rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第31节

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rown　hair　flying　out　behind　her。
　
　Beside　them　at　the　wheel；　Paddy　Accu　gave　a　laugh　at　every　spray；　his　graying　hair　spreading　out　widely。　〃Always　better　over　the　water！〃　he　shouted　in　his　gruff　voice；　against　the　wind　and　the　noise　of　the　speeder。
　〃Are　you　liking　it？〃
　
　Padme　turned　a　sincere　smile　upon　him；　and　the　grizzled　man　leaned　in　close　and　backed　off　the　accelerator。　〃She's　even　more　fun　if　I　put　her　down；〃　he　explained。　〃You　think　you'll　like　that；　Senator？〃
　
　Both　Padme　and　Anakin　looked　at　him　curiously；　neither　quite　understanding。　〃We　were　going　out　to　the　island；〃　Anakin　remarked；　a　note　of　concern　in　his　voice。
　〃Oh；　I'll　get　you　there！〃　Paddy　Accu　said　with　a　wheezing　laugh。　He　pushed　forward　a　lever…and　the　speeder　dropped　into　the　water。
　〃Paddy？　〃Padme　asked。
　
　The　man　laughed　all　the　harder。　〃Don't　tell　me　you've　forgotten！〃　he　roared；　kicking　in　the　accelerator。　The　speeder　jetted　off　across　the　water；　no　longer　smooth　in　flight；　but　bouncing　across　the　rippling　surface。
　〃Oh；　yes！〃　Padme　said　to　him。　〃I　do　remember！〃
　
　After　a　moment　of　initial　shock；　looking　from　Padme　to　Paddy；　wondering　if　the　man　was　up　to　some　dark　deception；　Anakin　caught　on；　and　was　also　swept　away　by　the　bouncing　ride。
　
　The　spray　was　nearly　continuous；　thrown　up　by　the　prow　and　washing　over　them。
　〃It's　wonderful！〃　Padme　exclaimed。
　
　Anakin　couldn't　disagree。　〃We　spend　so　much　time　in　control；〃　he　replied。　His　mind　went　back　to　his　younger　days；　on　Tatooine；　Podracing　along　wild　courses；　skirting　disaster。　This　was　somewhat　like　that；　especially　when　Paddy；　in　no　apparent　hurry　to　reach　the　island　dock；　flipped　the　speeder　up　and　down　from　one　edge　to　the　other；　zigzagging　his　way。　It　amazed　Anakin　how　this　little　adjustment；　dropping　into　the　water　instead　of　smoothly　skimming　above　it；　had　changed　the　perspective　of　this　journey。　It　was　true；　he　knew；　that　technology　had　tamed　the　galaxy；　and　while　that　seemed　a　good　thing　in　terms　of　efficiency　and　fort；　he　had　to　believe　that　something；　too；　had　been　lost：　the　excitement　of　living　on　the　edge　of　disaster。　Or　the　simple　tactile　feeling　of　a　ride　like　this；　bouncing　across　the　waves；　feeling　the　wind　and　the　cold　spray。
　
　At　one　point；　Paddy　put　the　speeder　so　far　up　on　edge　that　both　Anakin　and　Padme　thought　they　would　tip　over。　Anakin　almost　reached　into　the　Force　to　secure　the　craft；　but　stopped　himself　in　order　to　enjoy　the　thrill。　They　didn't　tip。　Paddy　was　an　expert　driver　who　knew　how　to　take　his　speeder　to　the　very　limits　without　crashing　over。　It　was　some　time　later　that　he　slowed　the　craft　and　allowed　it　to　drift　in　against　the　island　dock。
　
　Padme　grabbed　the　older　man's　hand　and　leaned　in　to　kiss　his　cheek。　〃Thank　you！〃
　
　Anakin　was　surprised　that　he　could　see　Paddy's　blush　through　the　man's　ruddy　skin。　〃It　was　。　。　。　fun；〃　he　admitted。
　〃If　it　isn't；　then　what's　the　point？〃　the　gruff…looking　man　replied　with　a　great　belly　laugh。
　
　While　Paddy　secured　the　speeder；　Anakin　hopped　onto　the　dock。　He　reached　back　to　take　Padme's　hand；　helping　her　stay　balanced　while　she　debarked　with　her　suitcase　in　her　other　hand。
　〃I'll　bring　the　bags　up　for　you；〃　Paddy　offered；　and　Padme　looked　back　and　smiled。　〃You　go　and　see　what　you　can　see…　don't　want　to　be　wasting　your　time　on　the　little　chores！〃
　〃Wasting　time；〃　Padme　echoed。　There　was　an　unmistakable　wistfulness　in　her　voice。
　
　The　young　couple　walked　up　a　long　flight　of　wooden　stairs；　past　flower　beds　and　hanging　vines。　They　came　onto　a　terrace　overlooking　a　beautiful　garden；　and　beyond　that；　the　shimmering　lake　and　the　mountains　rising　behind　it；　all　blue　and　purple。
　
　Padme　leaned　her　crossed　forearms　on　the　balustrade　and　stared　out　at　the　wondrous　view。
　〃You　can　see　the　mountains　in　the　water；〃　Anakin　remarked；　shaking　his　head　and　grinning。　The　water　was　still；　the　light　just　right；　so　that　the　mountains　in　the　lake　seemed　almost　perfect　replicas。　〃Of　course；〃　she　agreed　without　moving。
　
　He　gazed　at　her　until　she　turned　to　look　back　at　him。
　〃It　seems　an　obvious　thing　to　you；〃　he　said；　〃but　where　I　grew　up；　there　weren't　any　lakes。　Whenever　I　see　this　much　water；　every　detail　of　it。。。〃
　
　He　ended　by　shaking　his　head；　obviously　overwhelmed。
　〃Amazes　you？〃
　〃And　pleases　me；〃　he　said　with　a　warm　smile。
　
　Padme　turned　back　to　the　lake。　〃I　guess　it's　hard　to　hold　on　to　appreciation　for　some　things；〃　she　admitted。　〃But　after　all　these　years；　I　still　see　the　beauty　of　the　mountains　reflected　in　the　water。　I　could　stare　at　them　all　day；　every　day。〃
　
　Anakin　stepped　up　to　the　balustrade　beside　her；　leaning　in　very　close。　He　closed　his　eyes　and　inhaled　the　sweet　scent　of　Padme；　felt　the　warmth　of　her　skin。
　〃When　I　was　in　Level　Three；　we　used　to　e　here　for　school　retreat；〃　she　said。　She　pointed　out　across　the　way；　to　another　island。　〃See　that　island？　We　used　to　swim　there　every　day。　I　love　the　water。〃
　〃I　do；　too。　I　guess　it　es　from　growing　up　on　a　desert　planet。〃　He　was　staring　at　her　again；　his　eyes　soaking　in　her　beauty。　He　could　tell　that　Padme　sensed　his　stare；　but　she　pointedly　continued　to　look　out　over　the　water。
　〃We　used　to　lie　on　the　sand　and　let　the　sun　dry　us　。。。　and　try　to　guess　the　names　of　the　birds　singing。〃
　〃I　don't　like　the　sand。　It's　coarse　and　rough　and　irritating。　And　it　gets　everywhere。〃
　
　Padme　turned　to　look　back　at　him
　
　〃Not　here；〃　Anakin　went　on。　〃It's　like　that　on　Tatooine…　everything's　like　that　on　Tatooine。　But　here；　everything's　soft；　and　smooth。〃　As　he　finished；　hardly　even　aware　of　the　motion；　he　reached　out　and　stroked　Padme's　arm。　He　nearly　pulled　back　when　he　realized　what　he　was　doing；　but　since　Padm　didn't　object；　he　let　himself　stay　close　to　her。　She　seemed　a　bit　tentative；　a　bit　scared；　but　she　wasn't　pulling　away。
　〃There　was　a　very　old　man　who　lived　on　the　island；〃　she　said。　Her　brown　eyes　seemed　to　be　looking　far　away；　across　the　years。　〃He　used　to　make　glass　out　of　sand…and　vases　and　necklaces　out　of　the　glass。　They　were　magical。〃
　
　Anakin　moved　a　bit　closer；　staring　at　her　intensely　until　she　turned　to　face　him。　〃Everything　here　is　magical；〃　he　said。
　〃You　could　look　into　the　glass　and　see　the　water。　The　way　it　ripples　and　moves。　It　looked　so　real；　but　it　wasn't。〃
　〃Sometimes；　when　you　believe　something　to　be　real；　it　bees　real。〃　It　seemed　to　Anakin　as　if　she　wanted　to　look　away。　But　she　didn't。　Instead；　she　was　falling　deeper　into　his　eyes；　and　he　into　hers。
　〃I　used　to　think　if　you　looked　too　deeply　into　the　glass；　you　would　lose　yourself；〃　she　said；　her　voice　barely　a　whisper。
　〃I　think　it's　true　。　。　。〃　He　moved　forward　as　he　spoke；　brushing　his　lips　against　hers；　and　for　a　moment；　she　didn't　resist；　closing　her　eyes；　losing　herself。　Anakin　pressed　in　closer；　a　real　and　deep　kiss；　sliding　his　lips　across　hers　slowly。　He　could　lose　himself　here；　could　kiss　her　for　hours；　forever　。　。　。
　
　But　then　Padme　pulled　back；　suddenly；　as　if　waking　from　a　dream。　〃No；　I　shouldn't　have　done　that。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　Anakin　said。　〃When　I'm　around　you；　my　mind　is　no　longer　my　own。〃
　
　He　stared　at　her　hard　again；　beginning　that　descent　into　the　glass；　losing　himself　in　her　beauty。　But　the　moment　had　passed；　and　Padme　gathered　her　arms　in　close　and　leaned　again　on　the　balustrade；　looking　out　over　the　water。
　
　　As　soon　as　the　starlight　shrank　back　from　its　speed…shift　elongation；　Obi…　Wan　Kenobi　saw　the　〃missing〃　planet；　exactly　where　the　gravity　flux　had　predicted　it　would　be。
　〃There　it　is；　Arfour；　right　where　it　should　be；〃　he　said　to　his　astromech　droid；　who　tootled　in　response　from　the　left　wing　of　the　fighter。　〃Our　missing　planet；　Kamino。　Those　files　were　altered。〃　R4　beeped　curiously。
　〃I　have　no　idea　who　might　have　done　it；〃　Obi…Wan　replied。　〃Maybe　we'll　find　some　answers　down　there。〃
　
　He　ordered　R4　to　disengage　the　hyperspace　ring；　a　band　encircling　the　center　area　of　the　starfighter；　with　a　pair　of　powerful　hyperdrive　engines；　one　on　either　side。　Then　he　took　the　Delta…7　away；　gliding　in　casually；　registering　information　on　his　various　scanners。
　
　As　he　neared　the　planet；　he　saw　that　it　was　an　ocean　world；　with　no　visible　landmasses　showing　behind　the　nearly　solid　cloud　cover。　He　checked　his　sensors；　searching　for　any　other　ships　that　might　be　in　the　area；　not　really　sure　of　what　he　should　expect。　His　puter　registered　a　transmission　directed　his　way；　asking　for　identification；　and　he　flipped　his　signal　beacon　on；　transferring　all　the　information。　A　moment　later；　to　his　relief；　there　came　a　second　transmission　from　Kamino；　this　one　containing　approach　coordinates　to　a　place　called　Tipoca　City。
　〃Well；　here　we　go；　Arfour。　Time　to　find　some　answers。〃　The　droid　beeped　and　set　the　coordinates　into　the　nav　puter；　and　the　fighter　swooped　down　at　the　planet；　breaking　atmosphere　and　soaring　along　over　rain…lashed；　whitecapped　seas。　The　trip　across　the　stormy　sky　was　rougher　than　the　atmospheric　entry；　but　the　fighter　held　its　course　perfectly；　and　soon　after；　Obi…Wan　got　his　first　look　at　Tipoca　City。　It　was　all　gleaming　domes　and　angled；　gracefully　curving　walls；　built　on　gigantic　stilts　rising　out　of　the　lashing　sea。
　
　Obi…Wan　spotte