rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第41节

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ck　up　over　his　outstretched　arms；　tumbling　to　his　feet；　then　leaping　out　to　the　side　as　the　towline　again　went　taut；　jerking　him　along。　He　rolled　about　a　pylon　and　came　back　to　his　feet　again；　now　having　the　leverage　of　the　metal　pole　helping　to　hold　him　there。
　
　Reaching　deeply　in　the　Force　once　more；　he　grounded　himself；　being；　for　an　instant；　almost　as　one　with　the　platform。
　
　Immovable。
　
　The　wire　snapped　tightly；　but　Obi…Wan　didn't　budge。
　
　He　felt　the　angle　of　the　pull　change　dramatically　as　the　rocket…man　plunged　to　the　deck；　his　pack　breaking　away。
　
　Obi…Wan　started　around　the　pole；　but　stopped　and　shielded　his　eyes　as　Jango　Fett's　rocket　pack　exploded　with　a　burst　of　light　and　a　tremendous　concussion。
　
　　〃Dad！〃　Boba　Fett　cried　as　the　rocket　pack　blew　apart；　his　face　coining　right　to　the　viewscreen。　But　then　he　saw　Jango；　off　to　the　side　and　apparently　unharmed；　though　tugging　frantically　against　the　pull　of　the　wire…that　was　now　being　controlled　by　the　Jedi。
　
　Boba　slapped　one　hand　helplessly　against　the　screen；　mouthing　〃Dad〃　again；　and　then　he　winced　as　the　Jedi　slammed　into　his　father；　kicking　and　butting　him；　and　both　of　them；　locked　together；　went　rolling　off　the　back　edge　of　the　landing　pad；　sliding　fast　down　the　skirt　and　toward　the　raging　ocean。
　
　Obi…Wan　kicked　and　tried　to　find　his　way　back　to　the　Force；　but　Jango　punched　him　repeatedly。　He　could　hardly　believe　that　the　bounty　hunter　would　waste　the　effort；　with　certain　death　awaiting　them　both　at　the　end　of　the　slide　and　fall。　He　managed　to　pull　back　somewhat　and　saw　Jango　lift　one　forearm；　a　strange　smile　on　his　face。　The　bounty　hunter　clenched　his　fist；　and　a　line　of　claws　popped　forth　from　the　armor。
　
　Obi…Wan　instinctively　recoiled　as　Jango　lifted　that　arm　higher；　but　then　the　bounty　hunter　slammed　it　down；　not　on　Obi…Wan；　but　on　the　platform　skirt。　At　the　same　time；　Jango　worked　his　other　hand；　releasing　the　locking　mechanism　of　the　wire…launching　bracelet；　and　it　slid　free　of　his　arm。　He　screeched　to　a　halt；　and　Obi…Wan　slid　past　him。　〃Catch　a　roller　fish　for　me；〃　the　Jedi　heard　Jango　say；　and　then　he　was　falling；　over　the　lip　and　down　toward　the　raging　whitecaps。
　
　　〃Dad！　Oh；　Dad！〃　Boba　Fett　cried　in　relief　as　he　spotted　his　father　clambering　back　over　the　skirt　lip　and　onto　the　platform。　Jango　climbed　to　his　feet　and　stumbled　toward　Slave　/；　and　Boba　rushed　to　the　hatch；　sliding　it　open　and　reaching　down　to　help　his　father　aboard。
　〃Get　us　out　of　here；〃　the　dazed　and　battered　Jango　said；　and　Boba　grinned　and　rushed　to　the　control　panel；　firing　up　the　engines。
　〃I'll　put　her　right　to　lightspeed！〃
　〃Just　break　atmosphere　and　take　her　straight　out！〃　Jango　ordered；　and　his　words　came　out　with　a　growl　of　pain　as　he　held　his　bruised　side。　Then　he　noticed　his　son's　wounded　look。　〃Get　the　nav　puter　on　line　and　have　it　set　the　coordinates　for　the　jump；〃　he　conceded。
　
　Boba's　smile　beamed　brighter　than　ever。　〃Liftoff。〃　he　shouted。
　
　　Obi…Wan　used　the　Force　to　grab　the　trailing；　loose　end　of　the　wire　that　still　held　him　by　the　wrists；　and　he　threw　that　end　out；　looping　it　over　a　crossbeam　in　the　platform　structure。　His　descent　stopped　with　a　sudden　jerk。
　
　He　glanced　around；　then　began　to　swing；　back　and　forth；　gaining　momentum　until　he　was　far　enough　out　to　pull　himself　free　of　the　bond　and　drop　lightly　onto　a　small　service　platform；　barely　above　the　lashing　waves。　He　took　only　a　moment　to　catch　his　breath；　and　then　opened　the　door　of　the　service　turbolift　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　Even　before　the　door　opened　at　the　landing　platform；　he　heard　the　engines　of　the　bounty　hunter's　ship　roar　to　life。　　　He　came　over　the　lip；　spotting　his　lightsaber　immediately　and　calling　it　in　to　him　with　the　Force。
　
　But　he　was　too　late。　The　ship　was　already　shuddering；　ready　to　blast　away。　Obi…Wan　pulled　a　small　transmitter　from　his　belt　and　threw　it　out　long　and　far　at　Slave　I。　The　magnetic　lock　of　the　tracking　device　grasped　on　to　the　ship's　hull　just　in　time。
　
　Rain　and　steam　pouring　all　about　him；　Obi…Wan　Kenobi　stood　there　for　a　long　while　until　Slave　I　disappeared　from　view。
　
　He　looked　around　at　the　platform；　replaying　the　battle　in　his　head；　his　respect　for　this　bounty　hunter；　Jango　Fett；　growing　considerably。　He　understood　now　why　Jango　had　been　selected　by　Sifo…Dyas；　or　Tyranus；　or　whoever　it　was　that　selected　him。　The　man　was　good；　full　of　tricks　and　full　of　skill。
　
　He　had　taken　Obi…Wan　Kenobi；　a　Jedi　Knight；　the　man　who　had　defeated　the　Sith　Lord　Darth　Maul；　to　the　very　precipice　of　disaster。
　
　But　Obi…Wan　was　still　pleased　at　the　way　it　had　played　out。　He　would　track　Jango　now。　Perhaps　at　the　end　of　the　ing　journey；　he　would　finally　get　some　answers　instead　of　even　more　riddles。
　
　Chapter　Nineteen
　
　Boba　sat　quietly；　sensing　the　tension；　as　Slave　I　blasted　away　from　Kamino。　He　wanted　to　talk　about　his　shot　with　the　laser　cannon；　about　how　he　had　knocked　the　Jedi　down　and　sent　his　lightsaber　flying　away。　But　this　wasn't　the　time；　he　knew；　for　Jango　wore　an　intense　expression　that　Boba　recognized　all　too　well；　one　that　told　him　clearly　that　now　was　not　the　time　for　him　to　speak。
　
　The　boy　rested　back　against　the　wall　farthest　from　his　father　as　Jango　worked　the　controls；　setting　the　coordinates　for　the　jump　to　hyperspace。　〃e　on；　e　on；〃　Jango　said　repeatedly；　rocking　back　and　forth　as　if　urging　the　ship　on；　and　glancing　over　at　the　sensors　every　few　seconds　as　if　he　expected　a　fleet　of　starships　to　be　chasing　them　away。
　
　Then　he　gave　a　shout　of　victory　and　punched　the　hyperdrive；　and　Boba　went　back　against　the　wall；　watching　the　stars　elongate。
　
　Jango　Fett　slumped　back　in　his　seat　and　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief；　his　expression　softening　almost　immediately。　〃Well；　that　was　a　bit　too　close；〃　he　said　with　a　laugh。
　〃You　smashed　him　good；〃　Boba　replied；　his　excitement　beginning　to　bubble　up　again。　〃He　never　had　a　chance　against　you；　Dad！〃
　
　Jango　smiled　and　nodded。　〃To　tell　the　truth；　Son；　he　had　me　in　real　trouble　there；〃　he　admitted。　〃After　he　dodged　that　explosive　pack；　I'd　about　run　out　of　tricks。〃
　
　Boba　frowned　at　first；　wanting　to　argue　against　anyone　ever　getting　the　upper　hand　on　his　father；　but　then；　as　he　considered　the　moment　Jango　had　mentioned；　his　frown　became　a　wide　smile。　〃I　got　him　good　with　the　laser　cannon！〃
　〃You　did　great；〃　Jango　replied。　〃You　fired　at　just　the　right　time；　and　were　right　there；　ready　to　help　me　in　when　it　was　time　for　us　to　go。　You're　learning　well；　Boba。　Better　than　I　ever　believed　possible。〃
　〃That's　because　I'm　a　little　you；〃　the　boy　reasoned；　but　Jango　was　shaking　his　head。
　〃You're　better　than　I　was　at　your　age；　and　by　a　long　way。　And　if　you　keep　working　hard；　you'll　be　the　best　bounty　hunter　this　galaxy's　ever　seen。〃
　〃Which　was　your　plan　from　the　beginning　with　the　Kaminoans；　right；　Dad？　That's　why　you　wanted　me！〃
　
　Jango　Fett　moved　over　and　lifted　one　hand　to　tousle　Boba's　hair。　〃That　and　a　lot　of　other　reasons；〃　he　said　quietly；　reverently。　〃And　in　every　regard；　in　every　hope　and　dream；　you've　done　better　than　I　ever　expected。〃
　
　There　was　nothing　that　anyone　in　all　the　galaxy　could　ever　have　said　to　young　Boba　Fett　to　make　him　feel　better　than　those　words　from　his　father。
　
　Jango　took　Slave　l　out　of　hyperspace　a　bit　early；　so　that　Bob　could　have　some　time　piloting　the　ship　on　the　approach　to　Geonosis。　For　Boba；　sitting　in　the　chair　beside　his　father；　working　the　controls　deftly；　even　showing　off　a　bit；　there　could　be　no　greater　moment；　and　the　boy　was　saddened　by　the　sight　of　the　red　planet；　Geonosis；　and　the　asteroid　belts　that　ringed　it。
　〃Security's　tight　here；〃　Jango　explained；　taking　the　helm。　〃It'll　be　better　if　I　put　her　down。〃
　
　Boba　sat　back　in　the　chair　without　plaint。　He　knew　his　father　was　right；　and　even　if　he　had　disagreed；　he　wouldn't　have　done　so　openly。　He　turned　his　attention　to　the　scan　screens；　showing　the　position　of　the　asteroid　field　nearby；　and　some　distant　traffic　around　the　other　side　of　the　planet。
　
　He　noted　one　blip　in　particular；　disengaging　from　the　asteroid　belt　and　moving　out　behind　Slave　I。　He　didn't　think　too　much　of　it　at　first；　until　a　second　blip　appeared；　right　behind　Slave　I；　though　nothing　substantial　enough　to　be　a　separate　ship。
　〃Nearly　there；　Son；〃　Jango　remarked。
　〃Dad；　I　think　we're　being　tracked；〃　Boba　told　him。　〃Look　at　the　scan　screen。　Isn't　that　a　cloaking　shadow　of　our　own　ship？〃
　
　Jango　looked　at　him　doubtfully；　then　turned　that　skeptical　expression　upon　the　scan　screen。　Boba　watched　with　mounting　excitement　as　his　father's　gaze　turned　intense　and　he　slowly　began　to　nod。
　〃That　Jedi　must　have　put　a　tracking　device　on　our　hull　before　we　left　Kamino；〃　he　agreed。　〃But　how？　I　thought　he　was　dead。〃
　〃Someone's　following　us；〃　Boba　observed。
　〃We'll　fix　that；〃　Jango　assured　him。　〃Hang　on；　son！　Watch　me　put　us　into　that　asteroid　field…he　won't　be　able　to　follow　us　there。〃　He　looked　over　at　Boba　and　winked。　〃And　if　he　does；　we'll　leave　him　a　couple　of　surprises。〃
　
　Jango　opened　a　side　panel　and　pulled　a　lever；　releasing　an　electric　charge　along　his　hull　that　was　designed　to　destroy　just　such　tracking　devices