rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第24章

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　This；　then；　was　Jango　Fett's　greatest　reward；　right　here；　sitting　with　his　son；　his　young　replica；　sharing　quiet　moments。
　
　Quiet　moments　within　the　tumult　that　had　been　Jango　Fett's　entire　life；　surviving　the　trials　of　the　Outer　Rim　alone　practically　from　the　day　he　learned　to　walk。　Each　trial　had　made　him　stronger；　had　made　him　more　perfect；　had　honed　the　skills　that　he　would　now　pass　along　to　Boba。　There　was　no　one　better　in　all　the　galaxy　to　teach　his　son。　When　Jango　Fett　wanted　you　caught；　you　were　caught。　When　Jango　Fett　wanted　you　dead；　you　were　dead。
　
　No；　not　when　Jango　〃wanted〃　those　things。　This　was　never　personal。　The　hunting；　the　killing；　it　was　all　a　job；　and　among　the　most　valuable　of　lessons　Jango　had　learned　early　on　was　how　to　bee　dispassionate。
　
　pletely　so。　That　was　his　greatest　weapon。
　
　He　looked　at　Taun　We；　then　turned　to　grin　at　his　son。　Jango　could　be　dispassionate；　except　for　those　times　when　he　could　spend　time　alone　with　Boba。　With　Boba；　there　was　pride　and　there　was　love；　and　Jango　had　to　work　constantly　to　keep　both　of　those　potential　weaknesses　at　a　minimum。　While　he　loved　his　son　dearly…because　he　loved　his　son　dearly…Jango　had　been　teaching　him　those　same　attributes　of　dispassion；　even　callousness；　from　his　earliest　days。
　〃We　will　mence　the　process　again　as　soon　as　you　are　ready；〃　Taun　We　remarked；　bringing　Jango　back　from　his　contemplations。
　〃Don't　you　have　enough　of　the　material　to　do　it　without　me？〃
　〃Well；　since　you　are　here　anyway；　we　would　like　you　to　be　involved；〃　Taun　We　said。　〃The　original　host　is　always　the　best　choice。〃
　
　Jango　rolled　his　eyes　at　the　thought…of　the　needles　and　the　probing…but　he　did　nod　his　agreement；　this　was　really　an　easy　job；　considering　the　rewards。
　〃Whenever　you　are　ready。〃　Taun　We　bowed　and　turned　and　walked　away。　If　you　wait　for　that；　you'll　be　waiting　forever；　Jango　thought；　but　he　kept　quiet；　and　again　he　turned　to　Boba；　motioning　for　the　boy　to　put　his　atlatl　back　to　work。　Because　now　I　have　all　that　I　wanted；　Jango　mused；　watching　Boba's　fluid　motions；　his　eyes　darting　about；　searching　for　the　next　rollerfish。
　
　　The　industrial　sector　of　Coruscant　held　perhaps　the　greatest　freight　docks　in　all　the　galaxy；　with　a　line　of　bulky　transports　ing　in　continually；　huge　floating　cranes　ready　to　meet　them　and　unload　the　millions　of　tons　of　supplies　necessary　to　keep　alive　the　city…planet；　which　long　ago　had　bee　too　populous　to　support　itself　through　its　own　resources。　The　efficiency　of　these　docks　was　nothing　short　of　amazing；　and　yet　the　place　was　still　tumultuous；　and　sometimes　gridlocked　by　the　sheer　number　of　docking　ships　and　floating　cranes。
　
　This　was　also　a　place　for　living　passengers；　the　peasantry　of　Coruscant；　catching　cheap　rides　on　freighters　outbound；　thousands　and　thousands　of　people　looking　to　escape　the　sheer　frenzy　that　had　bee　the　world。　Blended　into　that　throng；　Anakin　and　Padme　walked　along；　dressed　in　simple　brown　tunics　and　breeches；　the　garb　of　Outland　refugees。　They　walked　side　by　side　to　the　shuttle　exit　as　they　approached　the　dock　and　walkway　that　would　take　them　to　one　of　the　gigantic　transports。　Captain　Typho；　Dorme；　and　Obi…Wan　stood　waiting　for　them　at　that　exit　door。
　〃Be　safe；　M'Lady；〃　Captain　Typho　said　with　genuine　concern。　It　was　clear　that　he　was　not　thrilled　with　allowing　Padme　out　of　his　sight　and　control。　He　handed　a　pair　of　small　luggage　bags　over　to　Anakin　and　gave　a　nod　of　confidence　to　the　young　Jedi。
　〃Thank　you；　Captain；〃　Padme　replied；　her　voice　thick　with　gratitude。　〃Take　good　care　of　Dorme。　The　threat　will　be　on　you　two　now。〃
　〃He'll　be　safe　with　me！〃　Dorme　put　in　quickly。
　
　Padme　smiled；　appreciating　the　small　attempt　at　levity。　Then　she　embraced　her　handmaiden　in　a　great　and　tight　hug；　squeezing　all　the　tighter　when　she　heard　Dorme　start　to　weep。
　〃You'll　be　fine；〃　Padme　whispered　into　the　other　woman's　ear。　〃It's　not　me；　M'Lady。　I　worry　about　you。　What　if　they　realize　you've　left　the　capital？〃　Padme　moved　back　to　arm's　length　and　managed　a　smile　as　she　looked　over　to　Anakin。　〃Then　my　Jedi　protector　will　have　to　prove　how　good　he　is。〃　Dorme　gave　a　nervous　chuckle　and　wiped　a　tear　from　her　eye　as　she　smiled　and　nodded。
　
　Off　to　the　side；　Anakin　held　his　smile　within；　deciding　consciously　to　wear　a　posture　that　exuded　confidence　and　control。　But　inside　he　was　thrilled　to　hear　Padme's　pliments　ing　his　way。
　
　Obi…Wan　shattered　that　warmth；　pulling　the　young　Padawan　off　to　the　side。
　〃You　stay　on　Naboo；〃　Obi…Wan　said。　〃Don't　attract　attention。　Do　absolutely　nothing　without　checking　in　with　me　or　the　Council。〃
　〃Yes；　Master；〃　Anakin　answered　obediently；　but　inside；　he　was　churning；　wanting　to　lash　out　at　Obi…Wan。　Do　nothing；　absolutely　nothing；　without　checking　in；　without　asking　for　permission？　Hadn't　he　earned　a　bit　more　respect　than　that？　Hadn't　he　proven　himself　a　bit　more　resourceful；　a　Padawan　to　be　trusted？
　
　〃I　will　get　to　the　bottom　of　this　plot　quickly；　M'Lady；〃　he　heard　Obi…Wan　say　to　Padme。　Anakin　seethed　inwardly。　Hadn't　that　been　exactly　the　course　he　had　suggested　to　his　Master　when　they　had　first　been　assigned　to　watch　over　the　Senator？
　
　〃You'll　be　back　here　in　no　time；〃　Obi…Wan　assured　her。
　〃I　will　be　most　grateful　for　your　speed；　Master　Jedi。〃
　
　Anakin　didn't　appreciate　hearing　Padme　speak　of　any　gratitude　at　all　toward　Obi…Wan。　At　least；　he　didn't　want　Padme　to　elevate　Obi…Wan's　importance　in　all　of　this　above　his　own。　〃Time　to　go；〃　he　said；　striding　forward。
　〃I　know；〃　Padme　answered　him；　but　she　didn't　seem　pleased。　Anakin　reminded　himself　not　to　take　it　personally。　Padme　felt　that　her　duty　was　here。　She　wasn't　thrilled　with　running　offplanet…and　she　wasn't　thrilled　with　having　another　of　her　dear　handmaidens　stepping　into　the　line　of　fire　in　her　stead；　especially　with　images　of　dead　Corde　so　fresh　in　her　mind。
　
　Padme　and　Dorme　shared　another　hug。　Anakin　took　up　the　luggage　and　led　the　way　off　the　speeder　bus；　onto　a　landing　where　R2…D2　waited。
　〃May　the　Force　be　with　you；〃　Obi…Wan　said。
　〃May　the　Force　be　with　you；　Master。〃　Anakin　meant　every　word　of　it。　He　wanted　Obi…Wan　to　find　out　who　was　behind　the　assassination　attempts；　to　make　the　galaxy　safe　for　Padme　once　again。　But　he　had　to　admit　that　he　hoped　it　wouldn't　happen　too　quickly。　His　duty　now　put　him　right　beside　the　woman　he　loved；　and　he　wouldn't　be　happy　if　this　assignment　proved　a　short　one；　if　duty　pulled　him　away　from　her　yet　again。
　〃Suddenly　I'm　afraid；〃　Padme　said　to　him　as　they　walked　away；　heading　toward　the　giant　star　freighter　that　would　take　them　to　Naboo。　Behind　the　pair；　R2…D2　rolled　along；　tootling　cheerily。
　〃This　is　my　first　assignment　on　my　own。　I　am；　too。〃　Anakin　turned　about；　taking　Padme's　gaze　with　his　own；　and　grinned　widely。　〃But　don't　worry。　We've　got　Artoo　with　us！〃
　
　Again；　the　levity　was　much　needed。
　
　Back　at　the　bus；　waiting　for　it　to　take　them　back　to　the　main　city；　the　three　left　behind　watched　Anakin；　Padme；　and　R2…D2　blend　into　the　throng　of　the　vast　spaceport。　〃I　hope　he　doesn't　try　anything　foolish；〃　Obi…Wan　said。　The　mere　fact　that　he　would　speak　so　openly　concerning　his　student　showed　Captain　Typho　how　much　the　Jedi　Knight　had　e　to　trust　him。
　〃I'd　be　more　concerned　about　her　doing　something　than　him；〃　Typho　replied。　He　shook　his　head；　his　expression　serious。　〃She's　not　one　to　follow　orders。〃
　〃Like…minded　traveling　panions；〃　Dorme　observed。
　
　Obi…Wan　and　Typho　turned　to　regard　her；　and　Typho　shook　his　head　helplessly　again。　Obi…Wan　didn't　disagree　with　Dorme's　assessment；　however　innocently　she　meant　it。　Padme　Amidala　was　a　stubborn　one　indeed；　one　of　strong　and　independent　thinking　and　more　than　willing　to　trust　her　own　judgment　above　that　of　others；　whatever　their　position　and　experience。　But　of　the　pair　who　had　just　left　the　speeder　bus；　she　wasn't　the　most　headstrong。
　
　It　was　not　a　forting　thought。
　
　Chapter　Eleven
　
　The　great　Jedi　Temple　was　a　place　of　reflection　and　of　hard　training；　and　it　was　also　a　place　of　information。　The　Jedi　were　traditionally　the　keepers　of　the　peace；　and　also　of　knowledge。　Beneath　their　high　ceilings；　off　the　main　corridor　of　the　Tem