rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第36节

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t　he　would　be　receiving　a　visitor　later　that　same　day；　it　would　be　fairly　obvious　that　he　was　fleeing。
　
　Then　he'd　have　a　Jedi　Knight　on　his　tail；　and　one　about　whom　he　knew　practically　nothing。
　
　Jango　continued　to　stare　at　Boba；　at　the　only　thing　that　really　mattered。
　〃Play　it　cool；〃　he　whispered　to　himself。　〃You're　nothing　more　than　a　clone　source；　well　paid　enough　to　want　to　know　nothing　about　why　you're　being　cloned。〃
　
　That　was　his　litany；　that　was　his　plan。　And　it　had　to　work。　For　Boba's　sake。
　
　　A　wave　of　Taun　We's　hand　brought　forth　the　chime　of　an　unseen　bell；　reminding　Obi…Wan　yet　again　of　how　foreign　this　world　of　Kamino；　this　city　of　Tipoca；　really　was。　He　didn't　give　it　much　thought；　though；　for　he　was　focused　on　the　locking　mechanism　on　the　door　before　him；　an　elaborate　electronic　clasp　and　bolt。　Quite　a　bit　of　security；　it　seemed　to　him；　given　the　supposedly　genteel　nature　of　Jango　Fett's　relationship　with　the　Kaminoans；　and　the　obvious　control　the　cloners　held　over　their　city。　Was　the　locking　mechanism　designed　to　keep　people　out；　or　to　keep　Jango　in？　Likely　the　former；　he　reasoned。　Jango　was　a　bounty　hunter；　after　all。
　
　Perhaps　he　had　made　more　than　a　few　dangerous　enemies。
　
　He　was　still　studying　the　device　when　the　door　suddenly　opened；　revealing　a　young　boy；　an　exact　replica　of　those　Obi…Wan　had　been　viewing　all　day。　The　identical　one　that　Jango　had　demanded；　only　this　one　was　actually　ten　years　old。
　〃Boba；〃　Taun　We　said　with　great　familiarity；　〃is　your　father　home？〃　Boba　Fett　stood　staring　at　the　human　visitor　for　a　long　moment。　〃Yep。〃
　〃May　we　see　him？〃
　〃Sure；〃　Boba　answered。　He　stepped　back；　but　his　eyes　never　left　Obi…Wan　as　the　Jedi　and　Taun　We　stepped　across　the　threshold。
　〃Dad！　〃Boba　yelled。
　
　The　title　struck　Obi…Wan　as　curious；　given　that　this　was　a　clone　and　not　a　natural　son。　Was　there　a　connection　here？　A　real　one？　Had　Jango　wanted　the　exact　replica　not　for　any　professional　gain　but　simply　because　he　had　wanted　a　son？
　
　〃Dad！〃　the　boy　shouted　again。　〃Taun　We's　here！〃
　
　Jango　Fett　walked　in；　dressed　in　simple　shirt　and　trousers。　Obi…Wan　recognized　him　immediately；　though　he　was　many　years　older　than　the　oldest　clone；　his　face　scarred　and　pitted；　and　unshaven。　His　body　had　thickened　with　age；　but　he　was　still　physically　imposing；　much　like　many　of　the　old　gutter　dwellers　Obi…Wan　encountered　in　far…flung　places。　A　few　extra　pounds；　sure；　but　those　covered　muscles　hardened　by　years　of　tough　living。　Tattoos　crossed　both　of　Jango's　muscular　forearms；　of　a　strange　design　that　Obi…Wan　did　not　recognize。
　
　As　he　glanced　up；　he　recognized　the　clear　suspicion　with　which　Jango　was　eyeing　him。　The　man　was　on　edge　here；　dangerously　so；　Obi…Wan　understood。
　〃Wele　back；　Jango；〃　Taun　We　remarked。　〃Was　your　trip　productive？〃
　
　Obi…Wan　studied　the　bounty　hunter　intensely。　Back　from　where？　But　Jango　was　a　professional；　and　his　expression　revealed　not　the　slightest　tic　or　wince。
　〃Fairly；〃　the　man　casually　offered。　He　continued　to　size　up　Obi…Wan　as　he　spoke；　his　eyes　narrowing　in　an　almost　open　threat。
　〃This　is　Jedi　Master　Obi…Wan　Kenobi；〃　Taun　We　said；　her　tone　lighter；　obviously　an　attempt　to　relieve　some　of　the　palpable　tension。　〃He's　e　to　check　on　our　progress。〃
　〃That　right？〃　If　Jango　cared；　his　tone　didn't　show　it。
　〃Your　clones　are　very　impressive；〃　Obi…Wan　said。　〃You　must　be　very　proud。〃
　〃I'm　just　a　simple　man　trying　to　make　my　way　in　the　universe；　Master　Jedi。〃
　〃Aren't　we　all？〃　Obi…Wan　finally　broke　eye　contact　with　Jango　as　he　spoke；　scanning　the　room；　looking　for　clues。　He　focused　on　the　half…open　door　through　which　Jango　had　appeared；　and　thought　he　saw　pieces　of　body　armor　in　there；　battered　and　stained；　much　like　that　worn　by　a　rocket…man　after　delivering　a　toxic　dart　into　the　changeling　Zam　Wesell。　And　he　saw　a　curving　bluish　line；　like　the　goggle　and　breather　area　of　the　helmet　he　had　seen　back　on　Coruscant。　Before　he　could　scrutinize　the　sight　any　more　closely；　though；　Jango　walked　in　front　of　him；　pointedly　blocking　his　view。
　〃Ever　make　your　way　as　far　into　the　interior　as　Coruscant？〃　Obi…Wan　asked；　rather　bluntly。
　〃Once　or　twice。〃
　〃Recently？〃
　
　Again　the　bounty　hunter's　gaze　became　obviously　suspicious。　〃Possibly。。。〃
　〃Then　you　must　know　Master　Sifo…Dyas；〃　Obi…Wan　remarked；　not　out　of　any　logical　follow…up　reasoning；　but　simply　to　gauge　the　man's　reaction。　There　was　none；　nor　did　Jango　Fett　move　a　centimeter　out　of　Obi…Wan's　line　of　sight；　and　when　the　Jedi　tried　to　subtly　alter　his　angle　to　gain　a　view；
　
　Jango　said；　in　a　coded　language；　〃Boba；　close　the　door。〃
　
　Not　until　that　bedroom　door　shut　did　Jango　Fett　move　to　the　side；　and　then　it　seemed　to　Obi…Wan　as　if　the　man　was　stalking　him。　〃Master　who？〃　Jango　asked。
　〃Sifo…Dyas。　Isn't　he　the　one　who　hired　you　for　this　job？〃
　〃Never　heard　of　him；〃　Jango　replied；　and　if　there　was　a　lie　in　his　words；　Obi…Wan　could　not　detect　it。
　〃Really？〃
　〃I　was　recruited　by　a　man　called　Tyranus　on　one　of　the　moons　of　Bogden；〃　Jango　explained；　and　again　it　seemed　to　Obi…Wan　as　if　he　was　speaking　truthfully。
　〃Curious　。　。　。〃　Obi…Wan　muttered。　He　glanced　down；　surprised　and　at　a　loss　as　to　what　all　of　this　might　mean。
　〃Do　you　like　your　army？〃　Jango　Fett　asked　him。
　〃I　look　forward　to　seeing　them　in　action；〃　the　Jedi　replied。　　　Jango　continued　to　stare　at　him；　to　try　to　see　the　intent　behind　his　words；　Obi…Wan　knew。　And　then；　as　if　it　hardly　mattered；　the　bounty　hunter　gave　a　toothy　smile。　〃They'll　do　their　job　well。　I'll　guarantee　that。〃　〃Like　their　source？〃
　
　Jango　Fett　continued　to　smile。
　〃Thanks　for　your　time；　Jango；〃　Obi…Wan　said　against　that　unpromising　stare。　Then　he　turned　to　Taun　We　and　started　for　the　door。
　〃Always　a　pleasure　to　meet　a　Jedi；〃　came　the　reply。　It　was　heavy　with　double　meaning；　almost　like　a　veiled　threat。
　
　But　Obi…Wan　wasn't　about　to　call　him　on　it。　Jango　Fett　was　clearly　a　dangerous　man；　streetwise　and　cunning；　and　likely　better　than　most　with　any　weapon　handy。　Before　he　pushed　things　any　further；　Obi…Wan　realized　that　he　should　relay　all　that　he　had　learned　thus　far　back　to　Coruscant　and　the　Jedi　Council。　This　discovery　of　a　clone　army　was　nothing　short　of　amazing；　and　more　than　a　little　unsettling；　and　none　of　it　made　much　sense。　And　was　Jango　the　rocket…man　Obi…Wan　had　seen　in　Coruscant　that　night　when　Padme　Amidala　had　been　attacked？
　
　Obi…Wan's　gut　told　him　that　Jango　was；　but　how　did　that　jibe　with　the　man　also　being　the　host　for　a　clone　army　supposedly　missioned　by　a　former　Jedi　Master？
　
　With　Taun　We　beside　him；　the　Jedi　left　the　apartment；　and　the　door　slid　closed　behind　him。　Obi…Wan　paused　and　focused　his　senses　back；　even　reaching　out　with　the　Force。　The　door　lock　quietly　secured。
　
　　〃It　was　his　starfighter；　wasn't　it；　Dad？〃　Boba　Fett　asked。　〃He's　a　Jedi　Knight；　so　he　can　use　the　Arfour…Pea。〃　Jango　gave　his　son　an　absent　nod。
　〃I　knew　it！〃　Boba　squealed；　but　then　Jango　abruptly　stole　the　moment。　Jango　fixed　Boba　with　a　no…nonsense　look　that　the　young　boy　had　learned　well　not　to　ignore。
　〃What　is　it；　Dad？〃
　〃Pack　your　things。　We're　leaving。〃
　
　Boba　started　to　reply；　but…
　
　〃Now；〃　the　bounty　hunter　said；　and　Boba　practically　tripped　over　himself；　scrambling　for　his　bedroom。
　
　Jango　Fett　shook　his　head。　He　didn't　need　this　aggravation。　Not　at　this　time。　Not　for　the　first　time；　the　bounty　hunter　questioned　his　decision　to　take　the　contract　against　Padme　Amidala。　He　had　been　surprised　when　the　Trade　Federation　had　approached　him　with　the　offer。　They　had　been　adamant；　explaining　only　that　the　death　of　the　Senator　was　critical　to　securing　necessary　allies；　and　they　had　made　an　offer　too　lucrative　for　Jango　to　refuse；　one　that　would　set　him　and　Boba　up　forever　on　a　planet　of　their　choosing。
　
　Little　had　Jango　known；　though；　that　taking　the　contract　on　Senator　Amidala　would　put　him　in　the　crosshairs　of　the　Jedi　Knights。
　
　He　looked　across　the　way　to　Boba。
　
　That　was　not　a　place　he　wanted　to　be　at　this　time。　Not　at　all。
　
　Chapter　Seventeen
　
　Padme　awoke　suddenly；　her　senses　immediately　tuning　in　to　her　surroundings。　Something　was　wrong；　she　knew　instinctively；　and　she　jumped　up；　scrambling　about　out　of　fear　that　another　of　those　centipede　creatures　was　upon　her。　But　her　room　was　quiet；　with　nothing　out　of　place。　Something　had　awakened　her；　but　not　something　in　here。　〃No！〃　came　a　cry　from　the　adjoining　bedroom；　where　Anakin　was　sleeping。　〃No！　Mom！　No；　don't！〃
　
　Padme　slipped　out　of　bed　and　ran　to　the　door；　not　even　bothering　to　grab　a　robe；　not　even　caring　or　noticing　that　she　was　wearing　a　revealing　silken　shift。　At　the　door；　she　paused　and　listened。　Hearing　cries　from　within；　followed　by　more　jumbled　yelling；　she　realized　that　there　was　no　immediate　danger；　that　this　was　another　of　Anakin's　nightmares；　like　the　one　that　had　gripped　him　on　the　shuttle　ride　to　Naboo。　She　opened　the　door　and　looked　in　on　him。
　
　He　was　thrashing　about　on　the　bed；　yelling　〃Mom！〃　repeatedly。　Unsure；　Padm　started　in。
　
　But　then　Anakin　calmed　and　rolled　back　over；　the　dream；　the　vision；　apparently　past。
　
　Then　Padme　did　bee　aware　of　her　revealing　dress。