rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第20节

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that　from　the　beginning。　It　is　better　to　take　the　offensive　against　such　a　threat；　to　find　out　the　source　rather　than　try　to　react　to　the　situation。〃　He　meant　to　go　on；　to　claim　credit　for　asking　for　such　an　investigation　from　the　very　beginning；　to　let　Padme　know　that　he　had　been　right　all　along　and　that　it　had　taken　the　Council　long　enough　to　e　around　to　his　way　of　thinking。　He　could　see；　though；　that　her　eyes　were　already　beginning　to　glaze　over；　so　he　quieted　and　let　her　speak。
　〃And　while　your　Master　investigates；　I　have　to　hide　away。〃
　〃That　would　be　most　prudent；　yes。〃
　
　Padme　gave　a　little　sigh　of　frustration。　〃I　haven't　worked　for　a　year　to　defeat　the　Military　Creation　Act　not　to　be　here　when　its　fate　is　decided！〃
　〃Sometimes　we　have　to　let　go　of　our　pride　and　do　what　is　requested　of　us；〃　Anakin　replied…a　rather　unconvincing　statement；　ing　from　him…and　he　knew　as　soon　as　he　spoke　the　words　that　he　probably　shouldn't　have　phrased　things　quite　like　that。
　〃Pride！〃　came　the　roaring　response。　〃Annie；　you're　young；　and　you　don't　have　a　very　firm　grip　on　politics。　I　suggest　you　reserve　your　opinions　for　some　other　time。〃
　〃Sorry；　M'Lady；　I　was　only　trying　to…〃
　〃Annie！　No！〃
　〃Please　don't　call　me　that。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Annie。　Please　don't　call　me　'Annie。'　〃
　〃I've　always　called　you　that。　It　is　your　name；　isn't　it？〃
　〃My　name　is　Anakin；〃　the　young　Jedi　said　calmly；　his　jaw　firm；　his　eyes　strong。　〃When　you　say　Annie；　it's　like　I'm　still　a　little　boy。　And　I'm　not。〃
　
　Padme　paused　and　looked　him　over；　head　to　toe；　nodding　as　she　took　the　sight　of　him　in　pletely。　He　could　see　sincerity　on　her　face　as　she　nodded　her　agreement；　and　her　tone；　too；　became　one　of　more　respect。　〃I'm　sorry；　Anakin。　It's　impossible　to　deny　you've　。　。　。　that　you've　grown　up。〃
　
　There　was　something　in　the　way　she　said　that；　Anakin　sensed；　some　suggestion；　some　recognition　from　Padme　that　he　was　indeed　a　man　now；　and　perhaps　a　handsome　one　at　that。　That；　bined　with　the　little　smile　she　flashed　him；　had　him　a　bit　flushed　and　put　him　back　up　on　his　heels。　He　found　an　ornament　sitting　on　a　shelf　to　the　side；　then；　and　using　the　Force；　picked　it　up；　letting　it　hover　above　his　fingers；　needing　the　distraction。
　
　Still；　he　had　to　clear　his　throat　to　cover　his　embarrassment；　for　he　was　afraid　that　his　voice　would　break　apart　as　he　admitted；　〃Master　Obi…Wan　manages　not　to　see　it。　He　criticizes　my　every　move；　as　if　I　was　still　a　child。　He　didn't　listen　to　me　when　I　insisted　that　we　go　in　search　of　the　source　of　the　assassination…〃
　〃Mentors　have　a　way　of　seeing　more　of　our　faults　than　we　would　like；〃　Padm　agreed。　〃It's　the　only　way　we　grow。〃
　
　With　a　thought；　Anakin　used　the　Force　to　lift　the　little　globe　ornament　higher　into　the　air；　manipulating　it　all　about。　〃Don't　get　me　wrong；〃　he　remarked。　〃Obi…Wan　is　a　great　mentor；　as　wise　as　Master　Yoda　and　as　powerful　as　Master　Windu。　I　am　truly　thankful　to　be　his　learner。　Only。。。〃
　
　He　paused　and　shook　his　head；　looking　for　the　words。　〃Only；　although　I'm　a　Padawan　learner；　in　some　ways…in　a　lot　of　ways…I'm　ahead　of　him。　I'm　ready　for　the　trials。　I　know　I　am！　He　knows　it；　too。　He　feels　I'm　too　unpredictable…other　Jedi　my　age　have　gone　through　the　trials　and　made　it。　I　know　I　started　my　training　late；　but　he　won't　let　me　move　on。〃　Padme's　expression　grew　curious；　and　Anakin　could　well　understand　her　puzzlement；　for　he；　too；　was　surprised　at　how　openly　he　was　speaking；　critically；　of　Obi…Wan。　He　thought　that　he　should　stop　right　there；　and　silently　berated　himself。
　
　But　then　Padme　said；　with　all　sympathy；　〃That　must　be　frustrating。〃
　〃It's　worse！〃　Anakin　cried　in　response；　willingly　diving　into　that　warm　place。　〃He's　overly　critical！　He　never　listens！　He　just　doesn't　understand！　It's　not　fair！〃
　
　He　would　have　gone　on　and　on；　but　Padme　began　to　laugh；　and　that　stopped　Anakin　as　surely　as　a　slap　across　the　face。
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　she　said　through　her　giggles。　〃You　sounded　exactly　like　that　little　boy　I　once　knew；　when　he　didn't　get　his　way。〃
　〃I'm　not　whining！　I'm　not。〃
　
　Across　the　room；　Dorme；　too；　began　to　chuckle。
　〃I　didn't　say　it　to　hurt　you；〃　Padme　explained。
　
　Anakin　took　a　deep　breath；　then　blew　it　all　out　of　him；　his　shoulders　visibly　relaxing。　〃I　know。〃
　
　He　seemed　so　pitiable　then；　not　pitiful；　but　just　like　a　lost　little　soul。
　
　Padme　couldn't　resist。　She　walked　over　to　him　and　lifted　her　hand　to　gently　stroke　his　cheek。　〃Anakin。〃
　
　For　the　first　time　since　they　had　been　reunited；　Padme　truly　looked　into　the　blue　eyes　of　the　young　Padawan；　locked　stares　with　him　so　that　they　each　could　see　beneath　the　surface；　so　that　they　each　could　view　the　other's　heart。　It　was　a　fleeting　moment；　made　so　by　Padme's　mon　sense。
　
　She　quickly　altered　the　mood　with　a　sincere　but　lighthearted　request。
　〃Don't　try　to　grow　up　too　fast。〃
　〃I　am　grown　up；〃　Anakin　replied。　〃You　said　it　yourself。〃　He　finished　by　making　his　reply　into　something　suggestive；　as　he　looked　deeply　into　Padme's　beautiful　brown　eyes　again；　this　time　even　more　intensely；　more　passionately。
　〃Please　don't　look　at　me　like　that；〃　she　said；　turning　away。
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃Because　I　can　see　what　you're　thinking。〃
　
　Anakin　broke　the　tension；　or　tried　to；　with　a　laugh。　〃Oh；　so　you　have　Jedi　powers；　too？〃
　
　Padme　looked　past　the　young　Padawan　for　a　moment；　glimpsing　Dorme；　who　was　watching　with　obvious　concern　and　not　even　trying　to　hide　her　interest　anymore。　And　Padme　understood　that　concern；　given　the　strange　and　unexpected　road　this　conversation　had　taken。　She　looked　squarely　at　Anakin　again　and　said；　with　no　room　for　debate；　〃It　makes　me　feel　unfortable。〃　Anakin　relented　and　looked　away。　〃Sorry；　M'Lady；〃　he　said　professionally；　and　he　stepped　back；　allowing　her　to　resume　her　packing。
　
　Just　the　bodyguard　again。
　
　But　he　wasn't；　Padme　knew；　no　matter　how　much　she　wished　it　were　true。
　
　　On　a　water…washed；　wind…lashed　world；　far　to　the　most　remote　edges　of　the　Outer　Rim；　a　father　and　his　son　sat　on　a　skirt　of　shining　black　metal；　watching　carefully　in　the　few　somewhat　calm　pools　created　by　the　currents　swirling　about　the　gigantic　caryatid　that　climbed　out　of　the　turbulent　ocean。　The　rain　had　let　up　a　bit；　a　rare　occasion　in　this　watery　place；　allowing　for　some　calm　surface　area；　at　least；　and　the　pair　stared　hard；　searching　for　the　meter…long　dark　silhouettes　of　rollerfish。
　
　They　were　on　the　lowest　skirt　of　one　of　the　great　pillars　that　supported　Tipoca　City；　the　greatest　city　on　all　of　Kamino；　a　place　of　sleek　structures；　all　rounded　to　deflect　the　continual　wind；　rather　than　flat…　faced　to　battle　against　it。　Kamino　had　been　designed；　or　upgraded　at　least；　by　many　of　the　best　architects　the　galaxy　could　offer；　who　understood　well　that　the　best　way　to　battle　planetary　elements　was　to　subtly　dodge　them。　Towering　transparisteel　windows　looked　out　from　every　portal…the　father；　Jango；　often　wondered　why　the　Kaminoans；　tall　and　thin；　pasty　white　creatures　with　huge　almond…shaped　eyes　set　in　oblong　heads　on　necks　as　long　as　his　arm；　wanted　so　many　windows。　What　was　there　to　see　on　this　violent　world　other　than　rolling　waters　and　nearly　constant　downpours？
　
　Still；　even　Kamino　had　its　better　moments。　It　was　all　relative；　Jango　supposed。　Thus；　when　he　saw　that　it　was　not　raining　very　hard；　he　had　taken　his　boy　outside。
　
　Jango　tapped　his　son　on　the　shoulder　and　nodded　toward　one　of　the　quiet　eddies；　and　the　younger　one；　his　face　showing　all　the　exuberance　of　a　ten…　year…old　boy；　lifted　his　pocker；　an　ion…burst…powered　atlatl；　and　took　deadly　aim。　He　didn't　use　the　laser　sighting　unit；　which　automatically　adjusted　for　watery　refraction。　No；　this　kill　was　to　be　a　test　of　his　skill　alone。
　
　He　exhaled　deeply；　as　his　father　had　taught　him；　using　the　technique　to　go　perfectly　steady；　and　then；　as　the　prey　turned　sidelong；　he　snapped　his　arm　forward；　throwing　the　missile。　Barely　a　meter　from　the　boy's　extended　hand；　the　back　of　the　missile　glowed　briefly；　a　sudden　and　short　burst　of　power　that　shot　it　off　like　a　blaster　bolt；　knifing　through　the　water　and　taking　the　fish　in　the　side；　its　barbed　head　driving　through。
　
　With　a　shout　of　joy；　the　boy　twisted　the　atlatl　handle；　locking　the　nearly　invisible　but　tremendously　strong　line；　and　then；　when　the　fish　squirmed　away　enough　to　pull　the　line　taut；　the　boy　slowly　and　deliberately　turned　the　handle；　reeling　in　his　catch。
　〃Well　done；〃　Jango　congratulated。　〃But　if　you　had　hit　it　a　centimeter　forward；　you　would　have　skewered　the　primary　muscle　just　below　the　gill　and　rendered　it　pletely　helpless。〃
　
　The　boy　nodded；　unperturbed　that　his　father；　his　mentor；　could　always　find　fault；　even　in　success。　The　boy　knew　that　his　beloved　father　did　so　only　because　it　forced　him　to　strive　for　perfection。　And　in　a　dangerous　galaxy；　perfection　allowed　for　survival。
　
　The　boy　loved　his　father　even　more　for　caring　enough　to　criticize。
　
　Jango　went　tense　suddenly；　sensing　a　movement　nearby；　a　footfall；　perhaps；　or　just　a　smell；　something　to　tell　the　finely　attuned　bounty　hunter　that　he　and　his　boy　were　not　alone。　There　weren't　many　enemies　to　be　found　on　Kamino；　except　far　out　in　the　watery　wastes；　w