rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第46节

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　Now　what　was　he　going　to　do？
　
　The　minutes　slipped　past　and　Anakin　just　sat　there；　immobilized　by　his　confusion；　by　a　budding　rage　and　the　most　profound　sense　of　emptiness　he　had　ever　known。　Only　when　the　pale　light　began　to　grow　around　him；　making　the　low…burning　candles　seem　even　thinner；　did　he　even　remember　where　he　was。
　
　He　looked　about；　wondering　how　he　might　get　his　mother's　body　out　of　there…　for　he　certainly　wasn't　going　to　leave　it　to　the　Tusken　Raiders。　He　could　hardly　move；　though。　There　seemed　a　profound　pointlessness　to　it　all；　a　series　of　motions　without　meaning。
　
　At　that　time；　the　only　meaning；　the　only　purpose；　that　Anakin　could　fathom　was　that　of　the　rage　building　within　him；　an　anger　at　losing　someone　he　did　not　wish　to　give　up。
　
　Some　small　part　of　him　warned　him　not　to　give　in　to　that　anger；　warned　him　that　such　emotions　were　of　the　dark　side。
　
　Then　he　looked　at　Shmi　lying　there；　so　still；　seeming　at　peace　but　covered　with　the　clear　evidence　of　all　the　pain　that　had　been　inflicted　upon　her　poor　body　these　last　days。
　
　The　Jedi　Padawan　climbed　to　his　feet　and　took　up　his　lightsaber；　then　boldly　strode　through　the　door。
　
　The　two　Tusken　guards　gave　a　yelp　and　lifted　their　staves；　rushing　for　him；　but　the　blue…glowing　blade　ignited；　and　in　a　flash　of　killing　light；　Anakin　took　them　down；　left　and　right。
　
　The　rage　was　not　sated。
　
　　Deep　in　his　meditations；　peering　through　the　dark　side；　Master　Yoda　felt　a　sudden　surge　of　anger；　of　outrage　beyond　control。　The　diminutive　Master's　eyes　popped　open　wide　at　the　overwhelming　strength　of　that　rage。　And　then　he　heard　a　voice；　a　familiar　voice；　crying；　〃No；　Anakin！　No！　Don't！　No！〃
　
　It　was　Qui…Gon。　Yoda　knew　that　it　was　Qui…Gon。　But　Qui…Gon　was　dead；　had　bee　one　with　the　Force！　One　could　not　retain　consciousness　and　sense　of　self　in　that　state；　one　could　not　speak　from　beyond　the　grave。　But　Yoda　had　heard　the　ghostly　call；　and　in　his　deep　meditative　state；　his　thoughts　focused　as　precisely　as　they　had　ever　been；　the　Jedi　Master　knew　that　he　had　not　been　mistaken。
　
　He　wanted　to　focus　on　that；　then；　perhaps　to　try　to　follow　that　call　back　to　the　ghostly　source；　but　he　could　not；　overwhelmed　again　by　the　surge　of　rage　and　pain　and　。　。　。　power。
　
　He　made　a　noise　and　lurched　forward；　then　came　out　of　his　trance　as　his　door　opened　and　Mace　Windu　rushed　in。　〃What　is　it？〃　Mace　asked。
　〃Pain。　Suffering。　Death！　I　fear　something　terrible　has　happened。　Young　Skywalker　is　in　pain。　Terrible　pain。〃
　
　He　didn't　tell　Mace　the　rest　of　it；　that　somehow　Anakin's　rush　of　agony　manifesting　in　the　Force　had　tapped　into　the　spirit　of　the　dead　Jedi　Master　who　had　discovered　him。　Too　much　was　happening　here。
　
　That　disembodied　familiar　voice　hung　profoundly　in　Yoda's　thoughts。　For　if　it　was　true；　if　he　had　heard　what　he　was　sure　he　had　heard　。　。　。
　
　　Anakin；　too；　had　heard　the　voice　of　Qui…Gon；　imploring　him　to　restrain　himself；　to　deny　the　rage。　He　hadn't　recognized　it；　though；　for　he　was　too　full　of　pain　and　anger。　He　spotted　a　Tusken　woman　to　the　side；　in　front　of　another　of　the　tents；　carrying　a　pail　of　dirty　water；　and　saw　a　Tusken　child　in　the　shadows　of　another　nearby　hut；　staring　at　him　with　an　incredulous　expression。
　
　Then　he　was　moving；　though　he　was　hardly　aware　of　his　actions。　His　blade　flashed　and　he　ran　on。　The　Tusken　woman　screamed；　and　was　impaled。
　
　Now　all　the　camp　seemed　in　motion；　Tuskens　rushing　out　of　every　hut；　many　with　weapons　in　hand。　But　Anakin　was　into　the　dance　of　death　then；　into　the　energy　of　the　Force。　He　leapt　far　and　long；　clearing　one　hut　and　ing　down　before　another；　his　blade　flashing　even　before　he　landed；　even　before　the　two　Tuskens　recognized　that　he　had　jumped　between　them。
　
　A　third　came　at　him；　thrusting　forth　a　spear；　but　Anakin　lifted　an　empty　hand　and　set　up　a　wall　of　Force　energy　as　solid　as　stone。　Then　he　shoved　out　with　that　hand；　and　the　Tusken　spearman　flew　away；　fully　thirty　meters；　smashing　through　the　wall　of　yet　another　hut。
　
　Anakin　was　off　and　running；　off　and　leaping；　his　blade　spinning　left　and　right　in　a　blur；　every　stab　taking　a　Tusken　down；　writhing　to　the　ground；　every　slash　putting　a　piece　of　a　Tusken　on　the　ground。
　
　Soon　none　were　standing　against　him；　all　trying　to　flee；　but　Anakin　would　have　none　of　that。　He　saw　one　group　rush　into　a　hut　and　reached　out　across　the　way；　to　a　large　boulder　in　the　distance。　It　flew　to　his　call；　soaring　across　the　sand；　smashing　one　fleeing　Tusken　down　and　flying　on。
　
　Anakin　dropped　it　on　the　hut　full　of　Tuskens；　crushing　them　all。
　
　And　then　he　was　running；　his　strides　enhanced　by　the　Force；　overing　the　fleeing　creatures；　slaughtering　them；　every　one。
　
　He　didn't　feel　empty　any　longer。　He　felt　a　surge　of　energy　and　strength　beyond　anything　he　had　ever　known；　felt　full　of　the　Force；　full　of　power；　full　of　life。
　
　And　then　it　was　over；　suddenly；　it　seemed；　and　Anakin　stood　among　the　ruins　of　the　encampment；　dozens　and　dozens　of　dead　Tusken　Raiders　all　about　him；　and　only　a　single　hut　still　standing。
　
　He　put　his　lightsaber　away　and　walked　back　to　that　hut；　where　he　gently　and　reverently　scooped　his　mother's　body　into　his　arms。
　
　Chapter　Twenty…One
　
　〃There！〃　Padme　announced；　as　she　hoisted　C…3PO　back　out　of　the　oil　bath。
　
　She　had　to　fight　hard　to　keep　from　giggling；　for　she　had　inadvertently　lowered　the　droid　too　far；　and　now　he　was　waving　his　arms　about　crazily；　yelling　that　he　was　blind。
　
　Padme　yanked　him　over　to　the　side　and　found　a　cloth　to　wipe　the　excess　oil　off　of　his　face。　That　done；　she　set　the　droid　down　on　the　floor　and　unhitched　him。
　〃Better？〃　she　asked。
　〃Oh；　much　better；　Miss　Padme。〃　C…3PO　waved　his　arms　about　and　seemed　quite　pleased。
　〃No　itches？〃　Padme　asked；　inspecting　her　work。
　〃No　itches；〃　C…3PO　confirmed。
　〃Well；　good；〃　she　said　with　a　smile。　But　her　smile　faltered　as　she　realized　that　she　was　done。　She　had　used　her　work　with　the　droid　to　shield　her　from　her　fears　over　the　last　hours…she　had　hardly　even　realized　that　the　sun　had　risen…and　now　those　fears　for　Anakin　were　already　ing　back　to　her。
　
　She　was　running　out　of　places　to　hide。　〃Oh；　Miss　Padme；　thank　you！　Thank　you！〃　said　C…3PO。　He　came　forward；　his　arms　outstretched　to　hug　her；　but　then　he　moved　back　suddenly；　seeming　to　remember　himself　and　his　sudden　lack　of　protocol。
　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said　again；　with　a　little　more　dignity。　〃Thank　you　very　much。〃　　　Owen　Lars　entered　the　garage　area。　〃Well；　there　you　are；〃　he　said　to　Padme。
　〃We've　been　looking　all　over　for　you。〃
　〃I　was　out　here　all　the　time；　giving　Threepio　a　much…needed　bath。〃
　〃Well；　Padme；〃　Owen　said；　and　when　she　turned　to　regard　him；　Padme　saw　that　he　was　grinning　widely。　〃I'm　returning　this　droid　to　Anakin。　I　know　that's　what　my　mom　would　want。〃
　
　Padme　smiled　and　nodded。
　〃He's　back！　He's　back！〃　came　Beru's　call　from　outside　the　garage。　Smiles　gone；　Padme　and　Owen　turned　and　rushed　out。
　
　They　caught　up　with　Beru　outside；　and　Cliegg　soon　joined　them；　his　hoverchair　banging　and　clunking　against　furniture　and　doorways　as　he　glided　out　of　the　house。　〃Where？　〃Padme　asked。　Beru　pointed　across　the　desert。　Squinting　and　shielding　her　eyes　from　the　glare　of　the　suns；　Padme　finally　marked　the　black　dot　that　was　Anakin；　rushing　toward　them。　As　the　speck　grew　into　a　distinguishable　form；　she　realized　that　he　was　not　alone；　that　there　was　someone　tied　over　the　back　of　the　speeder。
　〃Oh；　Shmi；〃　Cliegg　Lars　said　breathlessly。　He　was　trembling　visibly。　Beru　sniffled　and　struggled　to　keep　from　sobbing。　Owen　stood　beside　her；　his　hand　draped　across　her　shoulders；　and　when　Padme　looked　over　at　them；　she　noticed　a　tear　sliding　down　Owen's　cheek。
　
　Anakin　crossed　into　the　pound　a　few　moments　later；　pulling　up　short　of　the　stunned　group。　Without　a　word；　he　dismounted　and　moved　to　unstrap　his　dead　mother；　lifting　her　and　cradling　her　in　his　arms。　He　walked　up　to　Cliegg　and　paused　there　for　a　bit；　two　men　sharing　a　moment　of　grief。
　
　Then；　still　without　speaking；　Anakin　walked　past　the　man　and　into　the　house。
　
　All　that　time；　the　thing　that　struck　Padme　the　most　was　the　look　upon　Anakin's　face；　an　expression　unlike　anything　she　had　ever　seen　on　the　Padawan：　part　rage；　part　grief；　part　guilt；　and　part　resignation；　even　defeat。　She　knew　that　Anakin　would　need　her；　and　soon。
　
　But　she　had　no　idea　of　what　she　might　do　for　him。
　
　There　wasn't　much　talking　in　the　Lars　homestead　the　rest　of　that　day。　Everyone　just　went　about　their　chores；　any　chores；　obviously　trying　to　avoid　the　outpouring　of　grief　that　they　all　knew　would　inevitably　e。
　
　At　work　preparing　a　meal　for　Anakin；　Padme　was　surprised　when　Beru　came　up　to　help　her；　and　even　more　surprised　when　the　woman　started　some　small　talk　with　her。
　〃What's　it　like　there？〃　Beru　asked。
　
　Padme　looked　at　her　curiously。　〃I'm　sorry？〃
　〃On　Naboo。　What's　it　like？〃
　
　Padme　could　hardly　even　register　the　question；　for　her　thoughts　remained　with　Anakin。　It　took　her　a　long　time　to　respond；　but　finally　she　managed　to　say；　〃Oh；　it's　very　。　。　。　very　green。　You　know；　with　lots　of　water；　and　trees　and　plants　everywhere。　It's　not