rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第32章

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eplaying　those　tales；　seeing　them　in　context　now　that　the　yard　was　in　view。
　〃What？〃　Padme　asked　him　from　some　distance　ahead；　when　she　noticed　that　he　was　not　following。　〃Don't　tell　me　you're　shy！〃
　〃No；　but　I…〃　the　distracted　Anakin　started　to　answer；　but　he　was　interrupted　by　the　squeals　of　two　little　girls；　running　out　from　the　yard　toward　his　panion。
　〃Aunt　Padme！　Aunt　Padme！〃
　
　Padme's　smile　went　as　wide　as　Anakin　had　ever　seen　it　and　she　rushed　ahead；　bending　low　to　scoop　the　pair；　who　looked　to　be　no　more　than　a　few　years　old；　one　a　bit　taller　than　the　other；　into　her　arms。　One　had　hair　short　and　blond　and　curly；　the　other；　the　older　of　the　two；　had　hair　that　resembled　Padme's。
　〃Ryoo！　Pooja！〃　Padme　cried；　hugging　them　and　twirling　them　about。　〃I'm　so　happy　to　see　you！〃　She　kissed　them　both　and　set　them　down；　then　took　them　by　the　hand　and　led　them　toward　Anakin。
　〃This　is　Anakin。　Anakin；　this　is　Ryoo　and　Pooja！〃
　
　The　blush　on　the　pair　as　they　shyly　said　hello　brought　a　burst　of　laughter　from　Padme　and　a　smile　to　Anakin's　face；　though　he　was　equally　ill　at　ease　as　the　two　children。
　
　The　girls'　shyness　lasted　only　as　long　as　it　took　for　them　to　notice　the　little　droid　rolling　behind　Anakin；　trying　to　catch　up。
　〃Artoo！〃　they　shouted　in　unison。　Breaking　away　from　Padme；　they　rushed　to　the　droid；　leaping　upon　him；　hugging　him　cheek　to　dome。
　
　And　R2…D2　seemed　equally　thrilled；　beeping　and　whistling　as　happily　as　Anakin　had　ever　heard。
　
　Anakin　couldn't　help　but　be　touched　by　the　scene；　a　view　of　innocence　that　he　had　never　known。
　
　Well；　not　never；　he　had　to　admit。　There　were　times　when　Shmi　had　found　some　way　to　produce　such　moments　of　joy　amid　the　drudgery　that　was　life　as　a　slave　on　Tatooine。　In　their　own　way；　in　that　dusty；　dirty；　hot；　and　smelly　place；　Anakin　and　his　mother　had　carved　out　a　few　instants　of　innocent　beauty。　Here；　though；　such　moments　seemed　so　much　more　the　norm　than　the　memorable　exception。
　
　Anakin　turned　back　to　Padme；　to　see　that　she　was　no　longer　looking　his　way；　but　had　turned　toward　the　house；　where　another　woman；　who　looked　very　much　like　Padme；　was　approaching。
　
　Not　exactly　like　Padme；　Anakin　noted。　She　was　a　little　older；　a　little　heavier；　and　a　little　more　。　。　。　worn；　was　the　only　word　he　could　think　of。　But　not　in　a　bad　way。　Yes；　he　could　see　it　now；　he　thought；　watching　as　she　and　Padme　hugged　tightly。　This　was　whom　Padme　could　bee…more　settled；　more　content；　perhaps。　Considering　the　amazing　resemblance；　Anakin　was　hardly　surprised　when　Padme　introduced　the　woman　as　her　sister；　Sola。
　〃Mom　and　Dad　will　be　so　happy　to　see　you；〃　Sola　said　to　Padme。　〃It's　been　a　difficult　few　weeks。〃
　
　Padme　frowned。　She　knew　that　word　of　the　attempts　on　her　life　would　have　reached　her　parents'　ears；　and　that　was　possibly　the　most　disturbing　thing　of　all　to　her。
　
　Anakin　saw　it　all　on　her　face；　and　he　understood　it　well；　and　he　loved　her　all　the　more　for　that　generosity。　Padme　wasn't　really　afraid　of　anything…　she　could　handle　the　reality　of　her　current　situation；　the　reality　of　the　fact　that　someone　was　trying　to　kill　her；　with　determination　and　courage。　But　the　one　thing　about　it　all　that　troubled　her；　aside　from　the　political　ramifications　of　such　distractions；　the　ways　they　might　weaken　her　position　in　the　Senate；　was　the　effect　of　such　danger　upon　those　she　loved。　He　knew　that　she　didn't　want　to　bring　pain　to　her　family。
　
　Anakin；　who　had　left　his　mother　as　a　slave　on　Tatooine；　could　appreciate　that。
　〃Mom's　making　dinner；〃　Sola　explained；　noting　Padme's　disfort　and　generously　changing　the　subject。　〃As　usual；　your　timing　is　perfect。〃　She　started　toward　the　house。　Padme　waited　for　Anakin　to　move　beside　her；　then　took　his　hand；　looked　up；　smiled　at　him；　and　led　him　toward　the　door。　R2…D2　rolled　along　right　behind；　with　Ryoo　and　Pooja　bouncing　all　about　him。　The　interior　of　the　house　was　just　as　simply　wonderful　and　just　as　full　of　life　and　soft　color　as　was　the　yard。　There　were　no　glaring　lights；　no　beeping　consoles　or　flickering　puter　screens。　The　furniture　was　plush　and　fortable；　the　floors　were　made　of　cool　stone　or　covered　in　soft　carpeting。
　
　This　was　not　a　building　as　Anakin　had　known　on　Coruscant；　and　not　a　hovel；　as　he　had　known　all　too　well　on　Tatooine。　No；　seeing　this　place；　this　street；　this　yard；　this　home；　made　the　young　Padawan　even　more　convinced　of　what　he　had　declared　to　Padme　not　so　long　before：　that　if　he　had　grown　up　on　Naboo；　he　would　never　leave。
　
　The　next　introductions　were　a　bit　more　unfortable；　but　only　for　a　moment；　as　Padme　showed　Anakin　to　Ruwee；　her　father；　a　strong…shouldered　man　with　a　face　that　was　plain　and　strong　and　passionate　all　at　once。　He　wore　his　brown　hair　short；　but　still　it　was　a　bit　out　of　place；　a　bit　。。。　fortable。　Padme　introduced　Jobal　next；　and　Anakin　knew　that　the　woman　was　her　mother　without　being　told。　The　moment　he　met　her；　he　understood　where　Padme　had　gotten　her　innocent　and　sincere　smile；　a　look　that　could　disarm　a　mob　of　bloodthirsty　Gamorrean　raiders。　Jobal's　face　had　that　same　forting　quality；　that　same　obvious　generosity。
　
　Soon　after；　Anakin；　Padme；　and　Ruwee　were　sitting　at　the　dinner　table；　fortably　quiet　and　listening　to　the　bustle　in　the　next　room；　which　included　the　clanking　of　stoneware　plates　and　mugs；　and　Sola　repeatedly　saying；　〃Too　much；　Mom。〃　And　every　time　she　said　that；　Ruwee　and　Padm　smiled　knowingly。
　〃I　doubt　they've　been　starving　all　the　way　from　Coruscant；〃　an　exasperated　Sola　said　as　she　exited　the　kitchen；　glancing　back　over　her　shoulder　as　she　spoke。　She　returned　carrying　a　bowl　full　of　food。
　〃Enough　to　feed　the　town？〃　Padme　asked　Sola　quietly　as　her　older　sister　put　the　bowl　on　the　table。
　〃You　know　Mom；〃　came　the　answer；　and　the　tone　told　Anakin　that　this　was　not　an　isolated　incident；　that　Jobal　was　quite　the　hostess。　Despite　the　fact　that　he　had　eaten　recently；　the　bowl　of　food　looked　and　smelled　temptingly　good。
　〃No　one　has　ever　left　this　house　hungry；〃　Sola　explained。
　〃Well；　one　person　did　once；〃　Padme　corrected。　〃But　Mom　chased　him　down　and　dragged　him　back　in。〃
　〃To　feed　him　or　cook　him？〃　the　quick…witted　Padawan　retorted；　and　the　other　three　stared　at　him　for　just　a　moment　before　catching　on　and　bursting　out　in　laughter。
　
　They　were　still　chuckling　when　Jobal　entered　the　room；　holding　an　even　larger　bowl　of　steaming　food；　which　of　course　only　made　them　laugh　all　the　louder。　But　then　Jobal　fixed　an　imposing　stare　over　her　family　and　the　chuckling　quieted。
　〃They　arrived　just　in　time　for　dinner；〃　Jobal　said。　〃I　know　what　that　means。〃　She　set　the　plate　down　near　Anakin　and　put　her　hand　on　his　shoulder。　〃I　hope　you're　hungry；　Anakin。〃
　〃A　little。〃　He　looked　up　and　gave　her　a　warm　smile。
　
　The　look　of　gratitude　was　not　lost　on　Padme。　She　tossed　a　little　wink　his　way　when　he　looked　back　at　her。　〃He's　being　polite；　Mom；〃　she　said。　〃We're　starving。〃
　
　Jobal　grinned　widely　and　nodded；　offering　superior　glances　at　Sola　and　Ruwee；　who　just　laughed　again。　It　was　all　so　fortable　to　Anakin；　so　natural　and　so　。。。　so　much　like　what　he　had　always　been　wanting　in　his　life；　though　perhaps　he　had　not　known　it。　This　would　be　perfect；　absolutely　perfect；　except　that　his　mother　wasn't　there。
　
　A　brief　cloud　passed　over　his　face　as　he　thought　of　his　mother　on　Tatooine；　and　considered　the　disturbing　dreams　that　had　been　finding　their　way　into　his　sleep　of　late。　He　pushed　the　thoughts　away　quickly　and　glanced　around；　glad　that　no　one　seemed　to　have　noticed。
　〃　If　you're　starving；　then　you　came　to　the　right　place　at　the　right　time；〃　Ruwee　said；　looking　at　Anakin　as　he　finished。　〃Eat　up；　son！〃
　
　Jobal　and　Sola　took　their　seats　and　began　passing　the　food　bowls　all　around。　Anakin　took　a　good　helping　of　several　different　dishes。　The　food　was　all　unfamiliar；　but　the　smells　told　him　that　he　wouldn't　be　disappointed。　He　sat　quietly　as　he　ate；　listening　with　half　an　ear　to　the　chatter　all　about　him。　He　was　thinking　of　his　mom　again；　of　how　he　wished　he　could　bring　her　here；　a　free　woman；　to　live　the　life　she　so　deserved。　Some　time　passed　before　Anakin　tuned　back　in；　cued　by　the　sudden　seriousness　in　Jobal's　voice　as　she　said　t