rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第57节

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　〃As　you　can　see；　my　Jedi　powers　are　far　beyond　yours；〃　Dooku　said　with　plete　confidence　and　calm。
　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　Obi…Wan　countered；　moving　toward　him　in　a　more　measured　and　defensive　manner；　his　borrowed　blue　lightsaber　held　across　his　body　diagonally；　up　over　one　shoulder。
　
　Dooku　smiled　and　ignited　a　red…glowing　blade。
　
　Obi…Wan　stepped　slowly　at　first；　then　came　on　in　a　sudden　rush；　his　blue　blade　ing　in　hard；　right　to　left。
　
　But　with　only　a　slight　movement；　the　red　blade　stabbed　under　the　blue；　then　lifted　up；　and　Obi…Wan's　blade　went　flying　harmlessly　high　of　the　mark。　With　a　slight　reversal　of　his　wrist；　Dooku　stabbed　straight　ahead；　and　Obi…　Wan　had　to　throw　himself　backward。　He　brought　his　lightsaber　across　as　he　did；　trying　to　parry；　but　Dooku　had　already　retracted　his　blade　by　then　and　had　settled　back　into　perfect　defensive　posture。
　
　Against　that　posture；　Obi…Wan's　sudden　flurry　of　attacks　seemed　exaggerated　and　inefficient；　for　Dooku　defeated　each；　one　after　another；　with　a　slight　parry　or　dodge；　seeming　barely　to　move。　For　while　Obi…Wan　and　most　of　the　Jedi　were　sword　fighters；　Count　Dooku　was　a　fencer；　following　an　older　fighting　style；　one　more　effective　against　weapons　like　lightsabers　than　against　projectile　weapons　like　blasters。　The　Jedi　on　the　whole　had　abandoned　that　old　fighting　style；　considering　it　almost　irrelevant　against　the　enemies　of　the　present　galaxy；　but　Dooku　had　always　held　stubbornly　to　it；　considering　it　among　the　highest　of　fighting　disciplines。
　
　Now；　as　the　battle　played　out　between　the　Count　and　Obi…Wan；　the　older　way　showed　its　brilliance。　Obi…Wan　leapt　and　spun；　slashing　side　to　side；　chopping　and　thrusting；　but　all　of　Dooku's　movements　seemed　far　more　efficient。　He　followed　a　single　line；　front　and　back；　his　feet　shifting　to　keep　him　constantly　in　perfect　balance　as　he　retreated　and　came　on　suddenly　with　devastating　thrusts　that　had　Obi…Wan　stumbling　backward。　〃Master　Kenobi；　you　disappoint　me；〃　the　Count　taunted。　〃Yoda　holds　you　in　such　high　esteem。〃
　
　His　words　spurred　Obi…Wan　forward　with　another　series　of　slashes　and　chops；　but　Dooku's　red　blade　angled　left　and　then　right；　then　up　just　enough　to　send　Obi…Wan's　descending　blade　slipping　off　to　the　side。　Obi…Wan　had　to　retreat　soon　after；　gasping　for　breath。
　〃e；　e；　Master　Kenobi；〃　Dooku　said；　his　lips　curled　in　a　wicked　smile。
　〃Put　me　out　of　my　misery。〃
　
　Obi…Wan　steadied　himself　and　shifted　his　lightsaber　from　hand　to　hand；　getting　a　better　grip　on　it。　Then　he　exploded　into　motion；　ing　on　again　fiercely；　his　blue　lightsaber　flashing　all　about。　He　kept　a　better　measure　of　his　cuts　this　time；　though；　reversing　his　angle　often；　turning　a　wide　slash　into　a　sudden　thrust；　and　he　soon　had　Dooku　backing；　the　red　blade　working　furiously　to　keep　Obi…Wan　at　bay。
　
　Obi…Wan　pressed　forward　more　forcefully；　but　Dooku　continued　to　fend　off　the　strikes；　and　then　his　momentum　played　out。　He　was　too　far　forward；　while　Dooku　remained　in　perfect　balance；　ready　for　a　counterstrike。
　
　And　then　it　was　Dooku　suddenly　pressing　the　attack；　his　red　blade　stabbing　and　retracting　so　quickly　that　most　of　Obi…Wan's　cutting　parries　hit　nothing　but　air。　Obi…Wan　had　to　jump　back；　and　then　back　again；　and　again；　as　those　thrusts　moved　ever　closer　to　hitting　home。
　
　Dooku　stepped　forward　suddenly；　stabbing　low　for　Obi…Wan's　thigh。　Down　went　the　blue　blade　to　intercept；　but　to　Obi…Wan's　horror；　Dooku　retracted　his　weapon　and　thrust　it　right　back　out；　up　high　and　across　the　other　way。　Obi…　Wan　couldn't　get　his　weapon　back　to　block；　nor　could　he　slide　back　fast　enough。
　
　Dooku's　red　blade　stabbed　hard　into　his　left　shoulder；　and　as　he　lurched　back；　Dooku　retracted　the　blade　and　stabbed　along　its　original　course；　digging　into　Obi…Wan's　right　thigh。　The　Jedi　stumbled　backward；　tripping　and　crashing　hard　against　the　wall；　but　even　as　he　fell；　Dooku　was　there；　his　red　blade　rolling　over　and　inside　Obi…Wan's　blade；　and　with　a　sudden　jerk；　he　sent　Obi…Wan's　lightsaber　bouncing　across　the　floor。　〃And　so　it　ends；〃　Dooku　said　to　the　helpless　Obi…Wan。　With　a　shrug；　the　elegant　Count　lifted　his　red　blade　up　high；　then　brought　it　down　hard　at　Obi…Wan's　head。
　
　A　green　blade　cut　in　under　it；　stopping　it　with　a　shower　of　sparks。　The　Count　reacted　immediately；　backpedaling　and　turning　to　face　Anakin。　〃That's　brave　of　you；　boy；　but　foolish。　I　would've　thought　you'd　have　learned　your　lesson。〃
　〃I'm　a　slow　learner；〃　Anakin　replied　coolly；　and　he　came　on　then；　so　suddenly；　so　powerfully；　his　green　blade　whirling　with　such　speed　that　he　seemed　almost　encased　in　green　light。
　
　For　the　first　time；　Count　Dooku　lost　his　little　confident　smile。　He　had　to　work　furiously　to　keep　Anakin's　blade　at　bay；　dodging　more　than　parrying。　He　tried　to　step　out　to　the　side；　but　stopped　as　if　he　had　hit　a　wall；　and　his　eyes　widened　a　bit　when　he　realized　that　this　young　Padawan；　in　the　midst　of　that　assault；　had　used　the　Force　to　block　his　exit。
　〃You　have　unusual　powers；　young　Padawan；〃　he　sincerely　congratulated。　His　little　grin　returned；　and　gradually　Dooku　put　himself　back　on　even　footing　with　Anakin；　trading　thrust　for　slash　and　forcing　Anakin　to　dodge　and　parry　as　often　as　he　tried　to　strike。
　〃Unusual；〃　Dooku　said　again。　〃But　not　enough　to　save　you　this　time！〃　He　came　on　hard；　thinking　to　drive　Anakin　back　and　off　balance　as　he　had　driven　Obi…Wan　back。　But　Anakin　held　his　ground　stubbornly；　his　green　blade　flashing　left；　right；　and　down　so　forcefully　and　precisely　that　none　of　Dooku's　attacks　got　through。
　
　　Off　to　the　side；　Obi…Wan　understood　that　it　couldn't　hold。　Anakin　was　expending　many　times　the　energy　of　the　efficient　Dooku；　and　as　soon　as　he　tired　。　。　。
　
　Obi…Wan　knew　that　he　had　to　do　something。　He　tried　to　e　forward；　but　winced　and　fell　back；　in　too　much　pain。　As　he　collected　his　thoughts；　he　reached　out　with　the　Force　instead；　grabbing　at　his　lightsaber　and　pulling　it　in　to　his　grasp。　〃Anakin！〃　he　called；　and　he　tossed　the　young　Padawan　the　blade。　Anakin　caught　it　without　ever　breaking　the　flow　of　his　fighting；　turning　it　under　and　igniting　it　immediately；　putting　it　into　the　swirling　flow。
　
　Obi…Wan　watched　in　admiration　as　Anakin　worked　the　two　blades　in　perfect　harmony；　spinning　them　over　and　about　with　blinding　speed　and　precision。　And　he　watched　with　similar　feelings　the　working　of　Count　Dooku's　red　lightsaber；　flashing　ahead　and　back　with　equal　precision；　picking　off　attack　after　attack　and　even　countering　once　or　twice　to　interrupt　the　flow　of　Anakin's　barrage。
　
　Obi…Wan's　heart　leapt　in　hope　as　Anakin　charged　forward　suddenly；　bringing　his　green　blade　over　his　shoulder　and　across；　down　at　the　Count。　Obi…Wan　understood　immediately；　even　before　he　noted　Anakin's　blue　blade　ing　up　and　over　the　other　way…the　green　blade　would　push　the　Count's　lightsaber　out　of　the　way；　clearing　the　path　for　the　victorious　strike！
　
　But　Dooku　retracted　impossibly　fast；　and　Anakin's　down…cutting　green　blade　hit　nothing　but　air。
　
　Dooku　stabbed　straight　ahead；　intercepting　the　blue　blade。　The　Count's　hand　worked　up　inside　and　over；　then　back　around　with　a　sudden　twist；　launching　the　blue　lightsaber　from　Anakin's　grasp。　Dooku　went　on　the　offensive　immediately；　driving　the　surprised　and　off…balance　Anakin　back。　Anakin　fought　hard　to　regain　his　fighting　posture；　but　Dooku　was　relentless；　thrusting　repeatedly；　keeping　the　young　Padawan　stumbling　backward。　And　then　he　stopped；　suddenly；　and　almost　on　reflex；　Anakin　turned　back　on　him；　roaring　and　slashing　hard。
　〃No！　〃Obi…Wan　cried。
　
　Dooku　stabbed　ahead　and　slashed　out　suddenly；　intercepting　not　Anakin's　green　blade；　but　the　Padawan's　arm；　at　the　elbow。　Half　of　Anakin's　arm　flew　to　the　side；　his　hand　still　gripping　the　lightsaber。
　
　Anakin　dropped　to　the　ground；　grabbing　his　severed　arm　in　agony。　Dooku　gave　another　of　his　resigned　shrugs。　〃And　so　it　ends；〃　he　said　for　the　second　time。
　
　Even　as　he　spoke；　though；　the　great　hangar　doors　of　the　tower　slid　open；　smoke　from　the　battle　outside　pouring　in。　And　through　that　smoke　came　a　diminutive　figure；　but　one　seeming　taller　than　all　of　them　at　that　moment。
　〃Master　Yoda；〃　Dooku　breathed。
　〃Count　Dooku；〃　said　Yoda。
　
　Dooku's　eyes　widened　and　he　stepped　back；　turning　to　face　Yoda　directly。　He　brought　his　lightsaber　up　to　his　face；　shut　down　the　blade；　then　snapped　it　to　the　side　in　formal　salute。　〃You　have　interfered　with　our　plans　for　the　last　time。〃
　
　A　wave　of　Dooku's　free　hand　sent　a　piece　of　machinery　flying　at　the　diminutive　Jedi　Master；　seeming　as　if　it　would　surely　crush　him。　But　Yoda　was　ready；　waving　his　own　hand；　Force…pushing　the　flying　machinery　harmlessly　aside。
　
　Dooku　clutched　up　at　the　ceiling；　breaking　free　great　blocks　that　tumbled　down　at　Yoda。
　
　But　small　hands　waved　and　the　boulders　dropped　to　the　sides；　bouncing　across　the　floor　all　about　the　untouched　Master　Yoda。
　
　Dooku　gave　a　little　growl　and　thrust　forth　his　hand；　loosing　a　line　of　blue　lightning　at　the　diminutive　Master。
　
　Yoda　caught　it　in　his　own　hand　and　turned　it　aside；　but　far　from　easily。
　〃Powerful　you　have　bee；　Dooku；〃　Yoda　admitted；　and　the　Count　grinned…but　Yoda　promptly