rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第18章

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　of　the　bounty　hunter…only　to　see　another　line　of　blaster　bolts　ing　at　them。
　
　Then　the　bounty　hunter　dived　to　the　side　suddenly；　and　both　Jedi　opened　their　eyes　and　their　mouths　wide；　their　screams　drowned　out　by　a　muter　train　crossing　right　in　front　of　them。
　
　Obi…Wan　tasted　bile　again；　but　somehow；　Anakin　managed　to　avoid　the　train；　ing　out　the　other　side。　Obi…Wan　looked　over　to　his　Padawan；　to　see　him　assuming　a　casual；　in…control　posture。
　〃Master；　you　know　I've　been　flying　since　before　I　could　walk；〃　Anakin　said　with　a　sly　grin。　〃I'm　very　good　at　this。〃
　〃Just　slow　down；〃　Obi…Wan　instructed；　in　a　voice　that　suggested　the　dignified　Jedi　Knight　was　about　to　throw　up。
　
　Anakin　ignored　him；　taking　the　speeder　in　fast　pursuit　of　the　assassin；　right　into　a　line　of　giant　trucks。　Around　and　around　they　went；　cutting　fast　corners　through　the　traffic；　over　the　traffic；　under　the　traffic；　and　around　the　buildings；　always　keeping　the　assassin's　speeder　in　sight。　Anakin　took　his　craft　right　up　on　edge；　skimming　the　side　of　one　building。　〃He　can't　lose　me；〃　the　Padawan　boasted。　〃He's　getting　desperate。〃　〃Great；〃　Obi…Wan　answered　dryly。
　〃Oh　wait；〃　Obi…Wan　added　when　the　speeder　in　front　dived　into　a　tram　tunnel。　〃Don't　go　in　there！〃
　
　But　Anakin　zoomed　right　in；　and　then　zoomed　right　back　out；　a　huge　rushing　train　chasing　him；　Obi…Wan　screaming　about　as　loudly　as　the　train　was　blowing　its　horn。　〃You　know　I　don't　like　it　when　you　do　that！〃
　〃Sorry；　Master；〃　Anakin　answered　unconvincingly。　〃Don't　worry。　This　guy's　gonna　kill　himself　any　minute　now。〃
　〃Well；　let　him　do　that　alone！〃　Obi…Wan　insisted。　They　watched　as　the　assassin　zoomed　right　into　traffic；　soaring　the　wrong　way　down　a　congested　lane。
　
　Anakin　went　in　right　behind。
　
　Both　speeders　zigged　and　zagged　wildly；　frantically；　the　occasional　blaster　bolt　shooting　back　from　the　lead　one。　And　then；　suddenly；　the　assassin　cut　fast；　straight　up；　a　tight　loop　that　brought　Zam　behind　the　two　Jedi。
　〃Great　move；〃　Anakin　congratulated。　〃I　got　one；　too。〃　He　slammed　on　his　brakes；　reversing　thrust；　and　the　assassin's　speeder　flashed　up　right　beside　them。
　
　And　there　was　the　assassin；　firing　point　blank　at　Obi…Wan。
　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　Obi…Wan　demanded。　〃He's　going　to　blast　me！〃
　〃Right；〃　Anakin　agreed；　working　frantically　to　maneuver　away。　〃This　isn't　working。〃
　〃Nice　of　you　to　notice。〃　Obi…Wan　dodged；　then　lurched　as　the　speeder　dropped　suddenly；　Anakin　taking　it　right　under　the　assassin's。
　〃He　can't　shoot　us　down　here；〃　the　Padawan　congratulated　himself；　but　his　smile　lasted　only　the　split　second　it　took　for　their　opponent's　new　tactic　to　register。　The　assassin　swerved　out　of　the　traffic　lane　and　shot　straight　for　a　building；　ing　in　at　an　angle　to　just　skim　the　rooftop。　Obi…Wan　started　to　shout　out　Anakin's　name；　but　the　word　came　out　as　〃Ananananana。〃　The　Padawan　was　in　control；　though；　and　he　slowed　and　lifted　his　speeder's　nose　just　up　over　the　edge　of　the　rooftop。　Another　obstacle　showed　itself　almost　immediately；　a　large　craft　ing　in　low　and　slow。
　〃It's　landing！〃　Obi…Wan　shouted；　and　when　Anakin　didn't　immediately　respond；　he　added　desperately；　〃On　us！〃
　
　It　came　out；　〃On　uuuuuuuuuuuuus！〃　as　Anakin　brought　the　speeder　up　on　edge　and　zipped　around　a　corner；　clipping　a　flagpole　and　taking　its　cloth　contents　free。
　〃Clear　that；〃　the　seemingly　unshakable　Padawan　said；　nodding　down　to　the　torn　flag；　which　had　caught　itself　on　one　of　the　speeder's　front　air　scoops。
　〃What？〃
　〃Clear　the　flag！　We're　losing　power！　Hurry！〃
　
　plaining　under　his　breath　with　every　movement；　Obi…Wan　crawled　out　of　the　cockpit　and　gingerly　onto　the　front　engine。　He　bent　low　and　tugged　the　flag　free；　and　the　speeder　lurched　forward；　nearly　dislodging　him。
　〃Don't　do　that！〃　he　screamed。　〃I　don't　like　it　when　you　do　that！〃
　〃So　sorry；　Master。〃
　〃He's　heading　for　the　power　refinery；〃　Obi…Wan　said。　〃But　take　it　easy。
　
　It's　dangerous　near　those　power　couplings。〃
　
　Anakin　zoomed　right　past　one　of　the　couplings；　and　a　huge　electrical　bolt　had　the　air　crackling　all　about　them。　〃Slow　down！〃　Obi…Wan　ordered。　〃Slow　down！　Don't　go　through　there！〃
　
　But　Anakin　did　just　that；　banking　left；　right；　left。
　〃What　are　you　doing？〃
　〃Sorry；　Master！〃
　
　More　bolts　crackled　all　about　them。　Right；　left；　right　again；　up　and　over；　down　and　around；　and　somehow；　incredibly；　out　the　other　side。
　〃Oh；　that　was　good；〃　Obi…Wan　admitted。
　〃That　was　crazy；〃　the　raided　Anakin　corrected。　The　older　Jedi　snapped　a　glare　at　him；　recognized　the　greenish　color　that　had　suddenly　e　to　the　Padawan's　face；　and　then　just　put　his　head　in　his　hands　and　groaned。
　〃Got　him　now！〃　Anakin　announced。　The　assassin　was　sliding　his　speeder　sidelong　around　a　corner　between　two　buildings　up　ahead。
　
　Anakin　went　right　around　behind；　only　to　find　the　lead　speeder　stopped　and　blocking　the　alleyway；　the　assassin　leaning　out　the　door；　blaster　pistol　leveled。
　〃Ah；　blast；〃　the　Padawan　remarked。
　〃Stop！〃　Obi…Wan　told　him；　and　both　ducked　as　a　line　of　bolts　came　at　them。
　〃No；　we　can　make　it！〃　Anakin　insisted；　punching　the　throttle。　He　dived　his　speeder　under　the　assassin's；　barely　missing　it；　then　went　up　on　edge；　slipping　through　a　small　gap　in　the　building。　But　there　were　pipes　there；　and　no　level　of　flying　could　put　the　speeder　safely　through　them。　They　bounced　sidelong；　then　nipped　end　over　end；　narrowly　missing　a　giant　crane　and　clipping　some　struts。　The　damage　brought　forth　a　giant　fiery　gas　ball；　nearly　immolating　them；　and　in　the　uncontrolled　spin　that　followed；　they　bounced　off　yet　another　building　and　the　speeder　stalled　out。
　
　Anakin　winced；　expected　a　line　of　curses　to　e　at　him；　but　when　he　finally　looked　at　Obi…Wan；　he　saw　the　Jedi　staring　straight　ahead；　eyes　wide　and　unblinking；　and　saying；　〃I'm　crazy；　I'm　crazy；　I'm　crazy。。。〃　over　and　over　again。
　〃But　it　worked；〃　Anakin　dared　to　say。　〃We　made　it。〃
　〃It　didn't　work！〃　Obi…Wan　yelled　at　him。　〃We've　stalled！　And　you　almost　got　us　killed！〃
　
　Anakin　looked　down　at　his　hands　and　body；　and　waggled　his　fingers。　〃I　think　we're　still　alive！〃　He　grinned；　trying　to　disarm　his　fuming　Master；　but　Obi…　Wan　seemed　as　if　he　was　about　to　explode。
　〃It　was　stupid！〃　Obi…Wan　roared。
　
　Anakin　worked　wildly；　trying　to　restart　the　speeder。　〃I　could　have　made　it；〃　he　protested　sheepishly。　His　confident　expression　strengthened　as　the　speeder　roared　back　to　life。
　〃But　you　didn't！　And　now　we've　lost　him！〃
　
　Even　as　Obi…Wan　finished；　a　barrage　of　laser　bolts　rained　down　around　them；　setting　off　explosions　that　rocked　them　back　and　forth。　The　pair　looked　up；　to　see　the　assassin　zooming　away。
　〃No；　we　didn't；〃　a　smiling　Anakin　said。　He　took　the　speeder　up；　the　sudden　thrust　violently　throwing　them　both　back　in　their　seats。　They　came　through　the　area　of　smoke　and　carnage　with　several　small　fires　burning　on　their　speeder。　Obi…Wan　slapped　at　flames　on　the　control　panel。
　
　Again　they　chased　the　assassin　into　the　main　travel　lanes；　dodging　and　turning　fast　about　ining　traffic。　Up　ahead；　the　assassin　cut　fast　to　the　left；　between　two　buildings；　and　Anakin　responded；　going　right　and　up。
　〃Where　are　you　going？〃　a　perplexed　Obi…Wan　asked。　〃He　went　down　there；　the　other　way。〃
　〃This　is　a　shortcut。　I　think。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean；　you　think？　　What　kind　of　shortcut？　He　went　pletely　the　other　way！　You've　lost　him！〃
　〃Master；　if　we　keep　this　chase　going；　that　creep's　gonna　end　up　deep…　fried；〃　Anakin　tried　to　explain。　〃Personally；　I'd　very　much　like　to　find　out　who　he　is；　and　who　he's　working　for。〃
　〃Oh；〃　Obi…Wan　replied；　his　voice　dripping　with　sarcasm。　〃So　that's　why　we're　going　in　the　wrong　direction。〃
　
　Anakin　took　them　up　and　around；　finally　settling　into　a　hover　some　fifty　stories　up　from　the　street。
　〃Well；　you　lost　him；〃　Obi…Wan　said。
　〃I'm　deeply　sorry；　Master；〃　Anakin　replied。　Again；　he　seemed　hardly　convincing；　as　if　he　was　saying　just　what　he　had　to　say　to　keep　Obi…Wan　from　scolding　him　further。　The　Jedi　Knight　looked　at　him　hard；　ready　to　call　him　on　it；　when　he　noticed　that　Anakin；　seemingly　deep　in　concentration；　was　counting　softly。
　〃Excuse　me　for　a　moment；〃　the　Padawan　said。