rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第11节

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　〃Hi；　Jar　Jar；〃　Anakin　managed　to　say；　and　Jar　Jar　just　continued　on；　hopping　and　crying　out　his　name；　and　issuing　a　series　of　strange　yiyi　sounds。　It　seemed　as　if　it　would　go　on　forever；　but　then　Obi…Wan　gently　but　firmly　grabbed　Jar　Jar　by　the　arm。　〃We　have　e　to　speak　with　Senator　Amidala。　Could　you　show　us　to　her？〃
　
　Jar　Jar　stopped　bouncing　and　looked　at　Obi…Wan　intently；　his　duck…billed　face　taking　on　a　more　serious　expression。　〃Shesa　expecting　yousa。　Annie！　Mesa　no　believen！〃　His　head　bobbed　a　bit　more；　then　he　grabbed　Anakin　by　the　hand　and　pulled　him　along。
　
　The　apartment　inside　was　tastefully　decorated；　with　cushiony　chairs　and　a　divan　set　in　a　circular　pattern　in　the　center；　and　a　few；　well…placed　artworks　set　about　the　walls。　Dorme　and　Typho　were　in　the　room；　standing　beside　the　divan；　the　captain　wearing　his　typical　military　garb；　blue　uniform　under　a　brown　leather　tunic；　with　black　leather　gloves　and　a　stiff　cap；　its　brim　and　band　of　black　leather。　Beside　him　stood　Dorme　in　one　of　the　elegant；　yet　understated　dresses　typical　of　Padme's　handmaidens。
　
　Anakin；　though；　didn't　see　either　of　them。　He　focused　on　the　third　person　in　the　room；　Padme；　and　on　her　alone；　and　if　he　had　ever　held　any　moments　of　doubt　that　she　was　as　beautiful　as　he　remembered　her；　they　were　washed　away；　then　and　there。　His　eyes　roamed　the　Senator's　small　and　shapely　frame　in　her　black　and　deep　purple　robes；　taking　in　every　detail。　He　saw　her　thick　brown　hair；　drawn　up　high　and　far　at　the　back　of　her　head　in　a　basketlike　accessory；　and　wanted　to　lose　himself　in　it。　He　saw　her　eyes　and　wanted　to　stare　into　them　for　eternity。　He　saw　her　lips；　and　wanted　to。。。
　
　Anakin　closed　his　eyes　for　just　a　moment　and　inhaled　deeply；　and　he　could　smell　her　again；　the　scent　that　had　been　burned　into　him　as　Padme's。　It　took　every　ounce　of　willpower　he　could　muster　to　walk　in　slowly　and　respectfully　behind　Obi…Wan；　and　not　merely　rush　in　and　crush　Padme　in　a　hug　。　。　。　and　yet；　paradoxically；　it　took　every　bit　of　his　willpower　to　move　his　legs；　which　were　suddenly　seeming　so　very　weak；　and　take　that　first　step　into　the　room；　that　first　step　toward　her。
　〃Mesa　here。　Lookie！　Lookie！〃　screeched　Jar　Jar；　hardly　the　announcement　Obi…　Wan　would　have　preferred；　but　one　that　he　knew　he　had　to　expect　from　the　emotionally　volatile　Gungan。　〃Desa　Jedi　arriven。〃
　〃It's　a　pleasure　to　see　you　again；　M'Lady；〃　Obi…Wan　said；　moving　to　stand　before　the　beautiful　young　Senator。
　
　Standing　behind　his　Master；　Anakin　continued　to　stare　at　the　woman；　to　note　her　every　move。　She　did　glance　at　him　once；　though　very　briefly；　and　he　detected　no　recognition　in　her　eyes。
　
　Padme　took　Obi…Wan's　hand　in　her　own。　〃It　has　been　far　too　long；　Master　Kenobi。　I'm　so　glad　our　paths　have　crossed　again。　But　I　must　warn　you　that　I　think　your　presence　here　is　unnecessary。〃
　〃I　am　sure　that　the　members　of　the　Jedi　Council　have　their　reasons；〃　Obi…　Wan　replied。
　
　Padme　wore　a　resigned；　accepting　expression　at　that　answer；　but　a　look　of　curiosity　replaced　it　as　she　glanced　again　behind　the　Jedi　Knight；　to　the　young　Padawan　standing　patiently。　She　took　a　step　to　the　side；　so　that　she　was　directly　in　front　of　Anakin。
　〃Annie？〃　she　asked；　her　expression　purely　incredulous。　Her　smile　and　the　flash　in　her　eyes　showed　that　she　needed　no　answer。
　
　For　just　a　flicker；　Anakin　felt　her　spirit　leap。
　〃Annie；〃　Padme　said　again。　〃Can　it　be？　My　goodness　how　you've　grown！〃　She　looked　down　and　then　followed　the　line　of　his　lean　body；　tilting　her　head　back　to　emphasize　his　height；　and　he　realized　that　he　now　towered　over　her。　That　did　little　to　bolster　Anakin's　confidence；　though；　so　lost　was　he　in　the　beauty　of　Padme。　Her　smile　widened；　a　clear　sign　that　she　was　glad　to　see　him；　but　he　missed　it；　or　the　implications　of　it；　at　least。　〃So　have　you；〃　he　answered　awkwardly；　as　if　he　had　to　force　each　word　from　his　mouth。　〃Grown　more　beautiful；　I　mean。〃　He　cleared　his　throat　and　stood　taller。　〃And　much　shorter；〃　he　teased；　trying　unsuccessfully　to　sound　in　control。　〃For　a　Senator；　I　mean。〃
　
　Anakin　noted　Obi…Wan's　disapproving　scowl；　but　Padme　laughed　any　tension　away　and　shook　her　head。
　〃Oh；　Annie；　you'll　always　be　that　little　boy　I　knew　on　Tatooine；〃　she　said；　and　if　she　had　taken　the　lightsaber　from　his　belt　and　sliced　his　legs　out　from　under　him；　she　would　not　have　shortened　Anakin　Skywalker　any　more。　He　looked　down；　his　embarrassment　only　heightened　by　the　looks　he　knew　that　both　Obi…Wan　and　Captain　Typho　were　throwing　his　way。
　〃Our　presence　will　be　invisible；　M'Lady；〃　he　heard　Obi…Wan　assure　Padme。
　〃I'm　very　grateful　that　you're　here；　Master　Kenobi；〃　Captain　Typho　put　in。
　〃The　situation　is　more　dangerous　than　the　Senator　will　admit。〃
　〃I　don't　need　any　more　security；〃　Padme　said；　addressing　Typho　initially；　but　turning　to　regard　Obi…Wan　as　she　continued。　〃I　need　answers。　I　want　to　know　who　is　trying　to　kill　me。　I　believe　that　there　might　lie　an　issue　of　the　utmost　importance　to　the　Senate。　There　is　something　more　here。。。〃　She　stopped　as　a　frown　crossed　Obi…Wan　Kenobi's　face。
　〃We're　here　to　protect　you；　Senator；　not　to　start　an　investigation；〃　he　said　in　calm　and　deliberate　tones；　but　even　as　he　finished；　Anakin　contradicted　him。
　〃We　will　find　out　who's　trying　to　kill　you；　Padme；〃　the　Padawan　insisted。
　〃I　promise　you。〃
　
　As　soon　as　he　finished；　Anakin　recognized　his　error；　one　that　clearly　showed　on　the　scowl　that　Obi…Wan　flashed　his　way。　He　had　been　fashioning　a　response　to　Padme　in　his　thoughts；　and　had　hardly　even　registered　his　Master's　explanation　before　he　had　blurted　out　the　obviously　errant　words。　Now　he　could　only　bite　his　lip　and　lower　his　gaze。
　〃We　are　not　going　to　exceed　our　mandate；　my　young　Padawan　learner！〃　Obi…Wan　said　sharply；　and　Anakin　was　stung　to　be　so　dressed　down　publicly…　especially　in　front　of　this　particular　audience。
　〃I　meant；　in　the　interest　of　protecting　her；　Master；　of　course。〃　His　justification　sounded　inane　even　to　Anakin。
　〃We　are　not　going　through　this　exercise　again；　Anakin；〃　Obi…Wan　continued。
　〃You　will　pay　attention　to　my　lead。〃
　
　Anakin　could　hardly　believe　that　Obi…Wan　was　continuing　to　do　this　in　front　of　Padme。　〃Why？〃　he　asked；　turning　the　question　and　the　debate；　trying　desperately　to　regain　some　footing　and　credibility。
　〃What？〃　Obi…Wan　exclaimed；　as　taken　aback　as　Anakin　had　ever　seen　him；　and　the　young　Padawan　knew　that　he　was　pushing　too　far　and　too　fast。
　〃Why　else　do　you　think　we　were　assigned　to　her；　if　not　to　find　the　killer？〃　he　asked；　trying　to　bring　a　measure　of　calm　back　to　the　situation。　〃Protection　is　a　job　for　local　security；　not　for　Jedi。　It's　overkill；　Master；　and　so　an　investigation　is　implied　in　our　mandate。〃
　〃We　will　do　as　the　Council　has　instructed；〃　Obi…Wan　countered。　〃And　you　will　learn　your　place；　young　one。〃
　〃Perhaps　with　merely　your　presence　about　me；　the　mysteries　surrounding　this　threat　will　be　revealed；〃　offered　Padme；　ever　the　diplomat。　She　smiled　alternately　at　Anakin　and　at　Obi…Wan；　an　invitation　for　civility；　and　when　both　leaned　back；　shoulders　visibly　relaxing；　she　added；　〃Now；　if　you　will　excuse　me；　I　will　retire。〃
　
　They　all　bowed　as　Padme　and　Dorme　exited　the　room；　and　then　Obi…Wan　stared　hard　at　his　young　Padawan　again；　neither　seeming　overly　pleased　with　the　other。
　〃Well；　I　know　that　I'm　glad　to　have　you　here；〃　Captain　Typho　offered；　moving　closer　to　the　pair。　〃I　don't　know　what's　going　on　here；　but　the　Senator　can't　have　too　much　security　right　now。　Your　friends　on　the　Jedi　Council　seem　to　think　that　miners　have　something　to　do　with　this；　but　I　can't　really　agree　with　that。〃
　〃What　have　you　learned？〃　Anakin　asked。
　
　Obi…Wan　threw　him　a　look　of　warning。
　〃We'll　be　better　prepared　to　protect　the　Senator　if　we　have　some　idea　of　what　we're　up　against；〃　Anakin　explained　to　his　Master；　logic　he　knew　that　Obi…Wan　had　to　accept　as　reasonable。
　〃Not　much；〃　Typho　admitted。　〃Senator　Amidala　leads　the　opposition　to　the　creation　of　a　Republic　army。　She's　very　determined　to　deal　with　the　separatists　through　negotiation　and　not　force；　but　the　attempts　on　her　life；　even　though　they've　failed；　have　only　strengthened　the　opposition　to　her　viewpoint　in　the　Senate。〃
　〃And　since　the　separatists　would　not　logically　wish　to　see　a　Republic　army　formed　。　。　。〃　Obi…Wan　reasoned。
　〃We're　left　without　a　clue；〃　Typho　said。　〃In　any　such　incident；　the　first　questioning　eyes　turn　toward　Count　Dooku　and　the　separatists。〃　A　frown　crossed　Obi…Wan's　face；　and　Typho　quickly　added；　〃Or　to　some　of　those　loyal　to　his　movement；　at　least。　But　why　they'd　go　after　Senator　Amidala　is　anyone's　guess。〃
　〃And　we　are　not　here　to　guess；　but　merely　to　protect；〃　Obi…Wan　said；　in　tones　that　showed　he　was　finished　with　this　particular　line　of　discussion。　Typho　bowed；　hearing　him　clearly。　〃I'll　have　an　officer　on　every　floor；　and　I'll　be　at　the　mand　center　downstairs。〃
　
　Typho　left；　then；　and　Obi…Wan　began　a　search　of　the　room　and　adjoining　chambers；　trying　to　get　a　feel　for　the　place。　Anakin　started　to　do　likewise；　but　he　stopped　when　he　walked　by　Jar　Jar　Binks。
　〃Mesa　bustin　wit　happiness　seein　yousa　again；　Annie。〃
　〃She　didn't　even　recognize　me；〃　Anakin　said；　star