rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第40章
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s this man selected by Sifo… Dyas as the perfect source for a clone army？
Lama Su looked to Taun We； who nodded and said； 〃I would be most happy to arrange it for you。〃
She left them； then； as the tour continued； with Lama Su taking Obi…Wan along the areas that showed him pretty much the entire routine of the clones at every level of their development。 The culmination came later on； when Taun We rejoined the pair on a balcony； sheltered from the brutal wind and rain and overlooking a huge parade ground。 Below them； thousands and thousands of clone troopers； dressed in white armor and wearing full…face helmets； marched and drilled with all the precision of programmed droids。 Entire formations； each made up of hundreds of soldiers； moved as one。
〃Magnificent； aren't they？〃 Lama Su said。
Obi…Wan looked up at the Kaminoan； to see his eyes glowing with pride as he looked out upon his creation。 There were no ethical dilemmas as far as Lama Su was concerned； Obi…Wan knew immediately。 Perhaps that was why the Kaminoans were so good at cloning： their consciences never got in the way。 Lama Su looked down at him； smiling widely； prompting a response； and Obi… Wan offered a silent nod。
Yes； they were magnificent； and the Jedi could only imagine the brutal efficiency this group would exhibit in battle； in the arena for which they were grown。
Once again； a shudder coursed down Obi…Wan Kenobi's spine。 For the first time； he appreciated Senator Amidala's crusade to stop the creation of an Army of the Republic； and the inevitable consequence： war！
A Jedi Knight here on Kamino。 The thought was more than a little unsettling to Jango Fett。
The bounty hunter fell back in his seat and tightened his face in frustration…such were the problems with working for the Trade Federation。 They were masters at weaving deception within deception； and they were up to so much right now that there was no single focus Jango could determine。 He looked across the room at Boba； who was hard at work poring over the schematics and capabilities of a Delta…7 starfighter； and matching them up against the known strengths and weaknesses of an R4…P unit。 Life was so simple for the boy； Jango thought with a touch of envy。 For Boba； there was the love of and for his father； and his studies。 Other than those two givens； the only real challenge before the boy was in finding enjoyable things to do at those times when Jango was away or busy with the Kaminoans。
At that moment； looking at his son； Jango Fett felt vulnerable； so very vulnerable； and it was not an emotion with which he was the least bit fortable。 He almost told Boba to go and pack； then and there； so they could blast away from Kamino； but he recognized the danger of that course。 He would be leaving without learning anything about his potential enemy； this Jedi Knight who had arrived unexpectedly。 His boss would want that information。
And Jango would need that information。 If he took off now； after receiving a note from Taun We telling him that he would be receiving a visitor later that same day； it would be fairly obvious that he was fleeing。
Then he'd have a Jedi Knight on his tail； and one about whom he knew practically nothing。
Jango continued to stare at Boba； at the only thing that really mattered。
〃Play it cool；〃 he whispered to himself。 〃You're nothing more than a clone source； well paid enough to want to know nothing about why you're being cloned。〃
That was his litany； that was his plan。 And it had to work。 For Boba's sake。
A wave of Taun We's hand brought forth the chime of an unseen bell； reminding Obi…Wan yet again of how foreign this world of Kamino； this city of Tipoca； really was。 He didn't give it much thought； though； for he was focused on the locking mechanism on the door before him； an elaborate electronic clasp and bolt。 Quite a bit of security； it seemed to him； given the supposedly genteel nature of Jango Fett's relationship with the Kaminoans； and the obvious control the cloners held over their city。 Was the locking mechanism designed to keep people out； or to keep Jango in？ Likely the former； he reasoned。 Jango was a bounty hunter； after all。
Perhaps he had made more than a few dangerous enemies。
He was still studying the device when the door suddenly opened； revealing a young boy； an exact replica of those Obi…Wan had been viewing all day。 The identical one that Jango had demanded； only this one was actually ten years old。
〃Boba；〃 Taun We said with great familiarity； 〃is your father home？〃 Boba Fett stood staring at the human visitor for a long moment。 〃Yep。〃
〃May we see him？〃
〃Sure；〃 Boba answered。 He stepped back； but his eyes never left Obi…Wan as the Jedi and Taun We stepped across the threshold。
〃Dad！ 〃Boba yelled。
The title struck Obi…Wan as curious； given that this was a clone and not a natural son。 Was there a connection here？ A real one？ Had Jango wanted the exact replica not for any professional gain but simply because he had wanted a son？
〃Dad！〃 the boy shouted again。 〃Taun We's here！〃
Jango Fett walked in； dressed in simple shirt and trousers。 Obi…Wan recognized him immediately； though he was many years older than the oldest clone； his face scarred and pitted； and unshaven。 His body had thickened with age； but he was still physically imposing； much like many of the old gutter dwellers Obi…Wan encountered in far…flung places。 A few extra pounds； sure； but those covered muscles hardened by years of tough living。 Tattoos crossed both of Jango's muscular forearms； of a strange design that Obi…Wan did not recognize。
As he glanced up； he recognized the clear suspicion with which Jango was eyeing him。 The man was on edge here； dangerously so； Obi…Wan understood。
〃Wele back； Jango；〃 Taun We remarked。 〃Was your trip productive？〃
Obi…Wan studied the bounty hunter intensely。 Back from where？ But Jango was a professional； and his expression revealed not the slightest tic or wince。
〃Fairly；〃 the man casually offered。 He continued to size up Obi…Wan as he spoke； his eyes narrowing in an almost open threat。
〃This is Jedi Master Obi…Wan Kenobi；〃 Taun We said； her tone lighter； obviously an attempt to relieve some of the palpable tension。 〃He's e to check on our progress。〃
〃That right？〃 If Jango cared； his tone didn't show it。
〃Your clones are very impressive；〃 Obi…Wan said。 〃You must be very proud。〃
〃I'm just a simple man trying to make my way in the universe； Master Jedi。〃
〃Aren't we all？〃 Obi…Wan finally broke eye contact with Jango as he spoke； scanning the room； looking for clues。 He focused on the half…open door through which Jango had appeared； and thought he saw pieces of body armor in there； battered and stained； much like that worn by a rocket…man after delivering a toxic dart into the changeling Zam Wesell。 And he saw a curving bluish line； like the goggle and breather area of the helmet he had seen back on Coruscant。 Before he could scrutinize the sight any more closely； though； Jango walked in front of him； pointedly blocking his view。
〃Ever make your way as far into the interior as Coruscant？〃 Obi…Wan asked； rather bluntly。
〃Once or twice。〃
〃Recently？〃
Again the bounty hunter's gaze became obviously suspicious。 〃Possibly。。。〃
〃Then you must know Master Sifo…Dyas；〃 Obi…Wan remarked； not out of any logical follow…up reasoning； but simply to gauge the man's reaction。 There was none； nor did Jango Fett move a centimeter out of Obi…Wan's line of sight； and when the Jedi tried to subtly alter his angle to gain a view；
Jango said； in a coded language； 〃Boba； close the door。〃
Not until that bedroom door shut did Jango Fett move to the side； and then it seemed to Obi…Wan as if the man was stalking him。 〃Master who？〃 Jango asked。
〃Sifo…Dyas。 Isn't he the one who hired you for this job？〃
〃Never heard of him；〃 Jango replied； and if there was a lie in his words； Obi…Wan could not detect it。
〃Really？〃
〃I was recruited by a man called Tyranus on one of the moons of Bogden；〃 Jango explained； and again it seemed to Obi…Wan as if he was speaking truthfully。
〃Curious 。 。 。〃 Obi…Wan mutter
