rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第14部分

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　〃It　was　her　idea；〃　Anakin　protested；　but　his　sharp　tone　showed　clearly　that　he　agreed　with　the　plan。　〃Don't　worry。　No　harm　will　e　to　her。　I　can　sense　everything　going　on　in　that　room。　Trust　me。〃
　〃It's　too　risky；〃　Obi…Wan　scolded。　〃Besides；　your　senses　aren't　that　attuned；　my　young　apprentice。〃
　
　Anakin　parsed　his　words　and　his　tone　carefully；　trying　to　sound　not　defensive；　but　rather　suggestive。　〃And　yours　are？〃
　
　Obi…Wan　could　not　deny　the　look　of　intrigue　that　crossed　his　face。
　〃Possibly；〃　he　admitted。
　
　Anakin　smiled　and　nodded；　and　closed　his　eyes　again；　falling　into　the　sensations　of　the　Force；　following　them　to　Padme；　who　was　sleeping　quietly。　He　wished　that　he　could　see　her；　could　watch　the　quiet　rise　and　fall　of　her　belly；　could　hear　her　soft　breathing；　could　smell　the　freshness　of　her　hair；　could　feel　the　smoothness　of　her　skin；　could　kiss　her　and　taste　the　sweetness　of　her　lips。
　
　He　had　to　settle　for　this；　for　feeling　her　life　energy　in　the　Force。
　
　A　place　of　warmth；　it　was。
　
　　In　a　different　way；　Padme　was　thinking　of　Anakin；　as　well。　He　was　there　beside　her；　in　her　dreams。
　
　She　saw　the　fighting　match　that　she　knew　would　soon　ensue　in　the　Senate；　the　screaming　and　fist　waving；　the　threats　and　the　loud　objections。　How　badly　it　drained　her。
　
　Anakin　was　there。
　
　Her　dream　became　a　nightmare；　some　unseen　assassin　chasing　her；　blaster　bolts　whipping　past　her；　and　her　feet　seemed　as　if　they　were　stuck　in　deep　mud。
　
　But　Anakin　rushed　past；　his　lightsaber　ignited　and　waving；　deflecting　the　blaster　bolts　aside。
　
　Padme　shifted　a　bit　and　gave　a　little　groan；　on　many　levels　as　unfortable　with　the　identity　of　her　rescuer　as　she　was　with　the　presence　of　the　assassin。　She　didn't　truly　awaken；　though；　just　thrashed　a　bit　and　raised　her　head；　opening　her　eyes　only　briefly　before　burying　her　face　in　her　pillow。
　
　She　didn't　see　the　small　round　droid　hovering　behind　the　blinds　outside　her　window。　She　didn't　see　the　appendages　e　out　of　it；　attaching　to　the　window；　or　the　sparks　arcing　about　those　arms　as　the　droid　shut　down　the　security　system。　She　didn't　see　the　larger　arm　deploy；　cutting　a　hole　in　the　glass；　nor　did　she　hear　the　slight；　faint　sound　as　the　glass　was　removed。
　
　Over　by　the　door　in　Padme's　room；　R2…D2's　lights　went　on。　The　droid's　domed　head　swiveled　about；　scanning　the　room；　and　he　gave　a　soft　〃wooo〃　sound。　But　then；　apparently　detecting　nothing　amiss；　the　droid　shut　back　down。　Outside；　a　small　tube　came　forth　from　the　probe　droid；　moving　to　the　hole　in　the　window；　and　crawling　through　it；　into　Padme's　room；　came　a　pair　of　kouhuns；　like　bloated　white　maggots　with　lines　of　black　legs　along　their　sides　and　nasty　mandibles。　Dangerous　as　those　mandibles　looked；　though；　the　true　danger　of　the　kouhuns　lay　at　the　other　end；　the　tail　stinger；　dripping　of　venom。　The　vicious　kouhuns　crawled　in　through　the　blinds　and　started　immediately　toward　the　bed　and　the　sleeping　woman。
　
　　〃You　look　tired；〃　Obi…Wan　said　to　Anakin　in　the　adjoining　room。　The　Padawan；　still　standing；　opened　his　eyes　and　came　out　of　his　meditative　trance。　He　took　a　moment　to　register　the　words；　and　then　gave　a　little　shrug；　not　disagreeing。　〃I　don't　sleep　well　anymore。〃
　
　That　was　hardly　news　to　Obi…Wan。　〃Because　of　your　mother？〃　he　asked。
　〃I　don't　know　why　I　keep　dreaming　about　her　now；〃　Anakin　answered；　frustration　ing　through　in　his　voice。　〃I　haven't　seen　her　since　I　was　little。〃
　〃Your　love　for　her　was；　and　remains；　deep；〃　Obi…Wan　said。　〃That　is　hardly　reason　for　despair。〃
　〃But　these　are　more　than。。。〃　Anakin　started　to　say；　but　he　stopped　and　sighed　and　shook　his　head。　〃Are　they　dreams；　or　are　they　visions？　Are　they　images　of　what　has　been；　or　do　they　tell　of　something　that　is　yet　to　be？〃
　〃Or　are　they　just　dreams？〃　Obi…Wan　said；　his　gentle　smile　showing　through　his　scraggly　beard。　〃Not　every　dream　is　a　premonition；　some　vision　or　some　mystical　connection。　Some　dreams　are　just　。　。　。　dreams；　and　even　Jedi　have　dreams；　young　Padawan。〃
　
　Anakin　didn't　seem　very　satisfied　with　that。　He　just　shook　his　head　again。
　〃Dreams　pass　in　time；〃　Obi…Wan　told　him。　〃I'd　rather　dream　of　Padme；〃　Anakin　replied　with　a　sly　smile。　〃Just　being　around　her　again　is　。。。　intoxicating。〃
　
　Obi…Wan's　sudden　frown　erased　both　his　and　Anakin's　smiles。　〃Mind　your　thoughts；　Anakin；〃　he　scolded　in　no　uncertain　tone。　〃They　betray　you。　You've　made　a　mitment　to　the　Jedi　Order；　a　mitment　not　easily　broken；　and　the　Jedi　stand　on　such　relationships　is　unpromising。　Attachment　is　forbidden。〃　He　gave　a　little　derisive　snort　and　looked　toward　the　sleeping　Senator's　room。　〃And　don't　forget　that　she's　a　politician。　They're　not　to　be　trusted。〃
　〃She's　not　like　the　others　in　the　Senate；　Master；〃　Anakin　protested　strongly。
　
　Obi…Wan　eyed　him　carefully。　〃It's　been　my　experience　that　Senators　focus　only　on　pleasing　those　who　fund　their　campaigns；　and　they　are　more　than　willing　to　forget　the　niceties　of　democracy　to　get　those　funds。〃
　〃Not　another　lecture；　Master；〃　Anakin　said　with　a　profound　sigh。　He　had　heard　this　particular　diatribe　repeatedly。　〃At　least　not　on　the　economics　of　politics。〃
　
　Obi…Wan　was　no　fan　of　the　politics　of　the　Republic。　He　started　speaking　again；　or　tried　to；　but　Anakin　abruptly　interrupted。
　〃Please；　Master；〃　Anakin　said　emphatically。　〃Besides；　you're　generalizing。　I　know　that　Padme…〃
　〃Senator　Amidala；〃　Obi…Wan　sternly　corrected。
　〃…isn't　like　that；〃　Anakin　finished。　〃And　the　Chancellor　doesn't　seem　to　be　corrupt。〃
　〃Palpatine's　a　politician。　I've　observed　that　he　is　very　clever　at　following　the　passions　and　prejudices　of　the　Senators。〃
　〃I　think　he　is　a　good　man；〃　Anakin　stated。　〃My　instincts　are　very　positive　about。。。〃
　
　The　young　Padawan　trailed　off；　his　eyes　widening；　his　expression　being　one　of　shock。
　〃I　sense　it；　too；〃　Obi…Wan　said　breathlessly；　and　the　two　Jedi　exploded　into　motion。
　
　Inside　the　bedroom；　the　kouhuns　crawled　slowly　and　deliberately　toward　the　sleeping　Padme's　exposed　neck　and　face；　their　mandibles　clicking　excitedly。
　〃Wee　oooo！〃　R2…D2　shrieked；　catching　on　to　the　threat。　The　droid　tootled　a　series　of　alarms　and　focused　a　light　on　the　bed；　highlighting　the　centipede　invaders　perfectly　as　Obi…Wan　and　Anakin　burst　into　the　room。
　
　Padme　awoke；　her　eyes　going　wide；　sucking　in　her　breath　in　terror　as　the　wicked　little　creatures　stood　up　and　hissed；　and　came　at　her。
　
　Or　would　have；　except　that　Anakin　was　there；　his　blue　lightsaber　blade　slashing　across；　just　above　the　bedcovers；　once　and　again；　slicing　both　creatures　in　half。
　〃Droid！〃　Obi…Wan　cried；　and　Anakin　and　Padme　turned　to　see　him　rushing　for　the　window。　There；　hovering　outside；　was　the　remote　assassin；　its　appendages　retracting　fast。
　
　Obi…Wan　leapt　into　the　blinds；　taking　them　with　him　right　through　the　window；　shattering　the　glass。　He　reached　into　the　Force　as　he　leapt；　using　it　to　extend　his　jump；　to　send　him　far　through　the　air　to　catch　hold　of　the　retreating　droid　assassin。　With　his　added　weight；　the　floating　droid　sank　considerably；　but　it　pensated　and　stabilized　quickly；　leaving　the　Jedi　hanging　on　to　it　a　hundred　stories　up。
　
　Off　flew　the　droid；　taking　Obi…Wan　with　it。
　〃Anakin？〃　Padme　asked；　turning　to　him。　When　she　saw　him　return　the　look；　and　saw　the　sudden　flicker　of　intensity　in　his　blue　eyes；　she　pulled　her　nightdress　higher　about　her　shoulders。
　〃Stay　here！〃　Anakin　instructed。　〃Watch　her；　Artoo！〃　He　rushed　for　the　door；　only　to　stop　abruptly　as　Captain　Typho　and　a　pair　of　guards；　along　with　the　handmaiden　Dorme；　charged　in。
　〃See　to　her！〃　was　all　that　Anakin　explained　as　he　scrambled　past　them；　running　full　out　for　the　turbolift。
　
　　Not　without　defensive　systems；　the　probe　droid　repeatedly　sent　electrical　shocks　arcing　over　its　surface；　stinging　Obi…Wan's　hands。
　
　The　Jedi　Knight　gritted　through　the　pain；　having　no　alternative　but　to　hold　on。　He　knew　he　shouldn't　look　down；　but　he　did　so　anyway；　to　see　the　city　teeming　far；　far　below。
　
　Another　shock　nearly　sent　him　plummeting　toward　that　distant　bustle。　Reflexively；　and　hardly　considering　all　the　implications；　the　Jedi　fumbled　with　one　hand；　found　a　power　wire；　and　pulled　it　free；　ceasing　the　electrical　shocks。
　
　But　ending；　too；　the　power　that　kept　the　probe　droid　aloft。　Down　they　went；　falling　like　stones；　the　lights　of　the　various　floors　flashing　past　them　like　strobes　as　they　dropped。
　〃Not　good；　not　good！〃　Obi…Wan　said　over　and　over　as　he　worked　frantically　to　reconnect　the　wire。　Finally；　he　got　it。　The　probe　droid's　lights　blinked　back　on；　and　off　the　remote　soared；　with　Obi…Wan　hanging　on　desperately。　The　droid　wasted　no　time　in　reigniting　the　series　of　electrical　shocks；　stinging　the　Jedi；　but　not　shaking　the　stubborn　man　free。
　
　　Anakin　was　in　no　mood　to　wait　for　a　turbolift。　Out　came　his　lightsaber；　and　with　a　single　well…placed　thrust　the　Padawan　had　the　doors　open；　though　the　turbolift　car　was　nowhere　near　his　floor。　Anakin　didn't　even　pause　long　enough　to　discern　if　it　was　above　him　or　below；　he　just　leapt　into　the　shaft；　catching　hold　of　one　of　the　supporting　poles　with　one　arm；　propping　the　side　of　his　foot　tight　against　it；　and　spinn