rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第30部分

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answerable　question。　He　knew　that　no　one　in　the　galaxy　was　more　reliable　for　information　that　Dexter　Jettster；　unless　that　person　was　Jocasta　Nu；　and　yet　the　two　were　obviously　at　odds　here　concerning　their　information。　Dexter　had　seemed　every　bit　as　certain　of　the　origins　of　the　saberdart　as　Jocasta　Nu　was　now。　Both　couldn't　be　right。
　
　The　puzzle　of　finding　Senator　Amidala's　would…be　assassin　would　not　be　easily　solved；　it　seemed；　and　that　troubled　Obi…Wan　Kenobi　for　many；　many　reasons。　With　Jocasta　Nu's　permission；　the　Jedi　punched　a　few　buttons　on　the　keyboard；　downloading　the　archive　information　on　that　region　of　the　quadrant　to　a　small　hologlobe。　Then；　the　item　in　hand；　he　left　the　area。　But　not　without　one　long；　last　look　at　the　imposing　bust　of　Count　Dooku。
　
　　Later　on　that　day；　Obi…Wan　turned　away　from　the　Archives　and　the　analysis　droids　and　turned　within；　to　his　own　insights；　instead。　He　found　a　small；　fortable　room　along　the　Temple's　grand　balcony；　one　of　many　such　rooms　designed　for　quiet　moments　of　Jedi　reflection。　A　small　fountain　bubbled　off　to　the　side　of　him　as　he　settled　on　a　soft　but　firm　mat　and　crossed　his　legs。　The　water　trickled　down　to　a　bed　of　polished　stones；　making　a　delicate　sound；　a　background　noise　natural　in　its　beauty　and　in　the　simplicity　of　its　song。
　
　Before　Obi…Wan；　a　painting　of　reds；　shifting　and　darkening　to　a　deep　crimson　and　then　to　black；　a　liberal　representation　of　a　cooling　lava　field；　hung　on　the　wall；　inviting　him　not　to　look　into　it；　but　to　surround　himself　with　it；　both　its　image　and　the　soft　warmth　and　hissing　sound　helping　him　to　fall　far　away　from　his　corporeal　surroundings。
　
　There；　in　his　trance；　Obi…Wan　Kenobi　sought　his　answers。　He　focused　on　the　mystery　of　Kamino　first；　expecting　that　Dexter's　analysis　was　correct。　But　why　hadn't　the　system　shown　up　in　the　Archives？
　
　Another　image　invaded　Obi…Wan's　meditations　as　he　tried　to　sort　through　that　puzzle；　an　image　of　Anakin　and　Padme　together　on　Naboo。　The　Jedi　Knight　started；　suddenly　afraid　that　this　was　a　premonition；　and　that　some　danger　would　visit　his　Padawan　and　the　young　Senator　。　。　。
　
　But　no；　he　realized；　settling　back。　No　danger　was　about；　the　two　were　relaxed　and　at　play。
　
　Obi…Wan's　relief　lasted　only　as　long　as　it　took　him　to　realize　that　the　continuing　scene　in　his　mind　might　be　the　most　dangerous　thing　of　all。　He　dismissed　it；　though；　unsure　if　this　was　a　premonition；　an　image　of　reality；　or　just　his　own　fears　playing　out　before　him。　Obi…Wan　pointedly　reminded　himself　that　the　sooner　he　solved　the　mystery　of　Kamino；　the　mystery　of　who　so　desperately　wanted　Amidala　dead；　the　sooner　he　could　return　to　Anakin　and　offer　the　proper　guidance。
　
　The　Jedi　Knight　focused　again　on　the　bust　of　Count　Dooku；　searching　for　insights；　but　for　some　reason；　the　image　of　Anakin　kept　being　interposed　with　that　of　the　renegade　Count　。　。　。
　
　Soon　after；　a　frustrated　and　thoroughly　bewildered　Obi…Wan　walked　out　of　the　small　meditation　chamber；　shaking　his　head　and　no　more　certain　of　anything　than　he　had　been　when　he　had　entered　the　place。
　
　His　patience　exhausted　into　frustration；　the　Jedi　Knight　decided　to　seek　a　higher　authority；　one　wiser　and　more　experienced。　His　short　trip　took　him　out　of　the　Temple　proper　and　onto　the　veranda；　and　there　he　paused　and　watched；　and　in　the　innocent　scene　before　him　found　some　relief　from　the　frustration。
　
　Master　Yoda　was　leading　twenty　of　the　youngest　Jedi　recruits；　children　only　four　or　five　years　old；　through　their　morning　training　exercises；　battling　floating　training　droids　with　miniature　lightsabers。
　
　Obi…Wan　recalled　his　own　training。　He　couldn't　see　the　eyes　of　the　youngsters；　for　they　wore　protective　full…face　helmets；　but　he　could　well　imagine　the　range　of　emotions　playing　out　on　their　innocent　faces。　There　would　be　intensity；　and　then　great　joy　whenever　an　energy　bolt　from　a　training　droid　was　blocked；　and　that　elation　would　inevitably　dissipate　in　the　next　instant；　when　the　joy　brought　distraction　and　distraction　allowed　the　next　energy　bolt　to　slip　past　and　bring　a　sudden；　jolting　sting。
　
　And　those　little　bolts　did　sting；　Obi…Wan　remembered；　as　much　physically　as　in　pride。　There　was　nothing　worse　than　getting　zapped；　particularly　in　the　backside。　It　always　caused　one　to　do　a　little　hopping　and　twisting　dance；　which　naturally　made　the　embarrassment　all　the　worse。　Obi…Wan　recalled　that　feeling　vividly；　recalled　thinking　that　everyone　in　the　courtyard　was　staring　at　him。
　
　The　training　could　be　humiliating。
　
　But　it　was　also　energizing；　because　with　the　failures　would　e　the　successes；　each　one　building　confidence；　each　one　lending　insights　into　the　flowing　beauty　that　was　the　Force；　heightening　the　connection　that　separated　a　Jedi　from　the　rest　of　the　galaxy。
　
　To　see　Yoda　leading　the　training　this　day；　looking　exactly　as　he　had　when　he　had　led　Obi…Wan's　training　a　quarter　century　before；　brought　a　flush　of　warmth　to　the　Jedi　Knight。
　〃Don't　think　。　。　。　feel；〃　Yoda　instructed　the　group。　〃Be　as　one　with　the　Force。〃
　
　Obi…Wan；　smiling；　mouthed　the　exact　words　as　Yoda　finished；　〃Help　you；　it　will。〃
　
　How　many　times　he　had　heard　that！
　
　He　was　still　grinning　widely　when　Yoda　turned　to　him。　〃Younglings；　enough！〃　the　great　Jedi　Master　manded。　〃A　visitor　we　have。　Wele　him。〃
　
　Twenty　little　lightsabers　clicked　off　and　the　students　came　to　attention　together；　removing　their　helmets　and　tucking　them　properly　under　their　left　arms。
　〃Master　Obi…Wan　Kenobi；〃　Yoda　said；　keeping　enough　gravity　in　his　voice　so　that　the　younglings　wouldn't　feel　mocked。
　〃Wele；　Master　Obi…Wan！〃　the　twenty　called　out　together。
　〃I　am　sorry　to　disturb　you；　Master；〃　Obi…Wan　said　with　a　slight　bow。
　〃What　help　to　you；　can　I　be？〃
　
　Obi…Wan　considered　the　question　for　a　moment。　He　had　specifically　e　out　here　looking　for　Yoda；　but　now；　in　seeing　the　diminutive　Master　at　his　important　work；　he　wondered　if　he　had　let　his　patience　fall　away　too　quickly。　Was　it　his　place　to　ask　Yoda　to　help　him　with　a　mission　that　was　his　own　responsibility？　It　didn't　take　long　for　Obi…Wan　to　dismiss　the　question。　He　was　a　Jedi　Knight；　Yoda；　a　Master；　and　his　responsibilities　and　Yoda's　were　ultimately　one　and　the　same。　He　didn't　expect　that　Yoda　could　help　him　with　this　particular　problem；　but　then　again；　Yoda　had　always　been　full　of　surprises；　full　of　going　far　beyond　any　expectations。
　〃I'm　looking　for　a　planet　described　to　me　by　an　old　friend；〃　he　explained；　and　he　knew　that　Yoda　was　absorbing　every　word。　〃I　trust　him　and　the　information　he　provided；　but　the　system　doesn't　show　up　on　the　archive　maps。〃　As　he　finished；　he　showed　Yoda　that　he　had　a　hologlobe　with　him。
　〃An　interesting　puzzle；〃　Yoda　answered。　〃Lost　a　planet；　Master　Obi…Wan　has。　How　embarrassing　。　。　。　how　embarrassing。　An　interesting　puzzle。　Gather；　younglings；　around　the　map　reader。　Clear　your　minds　and　find　Obi…Wan's　wayward　planet；　we　will　try。〃
　
　They　went　into　a　room　to　the　side　of　the　veranda。　A　narrow　shaft　was　set　in　the　middle；　with　a　hollow　depression　at　the　top。　Off　to　the　side；　Obi…Wan　took　up　the　hologlobe；　then　moved　and　placed　it　in　the　hollow　of　the　shaft。
　
　The　shades　closed　as　soon　as　he　put　it　there；　darkening　the　room；　and　a　star　map　hologram　appeared；　glittering　distinctly。
　
　Obi…Wan　paused　a　moment　before　presenting　his　dilemma；　allowing　the　younglings　to　get　past　the　initial　excitement。　He　watched　with　amusement　as　some　reached　up　and　tried　to　touch　the　projected　starlights。　Then；　when　all　quieted；　he　walked　into　the　middle　of　the　projection。　〃This　is　where　it　ought　to　be；〃　he　explained。　〃Gravity　is　pulling　all　the　stars　in　this　area　inward　to　this　spot。　There　should　be　a　star　here；　but　there　isn't。〃
　〃Most　interesting；〃　Yoda　said。　〃Gravity's　silhouette　remains；　but　the　star　and　all　its　planets　have　disappeared。　How　can　this　be？　Now；　younglings；　in　your　mind；　what　is　the　first　thing　you　see？　An　answer？　A　thought？　Anyone？〃
　
　Obi…Wan　took　Yoda's　quiet　cue　and　paused　then；　watching　the　Jedi　Master　look　over　his　gathering。
　
　A　hand　went　up；　and　while　Obi…Wan　felt　the　urge　to　chuckle　at　the　idea　of　a　youngling　solving　a　ridd