rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第7节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


but　in　her　Senatorial　attire；　this　time　a　fabulous　weave　of　black　and　white；　and　with　her　hair　tied　up　and　exaggerated　by　a　black　headdress；　she　outshone　the　stars　themselves。　Her　mixture　of　intelligence　and　beauty；　of　innocence　and　allure；　of　courage　and　integrity　and　yet　with　a　good　measure　of　a　child's　mischievousness；　floored　Typho　every　time　he　looked　upon　her。　The　captain　turned　from　the　descending　entourage　back　to　Dolphe　across　the　way；　offering　a　satisfied　nod　in　acknowledgment　of　the　man's　point…running　work。
　
　And　then；　suddenly；　Typho　was　lying　facedown　on　the　permacrete；　thrown　to　the　ground　by　a　tremendous　concussion；　blinded　for　a　moment　by　a　brilliant　flash　as　an　explosion　roared　behind　him。　He　looked　up　as　his　vision　returned　to　see　Dolphe　sprawled　on　the　ground。
　
　Everything　seemed　to　move　in　slow　motion　for　Typho　at　that　terrible　moment。　He　heard　himself　yelling　〃No！〃　as　he　scrambled　to　his　knees　and　turned　about。
　
　Pieces　of　burning　metal　spread　through　the　Coruscant　sky　like　fireworks；　fanning　high　and　wide　from　the　wreckage。　The　remaining　hulk　of　the　Royal　Cruiser　burned　brightly；　and　seven　figures　lay　on　the　ground　before　it；　one　wearing　the　decorated　raiments　that　Typho　knew　so　very　well。　Disoriented　from　the　blast；　the　captain　stumbled　as　he　tried　to　rise。　A　great　lump　welled　in　his　throat；　for　he　knew　what　had　happened。
　
　Typho　was　a　veteran　warrior；　had　seen　battle；　had　seen　people　die　violently；　and　in　looking　at　those　bodies；　in　looking　at　Amidala's　beautiful　robes；　at　their　placement　about　the　very　still　form；　he　instinctively　knew。
　
　The　woman's　wounds　were　surely　mortal。　She　was　fast　dying；　if　not　already　dead。
　
　　〃You　reset　the　coordinates！〃　Obi…Wan　Kenobi　said　to　his　young　Padawan。　Obi…　Wan's　wheat…colored　hair　was　longer　now；　hanging　loosely　about　his　shoulders；　and　a　beard；　somewhat　unkempt；　adorned　his　still…young…looking　face。　His　light　brown　Jedi　traveling　clothes；　loose　fitting　and　fortable；　　seemed　to　settle　on　him　well。　For　Obi…Wan　had　bee　fortable；　had　grown　into　the　skin　of　Jedi　Knight。　No　longer　was　he　the　intense　and　impulsive　　Jedi　Padawan　learner　under　the　training　of　Qui…Gon　Jinn。
　
　His　panion　at　this　time；　however；　appeared　quite　the　opposite。　Anakin　Skywalker　looked　as　if　his　tall；　thin　frame　simply　could　not　contain　his　overabundance　of　energy。　He　was　dressed　similarly　to　Obi…Wan；　but　his　clothing　seemed　tighter；　crisper；　and　his　muscles　under　it　always　seemed　taut　with　readiness。　His　sandy…blond　hair　was　cropped　short　now；　except　for　the　thin　braid　indicative　of　his　status　as　a　Jedi　Padawan。　His　blue　eyes　flashed　repeatedly；　as　if　bursts　of　energy　were　escaping。
　〃Just　to　lengthen　our　time　in　hyperspace　a　bit；〃　he　explained。　〃We'll　e　out　closer　to　the　planet。〃
　
　Obi…Wan　gave　a　great　and　resigned　sigh　and　sat　down　at　the　console；　noting　the　coordinates　Anakin　had　input。　There　was　little　the　Jedi　could　do　about　it　now；　of　course；　for　a　hyperspace　leap　couldn't　be　reset　once　the　jump　to　lightspeed　had　already　been　made。　〃We　cannot　exit　hyperspace　too　close　to　Coruscant's　approach　lanes。　There's　too　much　congestion　for　a　safe　flight。　I've　already　explained　this　to　you。〃
　〃But…〃
　〃Anakin；〃　Obi…Wan　said　pointedly；　as　if　he　were　scolding　a　pet　perootu　cat；　and　he　tightened　his　wide　jaw　and　stared　hard　at　his　Padawan。
　〃Yes；　Master；〃　Anakin　said；　obediently　looking　down。
　
　Obi…Wan　held　the　glare　for　just　a　moment　longer。　〃I　know　that　you're　anxious　to　get　there；〃　he　conceded。　〃We　have　been　too　long　away　from　home。〃　Anakin　didn't　look　up；　but　Obi…Wan　could　see　the　edges　of　his　lips　curl　up　in　a　bit　of　a　smile。
　〃Never　do　this　again；〃　Obi…Wan　warned；　and　he　turned　and　walked　out　of　the　shuttle's　bridge。
　
　Anakin　flopped　down　into　the　pilot's　chair；　his　chin　falling　into　his　hand；　his　eyes　set　on　the　control　panels。　The　order　had　been　about　as　direct　as　one　could　get；　of　course；　and　so　Anakin　silently　told　himself　that　he　would　adhere　to　it。　Still；　as　he　considered　their　current　destination；　and　who　awaited　them　there；　he　thought　the　scolding　worth　it；　even　if　his　resetting　of　the　coordinates　had　bought　him　only　a　few　extra　hours　on　Coruscant。　He　was　indeed　anxious　to　get　there；　though　not　for　the　reason　Obi…Wan　had　stated。　It　wasn't　the　Jedi　Temple　that　beckoned　to　the　Padawan；　but　rather　a　rumor　he　had　heard　over　the　m　chatter　that　a　certain　Senator；　formerly　the　Queen　of　Naboo；　was　on　her　way　to　address　the　Senate。　Padme　Amidala。　The　name　resonated　in　young　Anakin's　heart　and　soul。　He　hadn't　seen　her　in　a　decade；　not　since　he；　along　with　Obi…Wan　and　Qui…Gon；　had　helped　her　in　her　struggle　against　the　Trade　Federation　on　Naboo。　He　had　only　been　ten　years　old　at　that　time；　but　from　the　moment　he　had　first　laid　eyes　on　Padme；　young　Anakin　had　known　that　she　was　the　woman　he　would　marry。　Never　mind　that　Padme　was　several　years　older　than　he　was。　Never　mind　that　he　was　just　a　boy　when　he　had　known　her；　when　she　had　known　him。　Never　mind　that　Jedi　were　not　allowed　to　marry。
　
　Anakin　had　simply　known；　without　question；　and　the　image　of　beautiful　Padm　Amidala　had　stayed　with　him；　had　been　burned　into　his　every　dream　and　fantasy；　every　day　since　he　had　left　Naboo　with　Obi…Wan　a　decade　ago。　He　could　still　smell　the　freshness　of　her　hair；　could　still　see　the　sparkle　of　intelligence　and　passion　in　her　wondrous　brown　eyes；　could　still　hear　the　melody　that　was　Padme's　voice。
　
　Hardly　registering　the　movement；　Anakin　let　his　hands　return　to　the　controls　of　the　nav　puter。　Perhaps　he　could　find　a　little…used　lane　through　the　Coruscant　traffic　congestion　to　get　them　home　faster。
　
　　Klaxons　blared　and　myriad　alarms　rent　the　air　all　about　the　area；　screaming　loudly；　drowning　out　the　cries　from　the　astonished　onlookers　and　the　wails　of　the　injured。
　
　Typho's　panion　pilot　raced　past　him；　and　the　captain　scrambled　to　regain　his　footing　and　follow。　Across　the　way；　Dolphe　was　up　and　similarly　running　toward　the　fallen　form　of　the　Senator。
　
　The　female　fighter　pilot　arrived　first；　dropping　to　one　knee　beside　the　fallen　woman。　She　pulled　the　helmet　from　her　head　and　quickly　shook　her　brown　tresses　free。
　〃Senator！〃　Typho　yelled。　It　was　indeed　Padme　Amidala　kneeling　beside　the　dying　woman；　her　decoy。　〃e；　the　danger　has　not　passed！〃　But　Padme　waved　the　captain　back　furiously；　then　bent　low　to　her　fallen　friend。
　〃Corde；〃　she　said　quietly；　her　voice　breaking。　Corde　was　one　of　her　beloved　bodyguards；　a　woman　who　had　been　with　her；　serving　her　and　serving　Naboo；　for　many　years。　Padme　gathered　Corde　up　in　her　arms；　hugging　her　gently。　Corde　opened　her　eyes；　rich　brown　orbs　so　similar　to　Padme's　own。　〃I'm　sorry；　M'Lady；〃　she　gasped；　struggling　for　breath　with　every　word。　〃I'm　。　。　。　not　sure　I。。。〃　She　paused　and　lay　there；　staring　at　Padme。　〃I've　failed　you。〃
　〃No！〃　Padme　insisted；　arguing　the　bodyguard's　reasoning；　arguing　against　all　of　this　insanity。　〃No；　no；　no！〃
　
　Corde　continued　to　stare　at　her；　or　stare　past　her；　it　seemed　to　the　grief…　stricken　young　Senator。　Looking　past　her　and　past　everything；　Corde's　eyes　stared　into　a　far　different　place。
　
　Padme　felt　her　relax　suddenly；　as　if　her　spirit　simply　leapt　from　her　corporeal　form。
　〃Corde！〃　the　Senator　cried；　and　she　hugged　her　friend　close；　rocking　back　and　forth；　denying　this　awful　reality。
　〃M'Lady；　you　are　still　in　danger！〃　Typho　declared；　trying　to　sound　sympathetic；　but　with　a　clear　sense　of　urgency　in　his　voice。
　
　Padme　lifted　her　head　from　the　side　of　Corde's　face；　and　took　a　deep　and　steadying　breath。　Looking　upon　her　dead　friend；　remembering　all　at　once　the　many　times　they　had　spent　together；　she　gently　lowered　Corde　to　the　ground。　〃I　shouldn't　have　e　back；〃　she　said　as　she　stood　up　beside　the　wary　Typho；　tears　streaking　her　cheeks。
　
　Captain　Typho　came　up　out　of　his　ready　stance　long　enough　to　lock　stares　with　his　Senator。　〃This　vote　is　very　important；〃　he　reminded　her；　his　tone　unpromising；　the　voice　of　a　man　sworn　to　duty　above　all　else。　So　much　like　his　uncle。　〃You　did　your　duty；　Senator；　and　Corde　did　hers。　Now　e。〃　He　started　away；　grabbing　Padme's　arm；　but　she　shrugged　off　his　grasp　and　stood　there；　staring　down　at　her　lost　friend。　〃Senator　Amidala！　Please！〃　Padme　looked　over　at　the　man。　〃Would　you　so　diminish　Corde's　death　as　to　stand　here　and　risk　your　own　life？〃　Typho　bluntly　stated。　〃What　good　will　her　sacrifice　be　if…〃
　〃Enough；　Captain；〃　Padme　interrupted。
　
　Typho　motioned　for　Dolphe　to　run　a　defensive　perimeter　behind　them；　then　he　led　the　stricken　Padme　away。
　
　Back　over　at　Padme's　Naboo　fighter；　R2…D2　beeped　and　squealed　and　fell　into　line　behind　them。
　
　Chapter　Five
　
　The　Senate　Building　on　Coruscant　wasn't　one　of　the　tallest　buildings　in　the　city。　Dome…shaped　and　relatively　low；　it　did　not　soar　up　to　the　clouds；　catching　the　afternoon　sun　as　the　others　did　in　a　brilliant　display　of　shining　amber。　And　yet　the　magnificent　structure　was　not　dwarfed　by　those　towering　skyscrapers　about　it；　including　the　various　Senate　apartment　plexes。　Centrally　located　in　the　plex；　and　with　a　design　very　different　from　the　typical　squared　skyscraper；　the　bluish　smooth　dome　provided　a　wele　relief　to　the　eye　of　the　beholder；　a　piece