore　a　great　headdress　and　flowing　embroidered　robes；　the　same　type　of　outfit　Padme　had　worn　for　so　very　long；　and　the　Senator　thought　that　Jamillia　looked　at　least　as　regal　in　them　as　she　had。
　
　Handmaidens；　advisers；　and　guards　were　all　about；　and　Padme　reflected　that　one　of　the　side　effects　of　being　Queen；　and　not　a　pleasant　one；　was　that　one　was　never　allowed　to　be　alone。
　
　Queen　Jamillia；　standing　perfectly　straight　so　that　her　headdress　did　not　topple；　rose　and　walked　over　to　take　Padme's　hand。　〃We've　been　worried　about　you。　I'm　so　glad　you're　here；　Padme；〃　she　said；　her　voice　rich　and　with　a　southeastern　accent　that　made　her　enunciate　the　consonants　powerfully　〃Thank　you；　Your　Highness。　I　only　wish　I　could　have　served　you　better　by　staying　on　Coruscant　for　the　vote。〃
　〃Supreme　Chancellor　Palpatine　has　explained　it　all；〃　Sio　Bibble　interjected。　〃Returning　home　was　the　only　real　choice　you　could　have　made。〃　Padme　gave　him　a　resigned　nod。　Still；　being　sent　home　to　Naboo　bothered　her；　she　had　worked　so　very　hard　against　the　creation　of　a　Republic　army。　〃How　many　systems　have　joined　Count　Dooku　and　the　separatists？〃　Queen　Jamillia　asked　bluntly。　She　had　never　been　one　for　small　talk。
　〃Thousands；〃　Padme　answered。　〃And　more　are　leaving　the　Republic　every　day。　If　the　Senate　votes　to　create　an　army；　I'm　sure　it's　going　to　push　us　into　civil　war。〃
　
　Sio　Bibble　punched　his　fist　into　his　open　hand。　〃It's　unthinkable！〃　he　said；　gnashing　his　teeth　with　every　word。　〃There　hasn't　been　a　full…scale　war　since　the　formation　of　the　Republic。〃
　〃Do　you　see　any　way；　through　negotiations；　to　bring　the　separatists　back　into　the　Republic？〃　Jamillia　asked；　staying　calm　despite　Sio　Bibble's　obvious　agitation。
　〃Not　if　they　feel　threatened。〃　It　amazed　Padme　to　realize　how　secure　she　was　in　these　estimations。　She　felt　as　if　she　was　beginning　to　fully　understand　the　nuances　of　her　position；　as　if　she　could　trust　her　instincts　implicitly。　And　all　of　her　talents　would　be　needed；　she　knew。　〃The　separatists　don't　have　an　army；　but　if　they　are　provoked；　they　will　move　to　defend　themselves。　I'm　sure　of　that。　And　with　no　time　or　money　to　build　an　army；　my　guess　is　they　will　turn　to　the　merce　Guild　or　the　Trade　Federation　for　help。〃
　〃The　armies　of　merce！〃　Queen　Jamillia　echoed　with　anger　and　distaste。　All　on　Naboo　knew　well　the　problems　associated　with　such　free…ranging　groups。　The　Trade　Federation　had　nearly　brought　Naboo　to　its　knees；　and　would　have　had　it　not　been　for　the　heroics　of　Amidala；　a　pair　of　Jedi；　a　young　Anakin；　and　the　brave　flying　of　the　dedicated　Naboo　pilots。　Even　that　would　not　have　been　enough；　had　not　Queen　Amidala　forged　an　unexpected　alliance　with　the　heroic　Gungans。　〃Why　has　nothing　been　done　in　the　Senate　to　restrain　them？〃
　〃I'm　afraid　that；　despite　the　Chancellor's　best　efforts；　there　are　still　many　bureaucrats；　judges；　and　even　Senators　on　the　payrolls　of　the　guilds；〃　Padme　admitted。
　〃Then　it　is　true　that　the　guilds　have　moved　closer　to　the　separatists；　as　we　suspected；〃　Queen　Jamillia　reasoned。
　
　Sio　Bibble　punched　his　open　palm　again；　drawing　their　attention。　〃It's　outrageous！〃　he　said。　〃It's　outrageous　that　after　all　those　hearings　and　four　trials　in　the　Supreme　Court；　Nute　Gunray　is　still　the　viceroy　of　the　Trade　Federation。　Do　those　money…mongers　control　everything？〃
　〃Remember；　Counselor；　the　courts　were　able　to　reduce　the　Trade　Federation's　armies；〃　Jamillia　reminded；　again　holding　her　calm　and　controlled　voice。
　〃That's　a　move　in　the　right　direction。〃
　
　Padme　winced；　knowing　that　she　had　to　report　honestly。　〃There　are　rumors；　Your　Highness；　that　the　Federation's　army　was　not　reduced　as　they　were　ordered。〃
　
　Clearing　his　throat；　Anakin　Skywalker　stepped　forward。　〃The　Jedi　have　not　been　allowed　to　investigate；〃　he　explained。　〃It　would　be　too　dangerous　for　the　economy；　we　were　told。〃
　
　Queen　Jamillia　looked　to　him　and　nodded；　looked　back　to　Padme；　then　squared　her　shoulders　and　firmed　her　jawline；　looking　regal　in　the　ornate　raiments…　very　much　the　planetary　ruler　obedient　to　the　Republic。　〃We　must　keep　our　faith　in　the　Republic；〃　she　declared。　〃The　day　we　stop　believing　democracy　can　work　is　the　day　we　lose　it。〃
　〃Let's　pray　that　day　never　es；〃　Padme　quietly　answered。
　〃In　the　meantime；　we　must　consider　your　own　safety；〃　Queen　Jamillia　said；　and　she　looked　to　Sio　Bibble；　who　motioned　to　the　attendants。　All　of　them；　advisers；　attendants；　and　handmaidens；　bowed　and　quickly　left　the　room。　Sio　Bibble　moved　near　to　Anakin；　the　appointed　protector；　then　paused；　waiting　for　all　of　the　others　to　be　gone。　At　last　he　spoke。　〃What　is　your　suggestion；　Master　Jedi？〃
　〃Anakin's　not　a　Jedi　yet；　Counselor；〃　Padme　interrupted。　〃He's　still　a　Padawan　learner。　I　was　thinking…〃
　〃Hey；　hold　on　a　minute！〃　Anakin　cut　her　short；　his　eyes　narrowed；　brow　furrowed；　obviously　agitated　and　put　off　by　her　dismissal。
　〃Excuse　me！〃　Padme　shot　right　back；　not　backing　down　from　Anakin's　imposing　glare。　〃I　was　thinking　I　would　stay　in　the　Lake　Country。　There　are　some　places　up　there　that　are　very　isolated。〃
　〃Excuse　me！〃　Anakin　said；　giving　it　right　back　to　her；　in　words　and　in　tone。　〃I　am　in　charge　of　security　here；　M'Lady。〃
　
　Padme　started　to　fight　back；　but　she　noted　then　the　exchange　of　suspicious　looks　between　Sio　Bibble　and　Queen　Jamillia。　She　and　Anakin　should　not　be　fighting　in　this　manner　in　public；　she　realized；　not　without　making　others　believe　that　something　might　be　going　on　between　them。　She　calmed　down　and　softened　her　expression　and　her　voice。　〃Anakin；　my　life　is　at　risk　and　this　is　my　home。　I　know　it　very　well…that　is　why　we're　here。　I　think　it　would　be　wise　for　you　to　take　advantage　of　my　knowledge　in　this　instance。〃
　
　Anakin　looked　around　at　the　two　onlookers；　and　then　back　at　Padme；　and　the　hardness　melted　from　his　expression。　〃Sorry；　M'Lady。〃
　〃She　is　right；〃　an　obviously　amused　Sio　Bibble　said；　taking　Anakin's　arm。
　〃The　Lake　Country　is　the　most　remote　part　of　Naboo。　Not　many　people　up　there；　and　a　clear　view　of　the　surrounding　terrain。　It　would　be　an　excellent　choice；　a　place　where　you　would　have　a　much　easier　time　protecting　Senator　Amidala。〃
　〃Perfect！〃　Queen　Jamillia　agreed。　〃It's　settled　then。〃　Padme　could　tell　from　the　way　Anakin　was　looking　at　her　that　he　wasn't　overly　pleased。　She　offered　an　innocent　shrug　in　response。
　〃Padme；〃　Queen　Jamillia　went　on；　〃I　had　an　audience　with　your　father　yesterday。　I　told　him　what　was　happening。　He　hopes　you　will　visit　your　mother　before　you　leave。　Your　family's　very　worried　about　you。〃
　
　How　could　they　not　be？　Padme　thought；　and　it　pained　her　to　consider　that　the　dangers　her　strong　positions　were　bringing　to　her　were　affecting　other　people　whom　she　loved。　How　could　they　not？　It　was　a　perfect　reminder　of　why　family　and　public　service　didn't　usually　mix。　Padme　Amidala　had　made　a　conscious　and　definitive　choice：　public　service　or　family。　Some　on　Naboo　juggled　the　two；　but　Padme　had　always　known　that　such　a　dual　role　as　wife；　perhaps　even　mother；　and　Senator　would　not　do　well　for　family　or　state。　She　hadn't　been　worried　about　her　own　safety　at　all　through　these　trials；　willing　to　make　whatever　sacrifices　were　necessary。　But　now；　suddenly；　she　had　to　remember　that　her　choices　and　positions　could　affect　others　on　a　very　personal　level；　as　well。
　
　She　wore　no　smile　as　she　walked　with　Anakin；　Sio　Bibble；　and　Queen　Jamillia　out　of　the　throne　room　and　down　the　palace's　main　staircase。
　
　Chapter　Thirteen
　
　The　largest　room　in　the　vast　Jedi　Temple　on　Coruscant　was　the　hall　of　the　Archives。　Lighted　puter　panels　stretched　out　in　long；　long　lines　of　bluish　dots　along　the　walls；　running　so　far　that　a　person　viewing　them　from　one　end　of　the　room　would　see　them　converging　at　the　oth