rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第43部分

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！


d　the　shop；　he　decided。　Unless　of　course；　he　found　out　that　Watto　was　lying　to　him　about　Shmi's　fate；　or　that　Watto　had　somehow　hurt　his　mother。
　〃Back　to　the　lot；　Espasa；〃　he　said　to　the　droid　as　he　and　Padme　rushed　back　to　the　rickshaw。　〃Fast。〃
　〃Ya　sure　I　can't　get　ya　something　to　drink？〃　Watto　called　to　them　from　the　door　of　his　shop；　but　they　were　already　rushing　away；　kicking　up　dust　in　their　wake。
　〃Annie　du　Jedi；〃　Watto　remarked；　and　he　waved　both　his　hands　dismissively　at　the　departing　rickshaw。　〃Waddya　know。〃
　
　　Anakin　took　the　starship　out　even　more　furiously　than　he　had　brought　it　in；　blasting　away　from　the　lot　and　nearly　colliding　with　a　small　freighter　as　it　maneuvered　to　put　down。　Calls　of　protest　came　into　him　from　Mos　Espa　control；　but　he　just　switched　off　the　m　and　zoomed　off　across　the　city。　Soon　after；　they　passed　over　the　race　grounds　where　the　younger　Anakin　had　often　raced　in　his　Pods；　but　he　barely　glanced　at　it　as　he　put　the　ship　out　straight　over　the　desert；　heading　for　Mos　Eisley。　When　that　port　came　into　view；　he　veered　to　the　north　and　crossed　past　it；　moving　higher　in　the　sky。　They　spotted　one　moisture　farm；　and　then　another；　and　then　the　third；　almost　in　a　direct　line　from　the　city。
　〃That　one；〃　Padme　said。　Anakin　nodded　grimly；　and　brought　the　ship　down　on　a　bluff　overlooking　the　homestead。
　〃I'm　really　going　to　see　her　again；〃　he　breathed；　shutting　down　the　engines。
　
　Padme　squeezed　his　arm　and　offered　him　a　forting　smile。
　〃You　don't　know　what　it's　like；　to　leave　your　mother　like　that；〃　he　said。
　〃I　leave　my　family　all　the　time；〃　she　replied。　〃But　you're　right。　It's　not　the　same。　I　can't　imagine　what　it's　like　to　be　a　slave；　Anakin。〃　〃It's　worse　to　know　that　your　mother　is　one。〃　Padme　nodded；　conceding　the　point。
　〃Stay　with　the　ship；　Artoo；〃　she　instructed　the　droid；　who　beeped　in　reply。　The　first　form　that　came　into　view　as　they　walked　toward　the　homestead　was　that　of　a　very　thin　droid；　dull　gray　in　color；　with　weatherbeaten　metal　coverings。　Obviously　in　need　of　a　good　oil　bath；　he　bent　stiffly　and　worked　on　some　sort　of　fence　sensor。　Then　he　rose　with　a　jerky　motion；　seeing　their　approach。　〃Oh；　hello；〃　he　greeted。　〃How　might　I　be　of　service？　I　am　See…〃　〃Threepio？〃　Anakin　said　breathlessly；　hardly　believing　his　eyes。　〃Oh　my！〃　the　droid　exclaimed；　and　he　began　to　shake　violently。　〃Oh；　my　maker！　Master　Anakin！　I　knew　you　would　return！　I　knew　you　would！　And　this　must　be　Miss　Padme！〃　〃Hello；　Threepio；〃　Padme　said。　〃Oh；　my　circuits！　I'm　so　pleased　to　see　you　both！〃　〃I've　e　to　see　my　mother；〃　Anakin　explained。
　
　The　droid　turned　sharply　up　toward　him；　then　seemed　to　shrink　back。
　〃I　think　。。。　I　think；〃　C…3PO　stuttered。　〃Perhaps　we'd　better　go　indoors。〃　He　turned　toward　the　homestead；　motioning　with　his　hand　for　the　couple　to　follow。
　
　Anakin　and　Padme　exchanged　nervous　glances。　Anakin　could　not　shake　the　feeling　of　doom　that　lingered　long　after　the　imagery　of　his　nightmares　had　faded　。　。　。
　
　By　the　time　they　caught　up　to　the　droid；　he　was　in　the　courtyard；　shouting；　〃Master　Cliegg！　Master　Owen！　Might　I　present　two　important　visitors？〃
　
　A　young　man　and　woman　came　rushing　out　of　the　house　almost　immediately；　but　slowed　at　the　site　of　Padme　and　Anakin。　〃I'm　Anakin　Skywalker；〃　Anakin　said　at　once。　〃Anakin？〃　the　man　echoed；　his　eyes　going　wide。　〃Anakin！〃
　
　The　woman　at　his　side　brought　her　hand　up　to　cover　her　mouth。　〃Anakin　the　Jedi；〃　she　whispered　breathlessly。
　〃You　know　of　me？　Shmi　Skywalker　is　my　mother。〃
　〃Mine；　too；〃　said　the　man。　〃Not　my　real　mom；〃　he　added　at　Anakin's　obviously　puzzled　look；　〃but　as　real　a　mom　as　I've　ever　known。〃　He　extended　his　hand。　〃Owen　Lars。　This　is　my　girlfriend；　Beru　Whitesun。〃　Beru　nodded　and　said；　〃Hello。〃
　
　Padme；　after　giving　up　on　Anakin　ever　remembering　to　introduce　her；　came　forward。　〃I'm　Padme。〃
　〃I　guess　I'm　your　stepbrother；〃　Owen　said；　his　eyes　never　leaving　the　young　Jedi　of　whom　he　had　heard　so　very　much。　〃I　had　a　feeling　you　might　show　up。〃
　〃Is　my　mother　here？〃
　〃No；　she's　not；〃　came　a　gruff　answer　from　behind　Owen　and　Beru；　from　the　shadows　of　the　house　door。　All　four　turned　to　see　a　heavyset　man　glide　out　on　a　hoverchair。　One　of　his　legs　was　heavily　bandaged；　the　other；　missing；　and　Anakin　knew　at　once　that　these　were　fairly　recent　wounds。　His　heart　seemed　to　leap　into　his　throat。
　〃Cliegg　Lars；〃　the　man　said；　moving　in　close　and　extending　his　hand。　〃Shmi　is　my　wife。　We　should　go　inside。　We　have　a　lot　to　talk　about。〃　Anakin　followed　as　if　in　a　dream；　a　very　horrible　dream。
　〃It　was　just　before　dawn；〃　Cliegg　was　saying；　gliding　toward　the　table　in　the　homestead　kitchen　with　Owen　beside　him；　while　Beru　peeled　off　to　gather　some　food　and　drinks　for　the　guests。
　〃They　came　out　of　nowhere；〃　Owen　added。
　〃A　band　of　Tusken　Raiders；〃　Cliegg　explained。　A　sinking　feeling　nearly　buckled　Anakin's　knees　and　he　slumped　into　a　seat　across　from　Owen。　He'd　had　some　experience　with　Tusken　Raiders；　but　on　a　very　limited　basis。　Once　he　had　tended　the　wound　of　one　gravely　injured　Raider；　and　when　the　Tusken's　friends　showed　up；　they　had　let　him　go…　something　unheard　of　among　the　more　civilized　species　of　Tatooine。　But　still；　despite　that　one　anomaly；　Anakin　didn't　like　hearing　the　name　of　Shmi　spoken　in　the　same　breath　as　the　grim　words；　Tusken　Raiders。
　〃Your　mother　had　gone　out　early；　like　she　always　did；　to　pick　mushrooms　that　grow　on　the　vaporators；〃　Cliegg　explained。　〃From　the　tracks；　she　was　about　halfway　home　when　they　took　her。　Those　Tuskens　walk　like　men；　but　they're　vicious；　mindless　monsters。〃
　〃We'd　seen　many　signs　that　they　were　about；〃　Owen　piped　in。　〃She　shouldn't　have　gone　out！〃
　〃We　can't　live　huddled　in　fear！〃　Cliegg　scolded；　but　he　calmed　at　once　and　turned　back　to　Anakin。　〃All　signs　were　that　we'd　chased　the　Tuskens　away。　We　didn't　know　how　strong　this　raiding　band　was…stronger　than　anything　any　of　us　have　ever　seen。　Thirty　of　us　went　out　after　Shmi。　Four　of　us　came　back。〃
　
　He　grimaced　and　rubbed　his　leg；　and　Anakin　felt　the　man's　pain　clearly。
　〃I'd　still　be　out　there；　only　。　。　。　after　I　lost　my　leg　。。。　'〃　Cliegg　nearly　broke　down；　and　it　struck　Anakin　how　much　the　man　loved　Shmi。
　〃I　just　can't　ride　anymore；〃　Cliegg　went　on。　〃Until　I　heal。〃
　
　The　proud　man　drew　in　a　deep　breath　and　forcibly　steadied　himself；　squaring　his　broad　shoulders。　〃This　isn't　the　way　I　wanted　to　meet　you；　son；〃　he　said。　〃This　isn't　how　your　mother　and　I　planned　it。　I　don't　want　to　give　up　on　her；　but　she's　been　gone　a　month。　There's　little　hope　she's　lasted　this　long。〃
　
　The　words　hit　Anakin　like　a　stinging　slap；　and　he　retreated　from　them；　back　into　himself；　back　into　the　Force。　He　reached　out；　using　his　bond　with　his　mother　to　try　to　somehow　feel　her　presence　in　the　Force。
　
　Then　he　shot　to　his　feet。
　〃Where　are　you　going？〃　Owen　asked。
　〃To　find　my　mother；〃　came　the　grim　reply。
　〃No；　Anakin！〃　Padme　cried　out；　rising　to　grab　his　forearm。
　〃Your　mother's　dead；　Son；〃　the　resigned　Cliegg　added。　〃Accept　it。〃　Anakin　glowered　at　him；　at　them　all。　〃I　can　feel　her　pain；〃　he　said；　his　jaw　clenched；　teeth　gritted。　〃Continuing　pain。　And　I　will　find　her。〃
　
　A　moment　of　silence　ensued；　and　then　Owen　offered；　〃Take　my　speeder　bike。〃　He　jumped　up　from　his　seat　and　strode　by　Anakin。
　〃I　know　she's　alive；〃　Anakin　said；　turning　to　face　Padme。　〃I　know　it。〃　Padme　winced　but　said　nothing；　and　she　let　go　of　Anakin's　arm　as　he　moved　to　follow　Owen。
　〃I　wish　he'd　have　e　a　bit　earlier；〃　Cliegg　lamented。　Padme　looked　over　at　him；　and　at　Beru；　who　was　standing　over　the　tearful　man；　hugging　him。
　
　Then；　having　no　words　to　offer；　Padme　turned　and　rushed　out　to　join　Anakin　and　Owen。　By　the　time　she　caught　up；　Owen　was　heading　back　for　the　house　and　Anakin　was　standing　near　the　speeder；　staring　out　over　the　empty　desert。
　〃You're　going　to　have　to　stay　here；〃　Anakin　said　to　her　as　she　hurried　to　his　side。　〃These　are　good　people。　You'll　be　safe。〃
　〃Anakin。。。〃
　〃I　know　she's　alive；〃　he　said；　still　staring　out　at　the　dunes。　Padme　hugged　him　tightly。　〃Find　her；〃　she　whispered。　〃I　won't　be　long；〃　he　promised。　He　straddled　the　speeder　bike；　kicked　it　to　life；　and　rocketed　away　across　the