rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第37部分

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　But　then　Anakin　calmed　and　rolled　back　over；　the　dream；　the　vision；　apparently　past。
　
　Then　Padme　did　bee　aware　of　her　revealing　dress。　She　moved　back　through　the　door；　shutting　it　gently；　then　waited　for　a　long　while。　When　she　heard　no　further　screaming　or　tossing；　she　went　back　to　her　bed。
　
　She　lay　awake　in　the　dark　for　a　long；　long　while；　thinking　of　Anakin；　thinking　that　she　wanted　to　be　in　there　beside　him；　holding　him；　helping　him　through　his　troubled　dreams。　She　tried　to　dismiss　the　notion…they　had　already　covered　this　dangerous　ground　and　had　e　to　an　understanding　of　what　must　be。　And　that　agreement　did　not　include　her　climbing　into　bed　beside　Anakin。
　
　The　next　morning；　she　found　him　on　the　east　balcony　of　the　lodge；　overlooking　the　lake　and　the　budding　sunrise。　He　was　standing　by　the　balustrade；　so　deep　in　thought　that　he　did　not　notice　her　approach。　She　moved　up　slowly；　not　wanting　to　disturb　him；　for　as　she　neared；　she　realized　that　he　was　doing　more　than　thinking　here；　that　he　was　actually　deep　in　meditation。　Recognizing　this　as　a　private　time　for　Anakin；　she　turned　and　started　away；　as　quietly　as　she　could。
　〃Don't　go；〃　Anakin　said　to　her。
　〃I　don't　want　to　disturb　you；〃　she　told　him；　surprised。
　〃Your　presence　is　soothing。〃
　
　Padme　considered　those　words　for　a　bit；　taking　pleasure　in　hearing　them；　then　scolding　herself　for　taking　that　pleasure。　But　still；　as　she　stood　there　looking　upon　him；　his　face　now　serene；　she　couldn't　deny　the　attraction。　He　seemed　to　her　like　a　young　hero；　a　budding　Jedi…and　she　had　no　doubt　that　he　would　be　among　the　greatest　that　great　Order　had　ever　known。　And　at　the　same　time；　he　seemed　to　her　to　be　the　same　little　kid　she　had　known　during　the　war　with　the　Trade　Federation；　inquisitive　and　impetuous；　aggravating　and　charming　all　at　once。
　〃You　had　a　nightmare　again　last　night；〃　she　said　quietly；　when　Anakin　at　last　opened　his　blue　eyes。
　〃Jedi　don't　have　nightmares；〃　came　the　defiant　reply。　〃I　heard　you；〃　Padm　was　quick　to　answer。　Anakin　turned　to　regard　her。　There　was　no　promise　in　her　expression…she　knew　perfectly　well　that　his　claim　was　ludicrous；　and　she　let　him　know　that　she　knew　it。
　〃I　saw　my　mother；〃　he　admitted；　lowering　his　gaze。　〃I　saw　her　as　clearly　as　I　see　you　now。　She　is　suffering；　Padme。　They're　killing　her！　She　is　in　pain！〃
　〃Who？〃　Padme　asked；　moving　toward　him；　putting　a　hand　on　his　shoulder。　When　she　looked　at　him　more　closely；　she　noted　a　determination　so　solid　that　it　took　her　by　surprise。
　〃I　know　I'm　disobeying　my　mandate　to　protect　you；〃　Anakin　tried　to　explain。
　〃I　know　I　will　be　punished　and　possibly　thrown　out　of　the　Jedi　Order；　but　I　have　to　go。〃　〃Go？〃
　〃I　have　to　help　her！　I'm　sorry；　Padme；〃　he　said。　She　saw　from　his　expression　that　he　meant　it；　that　leaving　her　was　the　last　thing　he　ever　wanted　to　do。　〃I　don't　have　a　choice。〃
　〃Of　course　you　don't。　Not　if　your　mother　is　in　trouble。〃
　
　Anakin　gave　her　an　appreciative　nod。
　〃I'll　go　with　you；〃　she　decided。
　
　Anakin's　eyes　widened。　He　started　to　reply；　ready　to　argue；　but　Padme's　smile　held　his　words　in　check。
　〃That　way；　you　can　continue　to　protect　me；〃　she　reasoned。
　
　Somehow　she　made　it　sound　perfectly　logical。　〃And　you　won't　be　disobeying　your　mandate。〃
　〃I　don't　think　this　is　what　the　Jedi　Council　had　in　mind。　I　fear　that　I'm　walking　into　danger；　and　to　take　you　with　me…〃
　〃Walking　into　danger；〃　Padme　echoed；　and　she　laughed　aloud。　〃A　place　I've　never　been　before。〃
　
　Anakin　stared　at　her；　hardly　believing　what　he　was　hearing。　He　couldn't　resist；　though；　and　his　smile；　too；　began　to　widen。　For　some　reason　he　did　not　quite　understand；　the　Padawan　found　a　good　measure　of　justification　in　his　abandoning　the　letter　of　his　orders　now　that　Padme　was　in　on；　and　agreeing　with；　the　plan。
　
　　Neither　Padme　nor　Anakin　could　miss　the　stark　contrast　when　they　took　her　sleek　starship　out　of　hyperspace　and　saw　the　brown　planet　of　Tatooine　looming　before　them。　How　different　it　was　from　Naboo；　a　place　of　green　grasses　and　deep　blue　water；　with　cloud　patterns　swirling　all　across　it。　Tatooine　was　just　a　ball　of　brown　hanging　in　space；　as　barren　as　Naboo　was　alive。
　〃Home　again；　home　again；　to　go　to　rest；〃　Anakin　recited；　a　mon　children's　rhyme。
　〃By　hearth　and　heart；　house　and　nest；〃　Padme　added。　Anakin　looked　over　at　her；　pleasantly　surprised。　〃You　know　it？〃
　〃Doesn't　everyone？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Anakin　said。　〃I　mean；　I　wasn't　sure　if　anyone　else　。。。　I　thought　it　was　a　rhyme　my　mother　made　up　for　me。〃
　〃Oh；　I'm　sorry；〃　Padme　said。　〃Maybe　she　did…maybe　hers　was　different　than　the　one　my　mother　used　to　tell　me。〃　Anakin　shook　his　head　doubtfully；　but　he　wasn't　bothered　by　the　possibility。　In　a　strange　way；　he　was　glad　that　Padme　knew　the　rhyme；　glad　that　it　was　a　mon　gift　from　mothers　to　their　children。
　
　And　glad；　especially；　that　he　and　Padme　had　yet　another　thing　in　mon。　〃They　haven't　signaled　any　coordinates　yet；〃　she　noted。
　〃They　probably　won't；　unless　we　ask；〃　Anakin　replied。　〃Things　aren't　very　strict　here；　usually。　Just　find　a　place　and　park　it；　then　hope　no　one　steals　it　while　you　go　about　your　business。〃
　〃As　lovely　as　I　remember　it。〃
　
　Anakin　looked　at　her　and　nodded。　How　different　things　were　now　than　that　decade　before　when　Padme　had　been　forced　to　land　on　Tatooine　with　Obi…Wan　and　Qui…Gon　in　order　to　effect　repairs　on　their　ship。　He　tried　to　manage　a　smile；　but　the　edge　of　his　nervousness　kept　it　from　appearing　genuine。　Too　many　disturbing　thoughts　assaulted　him。　Was　his　mother　all　right？　Was　his　dream　a　premonition　of　what　was　to　e；　or　a　replay　of　something　that　had　already　happened？
　
　He　brought　the　ship　down　fast；　breaking　through　the　atmosphere　and　soaring　across　the　sky。　〃Mos　Espa；〃　he　explained　when　the　skyscape　of　the　city　came　into　sight　against　the　horizon。
　
　He　went　in　hard；　and　some　protests　did　squeal　over　the　link。　But　Anakin　knew　his　way　around　this　place　as　surely　as　if　he　had　never　left。　He　did　a　flyby　over　the　edge　of　the　city；　then　put　the　starship　down　in　a　large　landing　bay　amid　a　jumble　of　vessels　of　all　merchant　and　mercenary　classes。　〃Yous　can't　just　drop　in　uninvited！〃　barked　the　dock　officer；　a　stout　creature　with　a　piggish　face　and　spikes　running　down　the　length　of　his　back　and　tail。
　〃It's　a　good　thing　you　invited　us；　then；〃　Anakin　said　calmly；　with　a　slight　wave　of　his　hand。
　〃Yes；　it's　a　good　thing　I　invited　you　then！〃　the　officer　happily　replied；　and　Anakin　and　Padme　walked　past。
　〃Anakin；　you're　bad；〃　Padme　said　as　they　exited　onto　the　dusty　street。
　〃It's　not　like　there　are　dozens　of　ships　lined　up　to　fill　the　bay；〃　Anakin　replied；　feeling　pretty　good　about　himself　and　the　ease　with　which　he　had　Force…convinced　the　piggish　officer。　He　waved　down　a　floating　rickshaw　pulled　by　an　ES…PSA　droid；　a　short　and　thin　creature　with　a　wheel　where　its　legs　should　have　been。
　
　Anakin　gave　it　the　address　and　off　it　went；　pulling　them　behind　in　the　floating　rickshaw；　charging　along　the　streets　of　Mos　Espa；　expertly　zigging　and　zagging　to　avoid　the　heavy　traffic；　and　blasting　forth　a　shrill　sound　whenever　someone　didn't　get　out　of　die　way。
　〃Do　you　think　he　was　involved？〃　Padme　asked　Anakin。
　〃Watto？〃
　〃Yes；　that　was　his　name；　right？　Your　former　master？〃
　〃If　Watto　has　hurt　my　mother　in　any　way；　I　will　pluck　his　wings　from　his　back；〃　he　promised；　meaning　every　word。　He　wasn't　sure　how　he　would　feel　about　seeing　the　slaver；　even　if　Watto　had　nothing　to　do　with　bringing　any　harm　to　Shmi。　Watto　had　treated　him　better　than　most　in　Mos　Espa　treated　their　slaves；　and　hadn't　beaten　him　too　often；　but　still；　it　hung　in　Anakin's　thoughts　that　Watto　had　not　let　Shmi　go　with　him　when　Obi…Wan　and　Qui…Gon　had　bought　out　his　slave　debt。　Anakin　understood　that　he　was　probably　just　deflecting　some　of　his　own　guilt　about　leaving　his　mother　with　Watto；　who　was　a　businessman；　after　all。
　〃Here；　Espasa；〃　Anakin　said　to　the　droid；　and　the　rickshaw　glided　to　a　stop　in　front　of　a　shop　all　too　familiar　to　Anakin　Sky…walker。　There；　sitting　on　a　stool　near　the　door；　fiddling　with　an　electronic　driver　on　a　broken　piece　of　equipment　that　looked　like　a　droid　ponent；　was　a　rounded；　winged　Toydarian　with　a　long　snout。　A　black　round　hat　adorned　his　head；　and　a　small　vest　was　pulled　as　far　as　it　would　go　about　his　girth。　Anakin　recognized　him　immediately。
　
　He　paused　for　so　long　in　just　staring　at　Watto　that　Padme　got　out　before　him　and　held　her　hand　to　help　him。　〃Wait　here；〃　she　instructed　the　droid。
　〃Please。〃　〃No　chuba　da　wanga；　da　wanga！〃　Watto　yelled　at　the　broken　ponent；　and　at　a　trio　of　pit　droids　who　were　scrambling　all　about；　trying　to　help。
　〃Huttese；〃　Anakin　explained　to　Padme。　〃No；　not　that　one…that　one！〃　she　replied；　and　at　Anakin's　expression　of　surprise　that　she　knew　the　strange　language；　she　added；　〃You　think　it's　easy　being　the　Queen？〃
　
　Anakin　shook　his　head　and　looked　back　to　Watto；　then　glanced　at　Padme　once　or　twice　as　they　neared。　〃Chut　chut；　Watto；〃　he　greeted。
　〃Ke　booda？〃　came　the　surprised　response。　〃Di　nova；　chut　chut；〃　Anakin　reiterated；　his　words　barely　audible　above　the　clamoring　pit　droids。
　〃Go　ana　bopa！〃　Watto　yelled　at　the　trio；　and　on　his　mand；　they