rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第26部分
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s surrounded Master Qui…Gon； especially when Qui…Gon had found a particularly important cause。 Qui…Gon would go against the Jedi Council when he felt that he was right； as he had done with Anakin some ten years earlier； before the Council had agreed to recognize that the boy's special circumstances； the incredible Force potential and the promise that he might be the one spoken of in prophecy。
Yes； Obi…Wan had seen this kind of intensity in Qui…Gon on occasion； but what he knew of Dooku was that； unlike Qui…Gon； the man had never been able to shut it off； had always been stomping around； chewing over an issue。 The lights in his eyes were ever…burning fires。
But Dooku had taken it to extremes； and dangerous ones； Obi…Wan realized。 He had left the Jedi Order； had walked out on his calling and on his peers。 Whatever problems Dooku must have seen； he should have recognized that he could better repair them by remaining within the Jedi family。
〃Did you call for assistance？〃 came a stern voice behind Obi…Wan； drawing him from his thoughts。 He turned to see Madame Jocasta Nu standing beside him； her hands folded together before her； practically disappearing within the folds of her Jedi robes。 She was a frail…looking creature； quite elderly； and noting that brought a smile to Obi…Wan's face。 How many younger and less experienced Jedi had looked upon that facade； the thin and wrinkled face and neck； the white hair tied tight； thinking that they could push the woman around； getting her to do their studying for them； only to encounter the truth that was Jocasta Nu？ She was a firebrand； that weak facade hiding her true strength and determination。 Jocasta Nu had been the Archivist for many； many years； and this was her place； her domain； her kingdom。 Any Jedi ing in here； even the most exalted of Jedi Masters； would play by the rules of Jocasta Nu； or they would surely face her wrath。
〃Yes； yes I did；〃 Obi…Wan finally managed to respond； realizing that Jocasta Nu was staring at him inquisitively； awaiting an answer。 The old woman smiled and walked past him to regard the bust of Count Dooku。 〃He has a powerful face； doesn't he？〃 she mented； her quiet tone taking the tension out of the meeting。 〃He was one of the most brilliant Jedi I have had the privilege of knowing。〃
〃I never understood why he quit；〃 Obi…Wan said； following Jocasta Nu's look to the bust。 〃Only twenty Jedi have ever left the Order。〃
〃The Lost Twenty；〃 Jocasta Nu said with a profound sigh。 〃And Count Dooku was the most recent and the most painful。 No one likes to talk about it。 His leaving was a great loss to the Order。〃
〃What happened？〃
〃Well； one might say he was a bit out of step with the decisions of the Council；〃 the Archivist replied。 〃Much like your old Master； Qui…Gon。〃
Even though Obi…Wan had just been thinking the same thing； somewhat； to hear Jocasta Nu speak the words so definitively caught him off guard； and painted Qui…Gon in a more rebellious light than he had ever considered。 He knew that his former Master had his moments； of course； the greatest of those being the confrontations concerning Anakin； but he had never thought of Qui…Gon as that much of a rebel。 Apparently； Jocasta Nu； who had her finger as squarely as anyone on the pulse of the Jedi Temple； did。
〃Really？〃 Obi…Wan prompted； wanting the information about Dooku； of course； but also hoping to garner some insight into his old and beloved Master。
〃Oh； yes； they were alike in many ways。 Very individual thinkers。 Idealists。〃 She stared at the bust intently； and it seemed to Obi…Wan as if she had suddenly gone far； far away。 〃He was always striving to bee a more powerful Jedi。 He wanted to be the best。 With a lightsaber； in the old style of fencing； he had no match。 His knowledge of the Force was 。 。 。 unique。 In the end； I think he left because he lost faith in the Republic。 He believed that politics were corrupt。。。〃
Jocasta Nu paused for a moment and looked at Obi…Wan； a very revealing expression that showed she did not think Dooku as out of step as many of the others apparently did。
〃And he felt that the Jedi betrayed themselves by serving the politicians；〃 the Archivist stated。
Obi…Wan blinked； soaking in the words。 He knew that many； Qui…Gon included… even himself included； at times…often felt the same way。
〃He always had very high expectations of government；〃 Jocasta Nu went on。
〃He disappeared for nine or ten years； then just showed up recently as the head of the separatist movement。〃
〃Interesting；〃 Obi…Wan remarked； looking from the bust to the Archivist。
〃I'm still not sure I understand。〃
〃None of us does；〃 Jocasta Nu replied； her serious expression melting into a warm smile。 〃Well； I'm sure you didn't call me over here for a history lesson。 Are you having a problem； Master Kenobi？〃
〃Yes； I'm trying to find a planet system called Kamino。 It doesn't seem to show up on any of the archive charts。〃
〃Kamino？〃 Jocasta Nu looked around； as if she was searching for the system right then and there。 〃It's not a system I'm familiar with。 Let me see。〃
A few steps brought them to the puter screen where Obi…Wan had been searching。 She bent low； and pressed a couple of mands。 〃Are you sure you have the right coordinates？〃
〃According to my information； it should be in this quadrant somewhere；〃 said Obi…Wan 〃Just south of the Rishi Maze。〃
A few more taps of the keyboard brought nothing more than a frown to Jocasta Nu's old and weathered face。 〃But what are the exact coordinates？〃
〃I only know the quadrant；〃 Obi…Wan admitted； and Jocasta Nu turned up to regard him。
〃No coordinates？ It sounds like the sort of directions you'd get from a street tout…some old miner or furbog trader。〃
〃All three； actually；〃 Obi…Wan admitted with a grin。
〃Are you sure it exists？〃
〃Absolutely。〃
Jocasta Nu sat back and rubbed a hand pensively over her chin。 〃Let me do a gravitational scan；〃 she said； as much to herself as to Obi…Wan。 The star map hologram of the target quadrant went into motion after a few more keystrokes； and the pair studied the movements。 〃There are some inconsistencies here；〃 the sharp Archivist noted。 〃Maybe the planet you're seeking was destroyed。〃
〃Wouldn't that be on record？〃
〃It ought to be； unless it was very recent；〃 Jocasta Nu replied； but she was shaking her head even as she spoke the words； not even convincing herself。 〃I hate to say it； but it looks like the system you're searching for doesn't exist。〃
〃That's impossible…perhaps the Archives are inplete。〃
〃The Archives are prehensive and totally secure； my young Jedi；〃 came the imposing response； the Archivist stepping back from her familiarity with Obi…Wan and assuming again the demeanor of archive kingdom ruler。 〃One thing you may be absolutely sure of： If an item does not appear in our records； it does not exist。〃
The two stared at each other for a long moment； Obi…Wan taking note that there wasn't the slightest tremor of doubt in Jocasta Nu's declaration。 He looked back to the map； perplexed； caught within a seemingly unanswerable question。 He knew that no one in the galaxy was more reliable for information that Dexter Jettster； unless that person was Jocasta Nu； and yet the two were obviously at odds here concerning their information。 Dexter had seemed every bit as certain of the origins of the saberdart as Jocasta Nu was now。 Both couldn't be right。
The puzzle of finding Senator Amidala's would…be assassin would not be easily solved； it seemed； and that troubled Obi…Wan Kenobi for many； many reasons。 With Jocasta Nu's permission； the Jedi punched a few buttons on the keyboard； downloading the archive information on that region of the quadrant to a small hologlobe。 Then； the item in hand； he left the area。 But not without one long； last look at the imposing bust of Count Dooku。
Later on that day； Obi…Wan turned away from the Archives and the analysis droids and turned within； to his own insights； instead。 He found a small； fortable room along the Temple's grand balcony； one of many such rooms designed for quiet moments of Jedi reflection。 A small fountain bubbled off to the side of him as he settled on a soft but firm mat and crossed his legs。 The water trickled down to a bed of polished stones； making a delicate sound； a background noise natural in its beauty and in the simplicity of its song。
Before Obi…Wan； a painting of reds； shifting and darkening to a deep crimson and then to black； a liberal representation of a cooling lava field； hung on the wall； inviting him not to look into it； but to surround himself with it； both its image and the soft warmth and hissing sound helping him to fall far away from his corporeal surroundings。
There； in his trance； Obi…Wan Kenobi sought his answers。 He focused on the mystery of Kamino first； expecting that Dexter's analysis was correct。 But why hadn't the system shown up in the Archives？
Another image invaded Obi…Wan's meditations as he tried to sort through that puzzle； an image of Anakin and Padme together on Naboo。 The Jedi Knight started； suddenly afraid that this was a premonition； and that some danger would visit his Padawan and the young Senat
