rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第10章

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　〃It　is　with　great　surprise　and　joy　that　the　chair　recognizes　the　Senator　from　Naboo；　Padme　Amidala；〃　Palpatine　declared。
　
　Amidala　waited　for　the　cheering　and　clapping　to　subside；　then　began　slowly　and　deliberately。　〃Less　than　an　hour　ago；　an　assassination　attempt　was　made　upon　my　life。　One　of　my　bodyguards　and　six　others　were　ruthlessly　and　senselessly　murdered。　I　was　the　target；　but；　more　important；　I　believe　this　security　measure　before　you　was　the　target。　I　have　led　the　opposition　to　building　an　army；　but　there　is　someone　who　will　stop　at　nothing　to　assure　its　passage。〃
　
　Cheers　became　boos　from　many　areas　of　the　gallery　as　those　surprising　words　registered；　and　many　others　shook　their　heads　in　confusion。　Had　Amidala　just　accused　someone　in　the　Senate　of　trying　to　assassinate　her？
　
　As　she　stood　there；　her　gaze　moving　about　the　vast；　circular　room；　Amidala　knew　that　her　words；　on　the　surface；　could　be　seen　as　an　insult　to　many。　In　truth；　though；　she　wasn't　thinking　along　those　lines　concerning　the　source　of　the　assassination。　She　had　a　definite　hunch；　one　that　went　against　the　obvious　logic。　The　people　who　would　most　logically　want　her　silenced　were　indeed　those　in　favor　of　the　formation　of　an　army　of　the　Republic；　but　for　some　reason　she　could　not　put　her　finger　on…some　subconscious　clues；　perhaps；　or　just　a　gut　feeling…Amidala　believed　that　the　source　of　the　attempt　was　exactly　those　who　would　not　logically；　on　the　surface；　at　least；　want　her　silenced。　She　remembered　Panaka's　warning　about　the　Trade　Federation　reportedly　joining　hands　with　the　separatists。
　
　She　took　a　deep　breath；　steeling　herself　against　the　growing　rancor　in　the　audience；　and　steadfastly　went　on。　〃I　warn　you；　if　you　vote　to　create　this　army；　war　will　follow。　I　have　experienced　the　misery　of　war　firsthand；　I　do　not　wish　to　do　so　again。〃
　
　The　cheering　began　to　outweigh　the　booing。
　〃This　is　insanity；　I　say！〃　Orn　Free　Taa　yelled　above　it　all。　〃I　move　that　we　defer　this　vote；　immediately！〃　But　that　suggestion　only　led　to　more　yelling。
　
　Amidala　looked　at　the　Twi'lek　Senator；　understanding　his　sudden　desire　to　defer　a　vote　that　her　mere　presence　had　cast　into　doubt。
　〃Wake　up；　Senators…you　must　wake　up！〃　she　went　on；　shouting　him　down。　〃If　we　offer　the　separatists　violence；　they　can　only　show　us　violence　in　return！　Many　will　lose　their　lives；　and　all　will　lose　their　freedom。　This　decision　could　well　destroy　the　very　foundation　of　our　great　Republic！　I　pray　you　do　not　let　fear　push　you　into　a　disastrous　decision。　Vote　down　this　security　measure；　which　is　nothing　less　than　a　declaration　of　war！　Does　anyone　here　want　that？　I　cannot　believe　they　do！〃
　
　Ask　Aak；　Orn　Free　Taa；　and　Darsana；　on　their　floating　platforms　down　by　the　podium；　exchanged　nervous　glances　as　the　cheers　and　boos　echoed　about　the　great　hall。　The　fact　that　Amidala　had　just　survived　an　assassination　attempt　and　yet　was　here　begging　the　Senate　to　put　off　raising　an　army　against　the　likely　perpetrators　only　added　strength　to　her　argument；　only　elevated　Amidala　higher　in　the　eyes　of　many…and　the　former　Queen　of　Naboo；　having　stood　firm　against　the　Trade　Federation　a　decade　before；　was　already　held　in　high　esteem　by　many。　At　Ask　Aak's　nod；　Orn　Free　Taa　demanded　the　floor；　and　was　given　it　promptly　by　Palpatine。
　〃By　precedence　of　order；　my　motion　to　defer　the　vote　must　be　dealt　with　first；〃　Orn　Free　Taa　demanded。　〃That　is　the　rule　of　law！〃
　
　Amidala　glared　at　the　Twi'lek；　her　expression　both　angry　and　frustrated　by　the　obvious　delaying　tactic。　She　turned　plaintively　to　Palpatine；　but　the　Supreme　Chancellor；　though　his　responding　expression　seemed　to　be　sympathetic　to　her　plight；　could　only　shrug。　He　moved　to　the　podium　and　held　up　his　hands　for　order；　and　when　the　room　was　quiet　enough；　announced；
　
　〃In　view　of　the　lateness　of　the　hour　and　the　seriousness　of　this　motion；　we　will　take　up　these　matters　tomorrow。　Until　then；　the　Senate　stands　adjourned。〃
　
　　Traffic　clogged　the　Coruscant　sky；　flowing　slowly　about　the　meandering　smoggy　haze。　The　sun　was　up；　giving　the　sprawling　city　an　amber　glow；　but　many　lights　were　still　on；　shining　behind　the　windows　of　the　great　skyscrapers。
　
　The　massive　towers　of　the　Republic　Executive　Building　loomed　above　it　all；　seeming　as　if　they　would　reach　the　very　heavens。　And　that　seemed　fitting　indeed；　for　inside；　even　at　this　early　hour；　the　events　and　participants　took　on　godlike　stature　to　the　trillions　of　mon　folk　of　the　Republic。　Supreme　Chancellor　Palpatine　sat　behind　his　desk　in　his　spacious　and　tasteful　office；　staring　across　at　his　four　Jedi　Master　visitors。　Across　the　room；　a　pair　of　red…clad　guards　flanked　the　door；　imposing；　powerful　figures；　with　their　great　curving　helmets　and　wide；　floor…length　capes。
　〃I　fear　this　vote；〃　Palpatine　remarked。
　〃It　is　unavoidable；〃　replied　Mace　Windu；　a　tall　and　muscular　human；　bald；　and　with　penetrating　eyes；　standing　next　to　the　even　taller　Ki…Adi…Mundi。
　〃And　it　could　unravel　the　remainder　of　the　Republic；〃　Palpatine　said。
　〃Never　have　I　seen　the　Senators　so　at　odds　over　any　issue。〃
　〃Few　issues　would　carry　the　import　of　creating　a　Republic　army；〃　Jedi　Master　Plo　Koon　remarked。　He　was　a　tall；　sturdy　Kel　Dor；　his　head　ridged　and　ruffled　at　the　sides　like　the　curly　hair　of　a　young　girl；　and　with　dark；　shadowed　eyes　and　a　black　mask　over　the　lower　portion　of　his　face。
　〃The　Senators　are　anxious　and　afraid；　and　believe　that　no　vote　will　ever　be　more　important　than　this　one　now　before　them。〃
　〃And　this　way　or　that；　much　mending　must　you　do；〃　said　Master　Yoda；　the　smallest　in　physical　stature；　but　a　Jedi　Master　who　stood　tall　against　anyone　in　the　galaxy。　Yoda's　huge　eyes　blinked　slowly　and　his　tremendous　ears　swiveled　subtly；　showing；　for　those　who　knew　him；　that　he　was　deep　in　thought；　giving　this　situation　his　utmost　attention。　〃Unseen　is　much　that　is　here；〃　he　said；　and　he　closed　his　eyes　in　contemplation。
　〃I　don't　know　how　much　longer　I　can　hold　off　the　vote；　my　friends；〃　Palpatine　explained。　〃And　I　fear　that　delay　on　this　definitive　issue　might　well　erode　the　Republic　through　attrition。　More　and　more　star　systems　are　joining　the　separatists。〃
　
　Mace　Windu；　a　pillar　of　strength　even　among　the　Jedi；　nodded　his　understanding　of　the　dilemma。　〃And　yet；　when　the　vote　is　done；　if　the　losers　do　break　away…〃
　〃I　will　not　let　this　Republic　that　has　stood　for　a　thousand　years　be　split　in　two！〃　Palpatine　declared；　slamming　a　fist　determinedly　on　his　desk。　〃My　negotiations　will　not　fail！〃　Mace　Windu　held　his　calm；　keeping　his　rich　voice　even　and　controlled。　〃But　if　they　do；　you　must　realize　there　aren't　enough　Jedi　to　protect　the　Republic。　We　are　keepers　of　the　peace；　not　soldiers。〃
　
　Palpatine　took　a　few　steadying　breaths；　trying　to　digest　it　all。　〃Master　Yoda；〃　he　said；　and　he　waited　for　the　greenish…skinned　Jedi　to　regard　him。
　〃Do　you　really　think　it　will　e　to　war？〃
　
　Again　Yoda　closed　his　eyes。　〃Worse　than　war；　I　fear；〃　he　said。　〃Much　worse。〃
　〃What？〃　an　alarmed　Palpatine　asked。
　〃Master　Yoda；　what　do　you　sense？〃　Mace　Windu　prompted。
　〃Impossible　to　see；　the　future　is；〃　the　small　Jedi　Master　replied；　his　great　orbs　still　looking　inward。　〃The　dark　side　clouds　everything。　But　this　I　am　sure　of。　。　。〃　He　popped　open　his　eyes　and　stared　hard　at　Palpatine。
　〃Do　their　duty；　the　Jedi　will。〃
　
　A　brief　look　of　confusion　came　over　the　Supreme　Chancellor；　but　before　he　could　begin　to　respond　to　Yoda；　a　hologram　appeared　on　his　desk；　the　image　of　Dar　Wac；　one　of　his　aides。　〃The　loyalist　mittee　has　arrived；　my　Lord；〃　said　Dar　Wac；　in　Huttese。
　〃Send　them　in。〃
　
　The　hologram　disappeared　and　Palpatine　rose；　along　with　the　seated　Jedi；　to　properly　greet　the　distinguished　visitors。　They　came　in　two　groups；　Senator　Padme　Amidala　walking　with　Captain　Typho；　Jar　Jar　Binks；　her　handmaiden　Dorme；　and　majordomo　Mas　Amedda；　followed　by　two　other　Senators；　Bail　Organa　of　Alderaan　and　Horox　Ryyder。
　
　Everyone　moved　to　exchange　pleasant　greetings；　and　Yoda　pointedly　tapped　Padme　with　his　small　cane。
　〃With　you；　the　Force　is　strong；　young　Senator；〃　the　Jedi　Master　told　her。
　〃Your　tragedy　on　the　landing　platform；　terrible。　To　see　you