rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第5部分

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no　sign　of　intruders。
　
　All　four　stayed　on　edge　the　remainder　of　that　night；　though；　each　of　them　keeping　a　weapon　close　at　hand；　and　sleeping　only　in　shifts。
　
　The　next　day；　out　by　the　eastern　rim；　Owen　found　the　source　of　the　alarm：　a　footprint　along　a　patch　of　sturdier　ground　near　the　edge　of　the　farm。　It　wasn't　the　large　round　depression　a　bantha　would　make；　but　the　indentation　one　might　expect　from　a　foot　wrapped　in　soft　material；　much　like　a　Tusken　would　wear。
　〃We　should　speak　with　the　Dorrs　and　all　the　others；〃　Cliegg　said　when　Owen　showed　the　print　to　him。　〃Get　a　group　together　and　chase　the　animals　back　into　the　open　desert。〃
　〃The　banthas？〃
　〃Them；　too；〃　Cliegg　snarled。　He　spat　upon　the　ground；　as　steely…eyed　and　angry　as　Owen　had　ever　seen　him。
　
　　Senator　Padme　Amidala　felt　strangely　uneasy　in　her　office；　in　the　same　plex　as；　but　unattached　to；　the　royal　palace　of　Queen　Jamillia。　Her　desk　was　covered　in　holodisks　and　all　the　other　usual　clutter　of　her　station。　At　the　front　of　it；　a　holo　played　through　the　numbers；　a　soldier　on　one　scale；　a　flag　of　truce　on　the　other；　tallying　the　predicted　votes　for　the　meeting　on　Coruscant。　The　hologram　depiction　of　those　scales　seemed　almost　perfectly　balanced。
　
　Padme　knew　that　the　vote　would　be　close；　with　the　Senate　almost　evenly　divided　over　whether　the　Republic　should　create　a　formal　army。　It　galled　her　to　think　that　so　many　of　her　colleagues　would　be　voting　based　on　personal　gain…everything　from　potential　contracts　to　supply　the　army　for　their　home　systems　to　direct　payoffs　from　some　of　the　merce　guilds…　rather　than　on　what　was　best　for　the　Republic。
　
　In　her　heart；　Padme　remained　steadfast　that　she　had　to　work　defeat　the　creation　of　this　army。　The　Republic　was　built　on　tolerance。　It　was　a　vast　network　of　tens　of　thousands　of　systems；　and　even　more　species；　each　with　a　distinct　perspective。　The　only　element　they　shared　was　tolerance…tolerance　of　one　another。　The　creation　of　an　army　might　prove　unsettling；　even　threatening；　to　so　many　of　those　systems　and　species；　beings　far　removed　from　the　great　city…planet　of　Coruscant。
　
　A　motion　outside　drew　Padme　to　the　window；　and　she　looked　down　upon　the　plex　courtyard　to　see　a　group　of　men　jostling　and　fighting　as　the　Naboo　security　forces　rushed　in　to　control　the　situation。
　
　There　came　a　sharp　rap　on　the　door　to　her　office；　and　as　she　turned　back　that　way；　the　portal　slid　open　and　Captain　Panaka　strode　in。
　〃Just　checking；　Senator；〃　said　the　man　who　had　served　as　her　personal　bodyguard　when　she　was　Queen。　Tall　and　dark…skinned；　he　had　a　steely　gaze　and　an　athletic　physique　only　accentuated　by　the　cut　of　his　brown　leather　jerkin；　blue　shirt；　and　pants；　and　the　mere　sight　of　Panaka　filled　Padm　with　fort。　He　was　in　his　forties　now；　but　still　looked　as　if　he　could　outfight　any　man　on　Naboo。
　〃Shouldn't　you　be　seeing　to　the　security　of　Queen　Jamillia？〃　Padme　asked。　Panaka　nodded。　〃She　is　well　protected；　I　assure　you。〃
　〃From？〃　Padme　prompted；　nodding　toward　the　window　and　the　continuing　disturbance　beyond。
　〃Spice　miners；〃　Panaka　explained。　〃Contract　issues。　Nothing　to　concern　you；　Senator。　Actually；　I　was　on　my　way　here　to　speak　with　you　about　security　for　your　return　trip　to　Coruscant。〃
　〃That　is　weeks　away。〃　Panaka　looked　to　the　window。　〃Which　gives　us　more　time　to　properly　prepare。〃
　
　Padme　knew　better　than　to　argue　with　the　stubborn　man。　Since　she　would　be　flying　an　official　starship　of　the　Naboo　fleet　Panaka　had　the　right；　if　not　the　responsibility；　to　get　involved。　And　in　truth；　his　concern　pleased　her；　although　she'd　never　admit　it　to　him。
　
　A　shout　outside　and　renewed　fighting　drew　her　attention　briefly；　making　her　wince。　Another　problem。　There　was　always　a　problem；　somewhere。　Padme　had　to　wonder　if　that　was　just　the　nature　of　people；　to　create　some　excitement　when　all　seemed　well。　Given　that　unsettling　thought；　Sola's　words　came　back　to　her；　along　with　images　of　Ryoo　and　Pooja。　How　she　loved　those　two　carefree　little　sprites！
　
　〃Senator？〃　Panaka　said；　drawing　her　out　of　her　private　contemplations。
　〃Yes？〃
　〃We　should　discuss　the　security　procedures。〃
　
　It　pained　Padme　to　let　go　of　the　images　of　her　nieces　at　that　moment；　but　she　nodded　and　forced　herself　back　into　her　responsible　mode。　Captain　Panaka　had　said　that　they　had　to　discuss　security；　and　so　Padme　Amidala　had　to　discuss　security。
　
　　The　Lars　family　was　being　serenaded　through　yet　another　night　by　the　lowing　of　many　banthas。　None　of　the　four　had　any　doubt　that　Tuskens　were　out　there；　not　far　from　the　farm；　perhaps　even　then　watching　its　lights。
　〃They're　wild　beasts；　and　we　should　have　gotten　the　Mos　Eisley　authorities　to　exterminate　them　like　the　vermin　they　are。　Them　and　the　stinking　Jawas！〃　Shmi　sighed　and　put　her　hand　on　her　husband's　tense　forearm。　　〃The　Jawas　have　helped　us；〃　she　reminded　him　gently。　　　〃Then　not　the　Jawas！〃　Cliegg　roared　back；　and　Shmi　jumped。　Taking　note　of　Shmi's　horrified　expression；　Cliegg　calmed　at　once。　〃I'm　sorry。　Not　the　Jawas；　then。　But　the　Tuskens。　They　kill　and　teal　whenever　and　wherever　they　can。　No　good　es　of　them！〃
　〃If　they　try　to　e　in　here；　there'll　be　less　of　them　to　chase　back　out　into　the　desert；〃　Owen　offered；　and　Cliegg　gave　him　an　appreciative　nod。　They　tried　to　finish　their　dinner；　but　every　time　a　bantha　sounded；　they　all　tensed；　hands　shifting　from　utensils　to　readied　blasters。
　〃Listen；〃　Shmi　said　suddenly；　and　they　all　went　perfectly　quiet；　straining　their　ears。　All　was　quiet　outside；　no　banthas　were　lowing。
　〃Perhaps　they　were　just　moving　by；〃　Shmi　offered　when　she　was　certain　the　others　had　caught　on。　〃Heading　back　out　into　the　open　desert　where　they　belong。〃
　〃We'll　go　out　to　the　Dorrs'　in　the　morning；〃　Cliegg　said　to　Owen。　〃We'll　get　all　the　farmers　organized；　and　maybe　get　a　call　in　to　Mos　Eisley；　as　well。〃　He　looked　to　Shmi　and　nodded。　〃Just　to　make　sure。〃　〃In　the　morning；〃　Owen　agreed。
　
　　At　dawn　the　next　day；　Owen　and　Cliegg　started　out　from　the　pound　before　they　had　even　eaten　a　good　breakfast；　for　Shmi　had　gone　out　ahead　of　them；　as　she　did　most　mornings；　to　pick　some　mushrooms　at　the　vaporators。　They　expected　to　pass　her　on　their　way　out　to　the　Dorrs'　farm　but　instead　found　her　footprints；　surrounded　by　the　imprints　of　many　others；　the　soft　boots　of　the　Tuskens。　Cliegg　Lars；　as　strong　and　tough　a　man　as　the　region　had　ever　known；　fell　to　his　knees　and　wept。
　〃We　have　to　go　after　her；　Dad；〃　came　a　suddenly　solid　and　unwavering　voice。　Cliegg　looked　up　and　back　to　see　Owen　standing　there；　a　man　indeed　and　no　more　a　boy；　his　expression　grim　and　determined。
　〃She　is　alive　and　we　cannot　leave　her　to　them；〃　Owen　said　with　a　strange；　almost　supernatural　calm。
　
　Cliegg　wiped　away　the　last　of　his　tears　and　stared　hard　at　his　son；　then　nodded　grimly。　〃Spread　the　word　to　the　neighboring　farms。〃
　
　Chapter　Three
　
　　〃There　they　are！〃　Sholh　Dorr　cried；　pointing　straight　ahead；　while　keeping　his　speeder　bike　at　full　throttle。
　
　The　twenty…nine　others　saw　the　target；　the　rising　dust　of　a　line　of　walking　banthas。　With　a　munal　roar；　the　outraged　farmers　pressed　on；　determined　to　exact　revenge；　determined　to　rescue　Shmi；　if　she　was　still　alive　among　this　band　of　Tusken　Raiders。
　
　Amidst　the　roar　of　engines　and　cries　of　revenge；　they　swept　down　the　descending　wash；　closing　fast　on　the　banthas；　eager　for　battle。　Cliegg　pumped　his　head；　growling　all　the　while；　as　if　pleading　with　his　speederbike　to　accelerate　even　more。　He　swerved　in　from　the　left　flank；　cutting　into　the　center　of　the　formation；　then　lowered　his　head　and　opened　the　speederbike　up；　trying　to　catch　the　lead　riders。　All　he　wanted　was　to　be　in　the　thick　of　it；　to　get　his　strong　arms　about　a　Tusken　throat。　The　banthas　were　clearly　in　sight；　then；　along　with　their　robed　riders。　Another　cry　went　up；　one　of　revenge。
　
　One　that　fast　turned　to　horror。
　
　The　leading　edge　of　the　farmer　army　plowed　headlong　into　a　wire　cleverly　strung　across　the　field；　at　neck　height　to　a　man　riding　a　speeder　bike。　Cliegg's　own　cry　also　became　one　of　horror　as　he　watched　the　decapitation　of　several　his　friends　and　neighbors；　as　he　watched　others　thrown　to　the　ground。　Pur