rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第29节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ing　puter　screens。　The　furniture　was　plush　and　fortable；　the　floors　were　made　of　cool　stone　or　covered　in　soft　carpeting。
　
　This　was　not　a　building　as　Anakin　had　known　on　Coruscant；　and　not　a　hovel；　as　he　had　known　all　too　well　on　Tatooine。　No；　seeing　this　place；　this　street；　this　yard；　this　home；　made　the　young　Padawan　even　more　convinced　of　what　he　had　declared　to　Padme　not　so　long　before：　that　if　he　had　grown　up　on　Naboo；　he　would　never　leave。
　
　The　next　introductions　were　a　bit　more　unfortable；　but　only　for　a　moment；　as　Padme　showed　Anakin　to　Ruwee；　her　father；　a　strong…shouldered　man　with　a　face　that　was　plain　and　strong　and　passionate　all　at　once。　He　wore　his　brown　hair　short；　but　still　it　was　a　bit　out　of　place；　a　bit　。。。　fortable。　Padme　introduced　Jobal　next；　and　Anakin　knew　that　the　woman　was　her　mother　without　being　told。　The　moment　he　met　her；　he　understood　where　Padme　had　gotten　her　innocent　and　sincere　smile；　a　look　that　could　disarm　a　mob　of　bloodthirsty　Gamorrean　raiders。　Jobal's　face　had　that　same　forting　quality；　that　same　obvious　generosity。
　
　Soon　after；　Anakin；　Padme；　and　Ruwee　were　sitting　at　the　dinner　table；　fortably　quiet　and　listening　to　the　bustle　in　the　next　room；　which　included　the　clanking　of　stoneware　plates　and　mugs；　and　Sola　repeatedly　saying；　〃Too　much；　Mom。〃　And　every　time　she　said　that；　Ruwee　and　Padm　smiled　knowingly。
　〃I　doubt　they've　been　starving　all　the　way　from　Coruscant；〃　an　exasperated　Sola　said　as　she　exited　the　kitchen；　glancing　back　over　her　shoulder　as　she　spoke。　She　returned　carrying　a　bowl　full　of　food。
　〃Enough　to　feed　the　town？〃　Padme　asked　Sola　quietly　as　her　older　sister　put　the　bowl　on　the　table。
　〃You　know　Mom；〃　came　the　answer；　and　the　tone　told　Anakin　that　this　was　not　an　isolated　incident；　that　Jobal　was　quite　the　hostess。　Despite　the　fact　that　he　had　eaten　recently；　the　bowl　of　food　looked　and　smelled　temptingly　good。
　〃No　one　has　ever　left　this　house　hungry；〃　Sola　explained。
　〃Well；　one　person　did　once；〃　Padme　corrected。　〃But　Mom　chased　him　down　and　dragged　him　back　in。〃
　〃To　feed　him　or　cook　him？〃　the　quick…witted　Padawan　retorted；　and　the　other　three　stared　at　him　for　just　a　moment　before　catching　on　and　bursting　out　in　laughter。
　
　They　were　still　chuckling　when　Jobal　entered　the　room；　holding　an　even　larger　bowl　of　steaming　food；　which　of　course　only　made　them　laugh　all　the　louder。　But　then　Jobal　fixed　an　imposing　stare　over　her　family　and　the　chuckling　quieted。
　〃They　arrived　just　in　time　for　dinner；〃　Jobal　said。　〃I　know　what　that　means。〃　She　set　the　plate　down　near　Anakin　and　put　her　hand　on　his　shoulder。　〃I　hope　you're　hungry；　Anakin。〃
　〃A　little。〃　He　looked　up　and　gave　her　a　warm　smile。
　
　The　look　of　gratitude　was　not　lost　on　Padme。　She　tossed　a　little　wink　his　way　when　he　looked　back　at　her。　〃He's　being　polite；　Mom；〃　she　said。　〃We're　starving。〃
　
　Jobal　grinned　widely　and　nodded；　offering　superior　glances　at　Sola　and　Ruwee；　who　just　laughed　again。　It　was　all　so　fortable　to　Anakin；　so　natural　and　so　。。。　so　much　like　what　he　had　always　been　wanting　in　his　life；　though　perhaps　he　had　not　known　it。　This　would　be　perfect；　absolutely　perfect；　except　that　his　mother　wasn't　there。
　
　A　brief　cloud　passed　over　his　face　as　he　thought　of　his　mother　on　Tatooine；　and　considered　the　disturbing　dreams　that　had　been　finding　their　way　into　his　sleep　of　late。　He　pushed　the　thoughts　away　quickly　and　glanced　around；　glad　that　no　one　seemed　to　have　noticed。
　〃　If　you're　starving；　then　you　came　to　the　right　place　at　the　right　time；〃　Ruwee　said；　looking　at　Anakin　as　he　finished。　〃Eat　up；　son！〃
　
　Jobal　and　Sola　took　their　seats　and　began　passing　the　food　bowls　all　around。　Anakin　took　a　good　helping　of　several　different　dishes。　The　food　was　all　unfamiliar；　but　the　smells　told　him　that　he　wouldn't　be　disappointed。　He　sat　quietly　as　he　ate；　listening　with　half　an　ear　to　the　chatter　all　about　him。　He　was　thinking　of　his　mom　again；　of　how　he　wished　he　could　bring　her　here；　a　free　woman；　to　live　the　life　she　so　deserved。　Some　time　passed　before　Anakin　tuned　back　in；　cued　by　the　sudden　seriousness　in　Jobal's　voice　as　she　said　to　Padme；　〃Honey；　it's　so　good　to　see　you　safe。　We　were　so　worried。〃
　
　Anakin　looked　up　just　in　time　to　see　the　intense；　disapproving　glare　that　Padme　answered　with。　Ruwee；　obviously　trying　to　dispel　the　tension　before　it　could　really　begin；　put　his　hand　on　Jobal's　arm　and　quietly　said；　〃Dear。。。〃
　〃I　know；　I　know！〃　said　the　suddenly　animated　Jobal。　〃But　I　had　to　say　it。　Now　it's　done。〃
　
　Sola　cleared　her　throat。　〃Well；　this　is　exciting；〃　she　said；　and　everyone　looked　at　her。　〃Do　you　know；　Anakin；　you're　the　first　boyfriend　my　sister　ever　brought　home？〃
　〃Sola！〃　Padme　exclaimed。　She　rolled　her　eyes。　〃He　isn't　my　boyfriend！　He's　a　Jedi　assigned　by　the　Senate　to　protect　me。〃
　〃A　bodyguard？〃　Jobal　asked　with　great　concern。　〃Oh；　Padme；　they　didn't　tell　us　it　was　that　serious！〃
　
　Padme's　sigh　was　intermixed　with　a　groan。　〃It's　not；　Mom；〃　she　said。　〃I　promise。　Anyway；　Anakin's　a　friend。　I've　known　him　for　years。　Remember　that　little　boy　who　was　with　the　Jedi　during　the　blockade　crisis？〃
　
　A　couple　of　〃ahs〃　of　recognition　came　back　in　response；　along　with　nodding　heads。　Then　Padme　smiled　at　Anakin　and　said；　with　just　enough　weight　to　make　him　recognize　that　her　previous　claims　about　his　place　here　weren't　entirely　true；　〃He's　grown　up。〃
　
　Anakin　glanced　at　Sola　and　saw　that　she　was　staring　at　him；　scrutinizing　him。　He　shifted　unfortably　in　his　seat。
　〃Honey；　when　are　you　going　to　settle　down？〃　Jobal　went　on。　〃Haven't　you　had　enough　of　that　life？　I　certainly　have！〃
　〃Mom；　I'm　not　in　any　danger；〃　Padme　insisted；　taking　Anakin's　hand　in　her　own。
　〃Is　she？〃　Ruwee　asked　Anakin。
　
　The　Padawan　stared　hard　at　Padme's　father；　recognizing　the　honest　concern。　This　man；　who　obviously　loved　his　daughter　so　much；　deserved　to　know　the　truth。　〃Yes；　I'm　afraid　she　is。〃
　
　Even　as　the　words　left　his　mouth；　Anakin　felt　Padme's　grip　tighten。　〃But　not　much；〃　she　added　quickly；　and　she　turned　to　Anakin；　smiling；　but　in　a　you'll…pay…for…that…later　kind　of　way。　〃Anakin；〃　she　said　quietly；　her　teeth　gritted；　locked　into　that　threatening　smile。
　〃The　Senate　thought　it　prudent　to　give　her　some　time　away；　and　under　the　protection　of　the　Jedi；〃　he　said；　his　tone　casual；　showing　no　reflections　of　the　pain　he　was　feeling　as　Padme's　fingernails　dug　into　his　hand。　〃My　Master；　Obi…Wan；　is　even　now　seeing　to　the　matter。　All　should　be　well　soon　enough。〃
　
　His　breath　came　easier　as　Padme　loosened　her　grip；　and　Ruwee；　and　even　Jobal；　seemed　to　relax。　Anakin　knew　that　he　had　done　well；　but　he　was　surprised　to　see　that　Sola　was　still　staring　at　him；　still　smiling　as　if　she　knew　a　secret。
　
　He　gave　her　a　quizzical　look；　but　she　only　smiled　all　the　wider。
　
　　〃Sometimes　I　wish　I'd　traveled　more；〃　Ruwee　admitted　to　Anakin　as　the　two　walked　in　the　garden　after　dinner。　〃But　I　must　say；　I'm　happy　here。〃
　〃Padme　tells　me　you　teach　at　the　university。〃
　〃Yes；　and　before　that　I　was　a　builder；〃　Ruwee　answered　with　a　nod。　〃I　also　worked　for　the　Refugee　Relief　Movement；　when　I　was　very　young。〃　Anakin　looked　at　him　curiously；　not　really　surprised。　〃You　seem　quite　interested　in　public　service；〃　he　remarked。
　〃Naboo　is　generous；〃　Ruwee　explained。　〃The　planet　itself；　I　mean。　We　have　all　that　we　want；　all　that　we　could　want。　Food　is　plentiful；　the　climate　is　fortable；　the　surroundings　are…〃
　〃Beautiful；〃　Anakin　put　in。
　〃Quite　so；〃　said　Ruwee。　〃We　are　a　very　fortunate　people；　and　we　know　it。　That　good　fortune　should　not　be　taken　for　granted；　and　so　we　try　to　share　and　try　to　help。　It　is　our　way　of　saying　that　we　wele　the　friendship　of　those　less　fortunate；　that　we　do　not　think　ourselves　entitled　to　that　which　we　have；　but　rather；　that　we　feel　blessed　beyond　what　we　deserve。　And　so　we　share；　and　so　we　work；　and　in　doing　so；　we　bee　something　larger　than　ourselves；　and　more　fulfilled　than　one　can　bee　from　idly　enjoying　good　fortune！〃　Anakin　considered　Ruwee's　words　for　a　few　moments。　〃It　is　the　same　with　the　Jedi；　I　suppose；〃　he　said。　〃We　have　been　given　great　gifts；　and　we　train　hard　to　make　the　most　of　those。　And　then　we　use　our　given　powers　to　try　to　help　the　galaxy；　to　try　to　make　everything　a　little　bit　better。〃
　〃And　to　make　the　things　we　love　a　little　bit　safer？〃
　
　Anakin　looked　at　him；　catching　the　meaning；　and　he　smiled　and　nodded。　He　saw　respect　in　Ruwee's　eyes；　and　gratitude；　and　he　was　glad　for　both。　He　could　not　deny　the　way　Padme　looked　at　her　family；　the　love　that　seemed　to　flow　from　her　whenever　any　of　them　entered　the　room；　and　he　knew　that　if　Ruwee　or　Jobal　or　Sola　didn't　like　him；　his　relationship　with　Padme　would　be　hurt。
　
　He　was　glad；　then；　that　he　had　e　to　this　place；　not　only　as　Padme's　panion；　but　also　as　her　protector。
　
　　Back　in　the　house；　Padme；　Sola；　and　Jobal　were　working　together　to　clear　the　dishes　and　the　remaining　food。　Padme　noted　the　tension　in　her　mother's　movements；　and　she　knew　that　these　latest　events…the　assassination　attempts；　the　fights　in　the　Senate　over　an　issue　that　could　well　lead　to　war…were　weighing　heavily　on　her。
　
　She　looked　to　Sola；　too；　to　see　if　s