rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第53节

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above　his　head；　locking　him　helplessly　in　place。　Anakin　and　Padme　were　receiving　similar　treatment。　They　could　turn　a　bit　side　to　side；　though；　and　so　all　three　were　able　to　watch　the　arrival　of　the　dignitaries；　the　masters　of　ceremony…faces　they　had　e　to　know　all　too　well。
　〃The　felons　before　you　have　been　convicted　of　espionage　against　the　Sovereign　System　of　Geonosis；〃　announced　the　lackey；　Sun　Fac。　〃Their　sentence　of　death　is　to　be　carried　out　in　this　arena　immediately！〃　The　wild　cheering　deafened　the　doomed　trio。　〃They　like　their　executions；〃　Obi…Wan　said　dryly。
　
　At　the　dignitary　box；　Sun　Fac　gave　way　to　Archduke　Poggle　the　Lesser；　who　patted　his　hands　in　the　air；　calling　for　quiet。　〃I　have　decided　on　an　especially　entertaining　contest　this　day；〃　he　announced；　to　more　appreciative　roaring。　〃Which　of　our　pets　would　be　most　suited　to　carry　out　the　executions　of　such　distinguished　criminals？　I　asked　myself　this　over　and　over；　and　for　many　hours；　could　find　no　answer。
　〃And　finally；　I　chose…〃　He　paused　dramatically　and　the　crowd　hushed。　〃…the　reek！〃　At　the　side　of　the　arena；　a　gate　was　lifted　and　out　stepped　a　huge　quadruped　with　massive　shoulders；　an　elongated　face；　and　three　deadly　horns；　one　sticking　up　from　its　snout　and　the　other　two　protruding　forward　from　either　side　of　its　wide　mouth。　The　reek　stood　as　tall　as　a　Wookiee；　as　wide　as　a　human　male　was　tall；　and　more　than　four　meters　long。　It　was　prodded　forward　into　the　arena　by　a　line　of　picadors　carrying　long　spears　and　riding　creatures　that　were　bovine　in　size；　with　elongated　snouts。　After　the　cheering　died　away；　Poggle　surprised　the　crowd　by　announcing；
　
　〃The　nexu！〃　A　second　gate　rose；　revealing　a　large　feline　creature。　Its　head　was　an　extraordinary　thing；　half　the　size　of　its　body　and　with　a　fang…　filled　mouth　that　could　open　wide　enough　to　bite　a　large　human　in　half。　A　ridge　of　fur　stood　straight　in　a　line　from　head　to　rump；　ending　right　before　its　whipping；　felinoid　tail。
　
　Before　the　surprised　crowd　could　erupt　again；　Poggle　shouted；　〃And　the　acklay！〃　and　a　third　gate　rose　and　the　most　hideous　creature　of　all　rushed　in。　It　moved　spiderlike　on　four　legs；　each　ending　in　huge　elongated　claws。　Other　arms　waved　menacingly；　similarly　topped　with　claws　that　snapped　in　the　air。　Its　head；　crested　by　a　long　and　wavy　horn；　was　more　than　two　meters　above　the　ground；　glancing　about　hungrily；　and　while　the　other　two　creatures　seemed　to　need　the　prodding　of　the　picadors；　this　one　surely　did　not。
　
　This　last　one；　the　acklay；　seemed　to　be　the　true　crowd…pleaser；　especially　to　the　young　boy；　Jango　Fett's　cloned　son；　sitting　with　the　dignitaries。　Boba　grinned　and　began　reciting　all　that　he　had　read　of　the　deadly　beast's　exploits。
　〃Well；　this　should　be　fun…for　them；　at　least；〃　lamented　Obi…Wan；　watching　the　frenzy　mounting　around　him。
　〃What？　〃Anakin　asked。
　〃Never　mind；〃　Obi…Wan　replied。　〃You　ready　for　the　fight？〃
　〃The　fight？〃　Anakin　asked　skeptically；　looking　up　at　his　chained　wrists；　then　back　at　the　three　monsters；　which　had　been　milling　about；　and　only　now　seemed　to　take　note　that　lunch　had　been　served。
　〃You　want　to　give　the　crowd　its　money's　worth；　don't　you？〃　Obi…Wan　asked。
　〃You　take　the　one　on　the　right。　I'll　take　the　one　on　the　left。〃
　〃What　about　Padme？〃　The　two　turned　to　discover　that　their　clever　panion　had　already　used　the　concealed　wire　to　pick　the　lock　on　one　of　her　shackles；　and　had　turned　her　body　about；　facing　the　post。　She　climbed　right　up　the　chain　to　the　top　of　that　post；　then　went　to　work　on　the　other　shackle。
　〃She　seems　to　be　on　top　of　things；〃　Obi…Wan　mented　wryly。
　
　Anakin　looked　back　just　in　time　to　react　to　the　charge　of　the　reek。　Acting　purely　on　reflex；　the　young　Jedi　leapt　straight　up；　and　the　beast　plowed　into　the　pole　beneath　him。　Seeing　an　opportunity；　Anakin　dropped　upon　the　beast's　back　and　wrapped　his　chain　about　its　strong　horn。　The　reek　bucked　and　tugged；　tearing　the　chain　free　of　the　post；　and　they　were　off；　the　reek　bucking　and　Anakin　holding　on　for　dear　life。　He　slapped　the　free　end　of　the　chain　at　the　side　of　the　reek's　head；　and　the　vicious　beast　bit　it　and　held　on；　its　stubbornness　providing　Anakin　a　makeshift　bridle。　
　
　After　downloading　the　schematics；　R2…D2　had　little　trouble　navigating　the　huge　factory　plex。　The　small　droid　rolled　along；　whistling　casually　to　deflect　any　suspicion　on　the　part　of　the　many　Geonosians　milling　about。　None　of　them　seemed　interested　in　him；　anyway；　though；　and　R2　thought　he　knew　why。　He　had　learned　of　a　huge　event　taking　place；　a　triple　execution。　He　could　easily　enough　guess　the　identities　of　the　unfortunate　prisoners。
　
　He　wandered　along　a　meandering　course　through　the　plex；　avoiding　as　many　Geonosians　as　possible；　passing　those　he　could　not　with　an　air　of　detachment；　trying　not　to　look　out　of　place。
　
　He　knew　that　it　would　get　more　crowded　as　he　neared　the　arena；　though；　and　could　only　hope　that　the　Geonosians　there　would　be　too　distracted　by　the　thrilling　events　to　bother　with　a　little　astromech　droid。
　
　　Obi…Wan　quickly　came　to　learn　why　the　acklay　was　such　a　crowd…pleaser。　The　creature　reared　up　high　and　came　straight　in　at　him。　When　Obi…Wan　rushed　behind　the　pole；　the　acklay　took　a　more　direct　route；　crashing　into　the　pole；　its　gigantic　claws　snapping　the　wood　and　the　chain。　Freed　by　the　beast's　fury；　Obi…Wan　turned　and　ran；　sprinting　right　at　the　nearest　picador；　the　acklay　in　fast　pursuit。　The　Geonosian　lowered　his　spear　at　the　Jedi；　but　Obi…Wan　dodged　inside　and　grabbed　it。　A　sudden　tug　pulled　it　free；　and　Obi…Wan　snapped　it　against　the　picador's　mount；　causing　the　creature　to　rear。　Hardly　slowing；　Obi…Wan　planted　the　butt　of　the　lance　in　the　ground　and　leapt；　pole…vaulting　the　picador　and　his　mount。
　
　Again　the　acklay　took　the　more　direct　route；　slamming　into　rider　and　mount；　sending　the　Geonosian　tumbling　to　the　sand。　Grabbing　the　picador　up　in　the　snap　of　a　claw；　the　monster　crunched　the　life　from　him。
　
　　Atop　her　post；　Padme　worked　frantically　to　free　the　chain。　But　already　the　felinelike　nexu　was　leaping　up　to　swipe　at　her　with　its　deadly　claws。　She　dodged；　but　the　nexu　came　on　again。
　
　Padme　whipped　it　with　the　chain。
　
　The　beast　didn't　stop；　its　claws　tearing　into　the　pole　as　it　climbed。　Then；　with　a　sudden　burst；　it　leapt　up　to　the　top　and　reared　before　Padme　issuing　a　victorious　roar。
　
　The　crowd　hushed；　sensing　the　first　kill。
　
　As　the　nexu　slashed；　Padme　turned　in　a　circle　the　other　way；　and　while　the　claws　tore　her　shirt　and　superficially　raked　her　back；　she　came　around　hard；　delivering　a　solid　blow　across　the　beast's　face　with　the　free…flying　end　of　the　chain。　The　nexu　fell　back　off　the　pole。　Padme　leapt　out　and　back；　away　from　the　creature　and　to　the　side；　and　let　the　chain　tug　her　back；　sending　her　in　a　spin　about　the　pole。　She　tucked　her　legs　as　she　spun；　then　double…kicked　out；　knocking　the　nexu　to　the　ground。
　
　Hardly　pausing　to　consider　her　handiwork；　she　scrambled　back　up　the　pole；　working　furiously　to　free　herself　pletely。
　
　　The　crowd　gasped　as　one。
　〃Foul！〃　cried　Nute　Gunray　in　the　dignitary　box。　〃She　can't　do　that！　Shoot　her　or　something！〃
　〃Wow！〃　Boba　Fett　yelled　in　obvious　admiration。　Jango　put　his　hand　on　his　son's　shoulder；　enjoying　the　show　every　bit　as　much　as　Boba。
　〃The　nexu　will　have　her；　Viceroy；〃　Poggle　the　Lesser　assured　the　trembling　Neimoidian。
　
　Gunray　remained　standing；　as　did　everyone　else　in　the　box；　as　did　everyone　else　in　the　stadium。　The　crowd　gasped　again　as　Obi…Wan　ran　around　behind　the　picador's　fallen　mount；　then　launched　the　stolen　spear　into　the　neck　of　the　furious　acklay。　The　beast　screeched　in　pain　and　slapped　the　struggling　orray　mount　aside。
　
　Across　the　way；　Padme　continued　to　work　the　chain　as　the　nexu　regained　its　balance　and　began　to　stalk　back　toward　the　pole。　Finally；　she　was　free。　But　the　nexu　was　right　below　her；　looking　up；　drool　spilling　from　its　oversized　maw；　death　in　its　eyes。　It　crouched；　ready　to　spring。
　
　And　got　trampled　into　the　ground　by　Anakin　and　his　reek　mount。
　〃You　okay？　〃he　called。
　〃Sure。〃
　〃Jump　on！〃　Anakin　cried；　and　Padme　was　already　moving；　leaping　down　from　the　pole　to　fall　into　place　right　behind　Anakin。
　
　They　passed　the　wounded　and　furious　acklay　next；　and　Obi…Wan　was　quick　to　take　Padme's　hand　and　vault　into　place　behind　her。
　
　Boba　Fett　yelped　in　glee　again；　as　did　many　of　the　Geonosians。　Nute　Gunray；　though；　wasn't　quite　so　pleased。　〃This　isn't　how　it's　supposed　to　be！〃　he　yelled　at　Count　Dooku。　〃She's　supposed　to　be　dead　by　now！〃
　〃Patience；〃　the　calm　Count　replied。
　〃No！〃　Nute　Gunray　shouted　back　at　him。　〃Jango；　finish　her　off！〃
　
　Jango　turned　an　amused　expression　Nute　Gunray's　way；　and　nodded　knowingly　as　Count　Dooku　motioned　for　him　to　stay　put。
　〃Patience；　Viceroy；〃　Dooku　said　to　the　fuming　Gunray。　〃She　will　die。〃　Even　as　he　spoke；　even　as　Gunray　seemed　about　to　explode　with　rage；　the　Count　motioned　back　to　the　arena；　and　the　Neimoidian　turned　to　see　a　group　of　droidekas　roll　out　from　the　side　paddock。　They　surrounded　the　reek　and　the　three　prisoners　and　opened　and　unfolded　into　their　battle　position；　giving　Anakin　no　choice　but　to　pull　back　hard　on　the　make