rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第31部分

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　A　hand　went　up；　and　while　Obi…Wan　felt　the　urge　to　chuckle　at　the　idea　of　a　youngling　solving　a　riddle　that　had　befuddled　a　trio　of　acplished　Jedi；　including　Yoda　and　Madame　Jocasta　Nu；　he　noted　that　Yoda　was　quite　focused　and　serious。
　
　Yoda　nodded　to　the　student；　who　answered　at　once。　〃Because　someone　erased　it　from　the　archive　memory。〃
　〃That's　right！〃　another　of　the　children　agreed　at　once。　〃That's　what　happened！　Someone　erased　it！〃
　〃If　the　planet　blew　up；　the　gravity　would　go　away；〃　another　one　of　the　children　called　out。
　
　Obi…Wan　stared　blankly　at　the　excited　group；　stunned；　but　Yoda　only　chuckled。
　〃Truly　wonderful；　the　mind　of　a　child　is；〃　he　explained。　〃Uncluttered。　The　data　must　have　been　erased。〃
　
　Yoda　started　out　of　the　room　and　Obi…Wan　moved　to　follow；　flicking　his　hand　as　he　passed　the　reader　shaft；　Force…pulling　the　hologlobe　back　to　his　grasp　and　instantly　dismissing　the　starry　scene。
　〃To　the　center　of　the　pull　of　gravity　go；　and　find　your　planet　you　will；〃　Yoda　advised　him。
　〃But　Master　Yoda；　who　could　have　erased　information　from　the　Archives？　That's　impossible；　isn't　it？〃　〃Dangerous　and　disturbing　this　puzzle　is；〃　Yoda　replied　with　a　frown。　〃Only　a　Jedi　could　have　erased　those　files。　But　who　and　why；　harder　to　answer。　Meditate　on　this；　I　will。　May　the　Force　be　with　you。〃
　
　A　thousand　questions　filtered　through　Obi…Wan's　mind；　but　he　understood　that　Yoda　had　just　dismissed　him。　They　each　had　their　riddles；　it　seemed；　but　at　least　now　Obi…Wan's　path　seemed　much　clearer　before　him。　He　gave　a　deferential　bow；　but　Yoda；　already　back　to　his　work　with　the　children；　didn't　seem　to　notice。　Obi…Wan　walked　away。
　
　　Soon　after；　not　wanting　to　waste　a　moment；　Obi…Wan　was　out　on　the　landing　platform　standing　beside　his　readied　starfighter；　a　long　and　sleek　delta…　wing　fighter；　of　a　triangular　design；　with　the　cockpit　set　far　aft。　Mace　Windu　was　there　beside　him；　the　tall　and　strong…featured　Master　regarding　Obi…Wan　with　his　typically　calm　and　controlled　demeanor。　There　was　something　reassuring　about　Mace　Windu；　a　sense　of　power　and；　even　more　than　that；　of　destiny。　Mace　Windu　had　a　way　of　silently　assuring　all　those　around　him　that　things　would　work　out　as　they　were　supposed　to。
　〃Be　wary；〃　he　said　to　Obi…Wan；　tilting　his　head　back　just　a　bit　as　he　spoke；　a　posture　that　made　him　seem　all　the　more　impressive。　〃This　disturbance　in　the　Force　is　growing　stronger。〃
　
　Obi…Wan　nodded；　though　in　truth；　his　concerns　were　more　focused　and　tangible　at　that　moment。　〃I'm　concerned　for　my　Padawan。　He　is　not　ready　to　be　on　his　own。〃
　
　Mace　gave　a　nod；　as　if　to　remind　Obi…Wan　that　they　had　covered　this　already。　〃He　has　exceptional　skills；〃　the　Master　replied。　〃The　Council　is　confident　in　its　decision；　Obi…Wan。　Not　all　of　the　questions　about　him　have　been　answered；　of　course；　but　his　talents　cannot　be　dismissed；　and　we　are　not　disappointed　in　the　progress　he　has　made　under　your　tutelage。〃　Obi…Wan　considered　the　words　carefully　and　nodded　again；　knowing　that　he　was　walking　a　fine　line　here。　If　he　overstated　his　concerns　about　Anakin's　temperament；　he　might　be　doing　a　great　disservice　to　the　Jedi　and　to　the　galaxy。　And　yet；　if　he　let　the　magnitude　of　his　assignment　in　training　Anakin　Skywalker　bring　him　to　silence　on　legitimate　questions；　then　was　he　doing　great　harm？
　
　〃If　the　prophecy　is　true；　Anakin　will　be　the　one　to　bring　balance　to　the　Force；〃　Mace　finished。
　〃But　he　still　has　much　to　learn。　His　skills　have　made　him　。　。　。　well…〃　Obi…　Wan　paused；　trying　to　walk　that　delicate　line。　〃…arrogant。　I　realize　now　what　you　and　Master　Yoda　knew　from　the　beginning。　The　boy　was　too　old　to　start　the　training；　and　。　。　。〃
　
　The　frown　spreading　on　Mace　Windu's　face　signaled　Obi…Wan　that　he　might　be　pushing　a　bit　too　hard。
　〃There's　something　else；〃　Mace　observed。
　
　Obi…Wan　took　a　deep　and　steadying　breath。　〃Master；　Anakin　and　I　should　not　have　been　given　this　assignment。　I'm　afraid　Anakin　won't　be　able　to　protect　the　Senator。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃He　has　a　。。。　an　emotional　connection　with　her。　It's　been　there　since　he　was　a　boy。　Now　he's　confused；　and　distracted。〃　As　he　spoke；　Obi…Wan　started　toward　his　star　fighter。　He　climbed　up　the　cockpit　ladder　and　into　his　seat。
　〃So　you　have　already　stated；〃　Mace　reminded。　〃And　your　concerns　were　weighed　properly；　and　did　not　change　the　decision　of　the　Council。　Obi…Wan；　you　must　have　faith　that　Anakin　will　take　the　right　path。〃　It　made　sense；　of　course。　If　Anakin　was　to　bee　a　great　leader；　a　creature　of　prophecy；　then　surely　his　character　tests　must　be　passed。　Anakin　was　waging　one　of　those　tests　right　now；　Obi…Wan　knew；　off　in　seclusion　on　a　distant　planet　with　a　woman　whom　he　loved　too　deeply。　He　had　to　be　strong　enough　to　pass　that　test；　Obi…Wan　just　hoped　that　Anakin　recognized　the　trial　for　what　it　was。
　〃Has　Master　Yoda　gained　any　insight　as　to　whether　or　not　this　war　will　e　about？〃　he　asked；　somewhat　changing　the　subject；　though　he　felt　that　it　was　all　very　connected。　Finding　the　assassin；　making　peace　with　the　separatists…　all　of　these　things　would　allow　him　to　focus　more　closely　on　Anakin's　training　and　would　keep　things　at　a　more　even　keel　around　the　troubled　Padawan。
　〃Probing　the　dark　side　is　a　dangerous　process；〃　Mace　stated。　〃I　know　not　when　he　will　choose　to　begin；　but　when　he　does；　it　is　quite　possible　that　he　will　remain　in　seclusion　for　days。〃
　
　Obi…Wan　nodded　his　agreement　and　Mace　gave　him　a　smile　and　a　wave。　〃May　the　Force　be　with　you。〃
　〃Set　the　course　to　the　hyperspace　ring；　Arfour；〃　Obi…Wan　instructed　his　astromech　droid；　an　R4…P　unit　that　was　hardwired　into　the　left　wing　of　the　sleek　starfighter。　Silently；　the　Jedi　Knight　added　to　himself；　Let's　get　this　thing　moving。
　
　Chapter　Fourteen
　
　It　was　a　scene　of　simplicity；　of　children　playing　and　adults　sitting　quietly　under　the　warm　sun；　or　gossiping　across　neatly　trimmed　hedgerows。　It　was　a　scene　of　absolute　normalcy　for　Naboo；　but　it　was　nothing　like　Anakin　Skywalker　had　ever　witnessed。　On　Tatooine；　the　houses　were　singular；　out　in　the　desert；　or　they　were　clustered　tightly　in　cities　like　Mos　Eisley；　with　its　hustle　and　bustle　and　bright　colors　and　brighter　characters。　On　Coruscant；　there　were　no　streets　like　this　one　any　longer。　There　were　no　hedgerows　and　trees　lining　the　ground；　just　permacrete　and　old　buildings　and　the　gray　foundations　of　the　towering　skyscrapers。　People　did　not　gossip；　with　children　running　carefree　about　them；　in　either　place。
　
　To　Anakin；　it　was　a　scene　of　simple　beauty。
　
　He　was　back　to　wearing　his　Jedi　robes；　the　peasant　garb　discarded。　Padm　walked　alongside　him　in　a　simple　blue　dress　that　only　seemed　to　enhance　her　beauty。　Anakin　kept　glancing　her　way；　stealing　images　of　her　to　burn　into　his　mind；　to　hold　forever　in　a　special　place。　She　could　be　wearing　anything；　he　realized；　and　still　be　beautiful。
　
　Anakin　smiled　as　he　recalled　the　ornate　outfits　Padme　had　often　worn　as　Queen　of　Naboo；　huge　gowns　with　intricate　embroidery　and　studded　with　gemstones；　tremendous　headpieces　of　plumes　and　swirls　and　curves　and　twists。
　
　He　liked　her　better　like　this；　he　decided。　All　of　the　decorations　of　her　Queenly　outfits　had　been　beautifully　designed；　but　still　could　only　detract　from　the　more　beautifully　designed　Padme。　Wearing　a　great　headpiece　only　hid　her　silken　brown　hair。　Painting　her　face　in　whites　and　bright　red　only　hid　her　beautiful　skin。　The　embroidery　on　the　great　gowns　only　blurred　the　perfection　of　her　form。
　
　This　was　the　way　Anakin　wanted　to　see　her；　where　her　clothing　was　just　a　finishing　touch。
　〃There's　my　house！〃　Padme　cried　suddenly；　startling　Anakin　from　his　pleasant　daydreams。
　
　He　followed　her　gaze　to　see　a　simple　but　tasteful　structure；　surrounded；　like　everything　on　Naboo；　by　flowers　and　vines　and　hedges。　Padme　started　off　immediately　for　the　door；　but　Anakin　didn't　follow　right　away。　He　studied　the　house；　every　line；　every　detail；　trying　to　see　in　it　the　environment　that　had　produced　her。　She　had　told　him　many　stories　of　her　childhood　in　this　house　during　their　trip　from　Coruscant；　and　he　was　replaying　those　tales；　seeing　them　in　context　now　that　the　yard　was　in　view。
　〃What？〃　Padme　a