The Death of Hope - читать бесплатно онлайн полную версию книги автора Jude Watson (11) #11

11

Now that Qui-Gon had just become a Jedi Knight, Yoda had suggested it was time he took a Padawan. Qui-Gon decided to go on one last mission while he thought about it. He never did anything rashly. He had a Padawan in mind, and it was easier to consider him away from the Temple.

He had a stopover in Zekulae while he waited for transport. It was a barren world, noted for its mineral soil, which was dark and rich and studded with blue crystals. The soil was so fine that within days it was everywhere—in his hair, in his mouth, in his boots. Qui-Gon found that his careful thoughts about his future had shrunk to a longing for his next shower.

He stopped in a café for a cool drink. He sipped it, eyeing the locals. Zekulae was not overly dangerous, but you had to be careful here. The government had a relaxed attitude toward rules and laws. Disputes were most often settled with fists or blasters.

Suddenly an argument broke out behind him. It was between two beings playing sabacc. One was a native of Zekulae, the other hidden by a column. The Zeku stood, scattering the cards.

“Strange that you’re the one so upset, when I’m the one who’s been cheated,” a dry voice said.

Qui-Gon knew the voice, even though it had changed. He hadn’t heard it in years. It was deeper, huskier than he remembered.

Tahl rose from the table. He waited, watching her, as did everyone in the café. She commanded attention. He didn’t know her mission here. It might not be safe if she were seen talking to a Jedi. She was wearing a traveler’s cloak and boots, and her lightsaber was hidden.

The Zeku moved his hand toward his belt, but he didn’t get a chance to draw his weapon. Within the space of an eye blink, Tahl reached out and disarmed him, at the same time pressing one shoulder so that he was forced to sit back down in his chair, hard. Maintaining the pressure, she scooped some credits off the table.

“Let’s call it even,” she said. “And I’ll buy you a drink. Wouldn’t you rather live to see the sunset?”

He nodded, his face contorted in pain. She called to the bartender. “Something special for my friend here.”

She tucked the credits inside her tunic, released the Zeku, and walked on. Nobody in the café moved. No one spoke. They all watched the woman who combined elegance and danger walk casually through them.

Qui-Gon watched her, too, admiring her toughness and grace. He was astonished at how lovely she was. Her extraordinary eyes and the strength of her features had become dramatic and striking with maturity.

Then she saw him, and her face lost its severe cast. She came over to his table and sat as conversations started up around them. The incident was over.

“Well, it’s you,” she said. “It’s been so long.”

“Too long.”

“I only have a minute,” she said. “I’m on a mission.”

Only a minute, when they hadn’t seen each other in years!

“So tell me everything as fast as you can,” she said, laughing. “You look well. I hear you are now a Knight.”

“As are you,” Qui-Gon said. “I’m thinking of taking a Padawan. Yoda is urging me to consider it.”

“Do you have a candidate?”

“Xanatos.”

She nodded slowly. “He is gifted. I would consider carefully, however. I’m not sure he’s the right one for you.”

“I haven’t seen you in years, and you’re giving me advice?” he teased.

“Who else in the galaxy understands you so well?” she answered, smiling.

“No one,” he admitted. “You were wrong about that. Remember what you said when we said good-bye?”

Her smile grew soft. “I am glad,” she said, “to have been wrong about that. I’m glad to still be the one who knows you best. And we never said good-bye. Remember?”

They sat for a moment in silence, remembering the Temple, the days when they had looked forward so eagerly to becoming Jedi Knights. They hadn’t known then how hard it would turn out to be. Neither had they known how deeply satisfying it would be at the same time. Yes, a life of service suited him. Suited Tahl, he could see. And it was something, to have this connection now, still so strong after so many years.

“I have to go,” she said softly. “l will see you soon. Missions can be short, you know.”

He smiled, remembering the eager, young Tahl who had said that so confidently years ago.

She stood. She did not say good-bye. He knew she wouldn’t, no more than she ever said hello. With a last smile, she walked out of the café and did not look back.

Dusk fell quickly. Qui-Gon checked on Obi-Wan and found him in deep meditation. He quietly went out again, glad to see it. Obi-Wan was focusing his mind on healing. Maybe his Padawan would be ready to travel by morning.

He had no doubts as to Yanci’s diagnostic abilities, but she had never treated a Jedi before.

Qui-Gon strolled through the Rock Workers’ settlement, taking deep breaths of the cool night air. He was impressed with its design and organization. He could see that though the quarry work was difficult, the Workers themselves had created a good life. They took care of each other and their young. Under other circumstances, he would have enjoyed the brief stop. Now he only wanted to be gone.

He found Yanci, Bini, and Kevta sitting outside a small housing unit, and they waved him over.

“We were enjoying the stars,” Kevta said. “It is a hard life out here, but I tried city work. It didn’t take.”

“I’m glad to have run into you,” Qui-Gon said, settling himself beside them. “Would you mind if I asked you more questions about the raids? It might help us track the Absolutes.”

“We will tell you what we can,” Kevta said.

“I think I’ll make sure Eritha is settled,” Yanci said, rising. “Bini and Kevta are the strategists here.” Qui-Gon noted how her hand lingered on Kevta’s shoulder. He gave her a gentle smile as she left.

Qui-Gon questioned Bini and Kevta closely. By listening to the details, he was able to find a pattern in the direction of the attacks and the minimal amount of tracking the Rock Workers had done.

He left the two of them and walked slowly back to the med unit.

Without knowing it, Bini and Kevta had given him good news. The Jedi did not have to return to their last coordinates. They could track Balog from a point a few kilometers from the Worker settlement. If Balog was heading to the Absolute camp, they should find some evidence of his route. There were only a few possible routes through the canyons.

Of course, it all depended on whether Balog was heading for the secret hideout of the Absolutes.

It was a chance they had to take.

Qui-Gon checked on Obi-Wan, who was now sleeping deeply. Good. Qui-Gon needed to do the same. It had been days since his last sleep. He quieted his mind, allowing sleep to come. He knew he had to operate at his peak, and his body told him that he needed rest.

He slept, but his dreams were vivid and disturbing. Once again he was in the café on Zekulae. His heart lifted at the sound of Tahl’s voice. He rushed forward to greet her. But her gaze was lifeless, her eyes a dull black color. He realized she could not move or speak.

He woke with a start, his heart pounding. It was still dark, but dawn was near. He immediately swung his legs over his sleep couch and went to check on Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan seemed to feel his gaze. His eyes opened slowly, and then he came awake at once.

He tested his leg muscles, stretching beneath the thermal blanket.

“Better,” he said.

He swung his legs over his sleep couch. “Take it easy,” Qui-Gon said. “Yanci thinks you need one more day.”

Obi-Wan slid out of bed, holding one hand against the wall to steady himself. He walked around the room. “Much better,” he said. “I am ready to travel.”

Qui-Gon studied his Padawan to make sure he was telling the truth. He knew Obi-Wan’s desire to move on would be greater than his concern for himself. But his color was good, and there was no sign of pain on his face.

His gait was a bit stiff, but it was steady.

“We’ll see what Yanci says,” he said.

When Yanci arrived, bringing Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon’s breakfast, she was startled at Obi-Wan’s recovery.

“I guess I’m better than even I thought,” she said cheerfully. “I see no reason why you can’t travel, Obi-Wan. Just try to rest the leg when you can, and apply bacta again tonight.”

Qui-Gon left Obi-Wan finishing breakfast while Yanci added some items to his medpac. The suns were just a suggestion of orange along the horizon as Qui-Gon hurried to the speeders. They would need to be refueled before they took off. Every moment counted. And he should awaken Eritha. Part of him wanted to let her sleep so that they could leave her behind. He knew she would insist on coming with them, and he worried about her safety. Tahl was his first concern. Protecting Eritha would be a distraction he didn’t need. But if he did not wake her, undoubtedly she would try to find them, and she could get into more trouble that way.

To his surprise, he found Eritha at the pen where their transports were kept.

“You’re up early,” he said.

She jumped. “You startled me.”

“Obi-Wan is better.”

She nodded. “I thought he would be. I came to start the refueling. I didn’t want you to leave without me.”

“I thought about it,” Qui-Gon said. “Then I thought about how stubborn you are.”

“It’s a family trait.” Eritha hesitated. “Tahl is important to me, Qui-Gon. I’d do anything for her. I promise I won’t slow you down.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” he said.

They completed the refueling in companionable silence, and Obi-Wan joined them. The stars had faded but the sky was still gray as they bid good-bye to Bini, Kevta, and Yanci.

Qui-Gon thanked them for their courtesy, but his mind was already on the day ahead. The tracking would not be easy.

“We wish you luck on your quest,” Bini said. “Don’t push yourself with that leg,” Yanci told Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan thanked her and swung his leg a bit awkwardly over the saddle of his swoop. Eritha fired up her engines, and Qui-Gon took the lead.

With a last wave, they headed out of the settlement.

Qui-Gon went to the coordinates where the Rock Workers had lost the Absolute attack team the last time they pursued them.

“We need to find an indication that Balog headed this way as well,” he told Obi-Wan. “The Rock Workers think the Absolutes took the west route through the canyons. Balog would have to change direction here.”

“I don’t understand,” Eritha said. “The ground is sheer rock. How can you see anything?”

But the ground wasn’t sheer rock, not to a Jedi. Obi-Wan left his swoop and began to search in ever-widening circles with Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon could see that his Padawan’s leg was troubling him, but he focused on the task.

Obi-Wan found the first clue. At first it appeared to be a mere discoloration on rock. But further study told them it was the mark of Balog’s high-speed engine. They recognized it now.

Qui-Gon crouched over the markings on the rock. “Good work, Padawan. Balog is heading west. Look at the pattern of the exhaust. That way.” Qui-Gon pointed to the crags in the distance. Beyond the crags, he would find her. He could feel it. Her presence suddenly pulsed inside him like a heartbeat.

Eritha watched them, mystified and impressed.

“Remind me never to hide from the two of you,” she said.

They set off again. Without the help of the probe droid, it was slow going. They were forced to dismount time after time to check their progress. By midday, they had found the campsite where Balog had spent the night.

“He left this morning,” Qui-Gon said quietly, studying the flat rock where Balog had placed his condenser unit for heat. He could see a scorch mark and some boot marks in the surrounding dirt. “We are close.” His gaze was fierce when he lifted his head. He looked past Obi-Wan toward the rugged landscape. “Very close.”

Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon heard the noise of the transport at the same time. They both turned toward the source of the sound.

“What is it?” Eritha asked.

The speck in the distance grew rapidly and turned into Yanci, her auburn hair flying in the wind as she piloted a swoop at maximum speed toward them.

“Something’s wrong,” Obi-Wan said.

Yanci pulled up so rapidly she almost tipped the swoop. She hovered next to them.

“We need you,” she gasped, out of breath. “A raid … a massive raid … like nothing we’ve seen—”

She bent over, trying to catch her breath. “This time they are trying to destroy the entire camp,” she said after a moment. “They are killing as many of us as they can. Using small explosives and blasters. We have rallied who we can and have made a last stand in an outbuilding. We have some weapons. Not many.”

Eritha put her hands to her cheeks. “This is terrible. We must do something.”

“Of course we will come,” Obi-Wan said.

“Padawan,” Qui-Gon said. “May I speak with you.” He turned to Yanci. “Just one moment, no more.”

Obi-Wan dismounted from his swoop and went to join Qui-Gon a short distance away where they could not be overheard.

“You must return with Yanci,” Qui-Gon told him. “I will go on. We are too close to Tahl to turn back.”

Obi-Wan stared at him, astonished. Qui-Gon understood how he felt.

The Rock Workers were in desperate need of help. The Jedi were asked to give it. He could not believe that Qui-Gon would turn away like this. But how could he return when he felt Tahl’s presence, when he knew she was only hours away?

“It’s hard to leave our pursuit of Tahl,” Obi-Wan said. “But the Rock Workers need us, Qui-Gon.”

“They need Jedi help, it is true,” Qui-Gon said. He put his hand on Obi-Wan’s shoulder. “You can provide this. But our first mission is to save Tahl.”

“Our first mission always is to save lives and promote justice,” Obi-Wan said, incredulous. “The Rock Workers need both of us, Qui-Gon.”

“I am going forward,” Qui-Gon said. His gaze was as flinty as the rocks surrounding them. “I cannot turn back now.” Tahl was close. He could feel her. And he could feel that she was slipping away from him.

“What about Eritha?” Obi-Wan asked, lowering his voice. “If she returns with me, we will be putting her in danger. And if she goes on with you, she will not have the full protection she needs.”

Obi-Wan was right. Qui-Gon struggled with the dilemma for a moment.

“She will go with you,” he said. “But before you reach the Rock Workers’ camp, you must leave her in a safe place. You must do this, Obi-Wan. She has no place in that battle. I will come when I can.”

“Master,” Obi-Wan said, his eyes locking on Qui-Gon’s, “this is wrong. You know it is. Tahl would say the same. How can you turn your back on these people?”

“Our mission is too important,” Qui-Gon said.

“And Tahl…” His voice died away, and his hand dropped from Obi-Wan’s shoulder.

They stood not speaking for a moment. Qui-Gon felt the gulf between them. His Padawan was filled with doubt and confusion. But he couldn’t explain, not here, not now. He would have to go back to the vision he had on Coruscant, how every event since they’d arrived on New Apsolon had confirmed his dread. And he would have to tell Obi-Wan how he felt about Tahl. That was a conversation for another time.

His Padawan looked so confused that he relented. “Obi-Wan, I cannot abandon her,” he said, his voice low. His gaze pleaded with Obi-Wan to understand.

But he got no such understanding. Obi-Wan shook his head. “You’re wrong.”

The flat words took him aback. It had been years since Obi-Wan had contradicted him so boldly. Qui-Gon flushed with an emotion he wasn’t sure of himself.

He turned away without another word and headed to his landspeeder.