rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第2节

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　〃That　is　why　I　sleep　better　at　night；〃　Owen　reiterated；　and　when　Shmi　looked　at　him；　she　saw　that　his　grin　was　wider　than　ever。
　〃Oh；　you're　teasing　me！〃　she　said；　reaching　out　to　swat　her　stepson　on　the　shoulder。　Owen　merely　shrugged。
　
　Shmi's　face　went　serious　again。　〃Annie　wanted　to　go；〃　she　went　on；　the　same　speech　she　had　given　Owen　before；　the　same　speech　that　she　had　silently　repeated　to　herself　every　night　for　the　last　ten　years。　〃His　dream　was　to　fly　about　the　stars；　to　see　every　world　in　the　whole　galaxy；　to　do　grand　things。　He　was　born　a　slave；　but　he　was　not　born　to　be　a　slave。　No；　not　my　Annie。
　〃Not　my　Annie。〃
　
　Owen　squeezed　her　shoulder。　〃You　did　the　right　thing。　If　I　was　Anakin；　I　would　be　grateful　to　you。　I'd　understand　that　you　did　what　was　best　for　me。　There　is　no　greater　love　than　that；　Mom。〃
　
　Shmi　stroked　his　face　again　and　even　managed　a　wistful　smile。
　〃e　on　in；　Mom；〃　Owen　said；　taking　her　hand。　〃It's　dangerous　out　here。〃　Shmi　nodded　and　didn't　resist　at　first　as　Owen　started　to　pull　her　along。　She　stopped　suddenly；　though；　and　stared　hard　at　her　stepson　as　he　turned　back　to　regard　her。　〃It's　more　dangerous　out　there；〃　she　said；　sucking　in　her　breath；　her　voice　breaking。　Alarm　evident　in　her　expression；　she　looked　back　up　at　the　wide　and　open　sky。　〃What　if　he　is　hurt；　Owen？　Or　dead？〃
　〃It's　better　to　die　in　pursuit　of　your　dreams　than　to　live　a　life　without　hope；〃　Owen　said；　rather　unconvincingly。
　
　Shmi　looked　back　at　him；　her　smile　returning。　Owen；　like　his　father；　was　about　as　grounded　in　simple　pragmatism　as　any　man　could　be。　She　understood　that　he　had　said　that　only　for　her　benefit；　and　that　made　it　all　the　more　special。
　
　She　didn't　resist　anymore　as　Owen　began　to　lead　her　along　again；　back　to　the　humble　abode　of　Cliegg　Lars；　her　husband；　Owen's　father。　She　had　done　the　right　thing　concerning　her　son；　Shmi　told　herself　with　every　step。　They　had　been　slaves；　with　no　prospects　of　finding　their　freedom　other　than　the　offer　of　the　Jedi。　How　could　she　have　kept　Anakin　here　on　Tatooine；　when　Jedi　Knights　were　promising　him　all　of　his　dreams？　Of　course；　at　that　time；　Shmi　had　not　known　that　she　would　meet　Cliegg　Lars　that　fateful　day　in　Mos　Espa；　and　that　the　moisture　farmer　would　fall　in　love　with　her；　buy　her　from　Watto；　and　free　her；　and　only　then；　once　she　was　a　free　woman；　ask　her　to　marry　him。　Would　she　have　let　Anakin　go　if　she　had　known　the　changes　that　would　e　into　her　life　so　soon　after　his　departure？
　
　Wouldn't　her　life　be　better　now；　more　plete　by　far；　if　Anakin　were　beside　her？
　
　Shmi　smiled　as　she　thought　about　it。　No；　she　realized；　she　would　still　have　wanted　Annie　to　go；　even　if　she　had　foreseen　the　dramatic　changes　that　would　soon　e　into　her　life。　Not　for　herself；　but　for　Anakin。　His　place　was　out　there。　She　knew　that。
　
　Shmi　shook　her　head；　overwhelmed　by　the　enormity　of　it　all；　by　the　many　winding　turns　in　her　life's　path；　in　Anakin's　path。　Even　in　hindsight；　she　could　not　be　sure　that　this　present　situation　was　not　the　best　possible　oute；　for　both　of　them。
　
　But　still；　there　remained　a　deep　and　empty　hole　in　her　heart。
　
　Chapter　Two
　
　〃I　can　help　with　that；〃　Beru　said　politely；　moving　to　join　Shmi；　who　was　cooking　dinner。　Cliegg　and　Owen　were　out　closing　down　the　perimeter　of　the　pound；　securing　the　farm　from　the　oning　night…a　night　that　promised　a　dust　storm。
　
　Smiling　warmly；　and　glad　that　this　young　woman　was　soon　to　be　a　member　of　their　family；　Shmi　handed　a　knife　over　to　Beru。　Owen　hadn't　said　anything　yet　about　marrying　Beru；　but　Shmi　could　tell　from　the　way　the　two　looked　at　each　other。　It　was　only　a　matter　of　time；　and　not　much　time　at　that；　if　she　knew　her　stepson。　Owen　was　not　an　adventurous　type；　was　as　solid　as　the　ground　beneath　them；　but　when　he　knew　what　he　wanted；　he　went　after　it　with　single…minded　purpose。
　
　Beru　was　exactly　that；　and　she　obviously　loved　Owen　as　deeply　as　he　loved　her。　She　was　well　suited　to　be　the　wife　of　a　moisture　farmer；　Shmi　thought；　watching　her　methodically　go　about　her　duties　in　the　kitchen。　She　never　shied　from　work；　was　very　capable　and　diligent。
　
　And　she　doesn't　expect　much；　or　need　much　to　make　her　happy；　Shmi　thought；　for　that；　in　truth；　was　the　crux　of　it。　Their　existence　here　was　simple　and　plain。　There　were　few　adventures；　and　none　at　all　that　were　weled；　for　excitement　out　here　usually　meant　that　Tusken　Raiders　had　been　seen　in　the　region；　or　that　a　gigantic　sandstorm　or　some　other　potentially　devastating　weather　phenomenon　was　blowing　up。
　
　The　Lars　family　had　only　the　simple　things；　mostly　the　pany　of　each　other；　to　keep　them　amused　and　content。　For　Cliegg；　this　had　been　the　only　way　of　life　he　had　ever　known；　a　lifestyle　that　went　back　several　generations　in　the　Lars　family。　Same　thing　for　Owen。　And　while　Beru　had　grown　up　in　Mos　Eisley；　she　seemed　to　fit　right　in。
　
　Yes；　Owen　would　marry　her；　Shmi　knew；　and　what　a　happy　day　that　would　be！
　
　The　two　men　returned　soon　after；　along　with　C…3PO；　the　protocol　droid　Anakin　had　built　back　in　the　days　when　he　had　Watto's　junkyard　to　rummage　through。
　〃Two　more　tangaroots　for　you；　Mistress　Shmi；〃　the　thin　droid　said；　handing　Shmi　a　pair　of　orange…and…green　freshly　picked　vegetables。　〃I　would　have　brought　more；　but　I　was　told；　and　not　in　any　civil　way；　that　I　must　hurry。〃　Shmi　looked　to　Cliegg；　and　he　gave　her　a　grin　and　a　shrug。　〃Could've　left　him　out　there　to　get　sandblasted　clean；　I　suppose；〃　he　said。　〃Of　course；　some　of　the　bigger　rocks　that　are　sure　to　be　flying　about　might've　taken　out　a　circuit　or　two。〃
　〃Your　pardon；　Master　Cliegg；〃　C…3PO　said。　〃I　only　meant…〃
　〃We　know　what　you　meant；　Threepio；〃　Shmi　assured　the　droid。　She　placed　a　forting　hand　on　his　shoulder；　then　quickly　pulled　it　away；　thinking　that　a　perfectly　silly　gesture　to　offer　to　a　walking　box　of　wires。　Of　course；　C…　3PO　was　much　more　than　a　box　of　wires　to　Shmi。　Anakin　had　built　the　droid。　Almost。　When　Anakin　had　left　with　the　Jedi；　3PO　had　been　perfectly　functional；　but　uncovered；　his　wires　exposed。　Shmi　had　left　him　that　way　for　a　long　time；　fantasizing　that　Anakin　would　return　to　plete　the　job。　Just　before　marrying　Cliegg　had　Shmi　finished　the　droid　herself；　adding　the　dull　metal　coverings。　It　had　been　quite　a　touching　moment　for　Shmi；　an　admission　of　sorts　that　she　was　where　she　belonged　and　Anakin　was　where　he　belonged。　The　protocol　droid　could　be　quite　annoying　at　times；　but　to　Shmi；　C…3PO　remained　a　reminder　of　her　son。
　〃Course；　if　there　are　Tuskens　about；　they'd　likely　have　gotten　him　under　wraps　before　the　storm；〃　Cliegg　went　on；　obviously　taking　great　pleasure　in　teasing　the　poor　droid。　〃You're　not　afraid　of　Tusken　Raiders；　are　you；　Threepio？〃
　〃There　is　nothing　in　my　program　to　suggest　such　fear；〃　3PO　replied；　though　he　would　have　sounded　more　convincing　if　he　hadn't　been　shaking　as　he　spoke；　and　if　his　voice　hadn't　e　out　all　squeaky　and　uneven。
　〃Enough；〃　Shmi　demanded　of　Cliegg。　〃Oh；　poor　Threepio；〃　she　said；　patting　the　droid's　shoulder　again。　〃Go　ahead；　now。　I've　got　more　than　enough　help　this　evening。〃　As　she　finished；　she　waved　the　droid　away。
　〃You're　just　terrible　to　that　poor　droid；〃　she　remarked；　moving　beside　her　husband　and　playfully　patting　him　across　his　broad　shoulder。
　〃Well；　if　I　can't　have　fun　with　him；　I'll　have　to　set　my　sights　on　someone　else；〃　the　rarely　mischievous　Cliegg　replied；　narrowing　his　eyes　and　scanning　the　room。　He　finally　settled　a　threatening　gaze　on　Beru。
　〃Cliegg；〃　Shmi　was　quick　to　warn。
　〃What？〃　he　protested　dramatically。　〃If　she's　thinking　to　e　out　and　live　here；　then　she　had　better　learn　to　defend　herself！〃　〃Dad！　〃Owen　cried。
　〃Oh；　don't　fret　about　old　Cliegg；〃　Beru　piped　in；　emphasizing　the　word　old。
　〃A　fine　wife　I　would　make　if　I　couldn't　out…duel　that　one　in　a　war　of　words！〃
　〃Aha！　A　challenge！〃　Cliegg　roared。
　〃Not　so　much　of　one　from　where　I'm　sitting；〃　Beru　dryly　returned；　and　she　and　Cliegg　began　exchanging　some　good…natured　insults；　with　Owen　chiming　in　every　now　and　again。
　
　Shmi　hardly　listened；　too　engaged　in　merely　watching　Beru。　Yes；　she　would　certainly　fit　in；　and　well；　about　the　moisture　farm。　Her　temperament　was　perfect。　Solid；　but　playful　when　the　situation　allowed。　Gruff　Cliegg　could　verbally　spar　with　the　best　of　them；　but　Beru　had　to　be　counted　among　that　elite　lot。　Shmi　went　back　to　her　dinner　preparations；　her　smile　growing　wider　every　time　Beru　hit　Cliegg　with　a　particularly　nasty　retort。
　
　Intent　on　her　work；　Shmi　never　saw　the　missile　ing；　and　when　the　overripe　vegetable　hit　her　on　the　side　of　the　face；　she　let　out　a　shriek。　Of　course；　that　only　made　the　other　three　in　the　room　howl　with　laughter。　Shmi　turned　to　see　them　sitting　there；　staring　at　her。　From　the　embarrassed　expression　on　Beru's　face；　and　from　the　angle；　with　Beru　sitting　directly　behind　Cliegg；　it　seemed　obvious　to　Shmi　that　Beru　had　launched　the　missile；　aiming　for　Cliegg；　but　throwing　a　bit　high。
　〃The　girl　listens　when　you　tell　her　to　stop；〃　Cliegg　Lars　said；　his　sarcastic　tone　shattered　by　a　burst　of　laughter　that　came　right　from　his　belly。
　
　He　stopped　when　Shmi　smacked　him　with　a　piece　of　juicy　fruit；　splattering　it　across　his　shoulders。
　
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