The Only Witness

11

“Obi-Wan, wait,” his Master commanded. Obi-Wan did not want to listen. Not now. Not while Lena was alone and in danger. But he slid to a stop at the top of the stairs.

“We’ll have a better chance of finding her if we have some idea where she might have gone,” Qui-Gon said. He sat down next to Mica. “Where do you think she went?” he asked evenly.

Obi-Wan remained at the top of the stairs. He knew his impatience had little to do with finding Lena. He was impatient with his Master, and a bit confused. He used to know Qui-Gon so well that at times it felt like they shared one mind. They both knew how the other would react to a situation, what his thoughts and actions would be. But this was no longer the case.

Just when Obi-Wan believed that Qui-Gon was beyond caring about the mission, he had taken charge. If Qui-Gon hadn’t stopped Obi-Wan, he would be with Lena now, and sure of her safety. Leaning against the stair railing, Obi-Wan let out an exasperated sigh. There was no point in questioning Mica.

“Let’s go, then,” Qui-Gon said. He stood and strode toward the stairs in fluid movement. Mica, eyes still red from crying, hurried in front of him.

Obi-Wan followed. He had been too lost in his own thoughts to hear where they were headed. Breathing deeply, he let go of his frustration and focused his energy on the matter at hand. Qui-Gon had no right to doubt Lena. He had been too distracted until now to even notice who she was, her real nature. But if Qui-Gon was—at least for the moment—concentrating on the mission, Obi-Wan could too.

Mica was not as concerned with being seen this time as she led the Jedi through the streets of Rian. They left the warehouses and alleys and hurried into the center of the city. Over Qui-Gon’s head Obi-Wan saw a gleaming transparent structure, like an enormous serpent that snaked its way overhead, between the towering buildings.

Inside the structure Obi-Wan saw green leaves and moving forms. Water beaded on the inside of the rounded transparisteel walls, making it look like a vast, multistoried greenhouse. Although Obi-Wan could not see where it began or where it ended, the structure appeared to wind through the city for several kilometers.

“There,” an out-of-breath Mica said, pointing toward a door to the structure. “I think she might be in the Tubal Park.”

“I was hoping for something a bit smaller,” Qui-Gon said. Obi-Wan could not tell if he was mildly amused or truly frustrated.

Obi-Wan caught up to Mica as they approached the entrance. “Why would she come here?” he asked.

“This park means a lot to Lena. She used to come here with Rutin, and she always comes here to think,” Mica answered. “Or at least she used to.”

The giant oval doors opened and the three stepped inside. As the doors closed behind them Obi-Wan felt as if he’d stepped off a ship onto another planet. Inside the air was moist. The noise of the city was gone, replaced by the echoing sound of running water and children’s voices.

Looking up, Obi-Wan could only barely make out the seams in the roof beyond the tops of the towering trees. Paths crisscrossed one another, leading toward brightly blooming plants or meandering beside creeks and trickling waterfalls. People strolled over the bridges and ducked through the tunnels that wove under and around the dense flora. There were small animals winging overhead, and even smaller amphibians flopping in the pools.

Obi-Wan could see why Lena would come here. It reminded him of the Room of a Thousand Fountains at the Jedi Temple. That, too, was a sanctuary and a great place to go to think.

“Do you know her favorite spot?” Qui-Gon asked.

Mica shook her head sadly. “I never came here with her. She only came alone, or with Rutin. She could be anywhere.”

“Then I suggest we split up,” Qui-Gon said to Obi-Wan. “Mica can come with me.”

Obi-Wan nodded and headed off to his left. It would be a relief to be away from Qui-Gon for a while. He could use some time alone to think.

As soon as he had walked away from his Master, Obi-Wan’s mind filled with thoughts of Lena. All around him people were gathered in small groups.

They ate, played, and leaned back on the grass to stare up at the leaves.

Yet Obi-Wan was only aware of them enough to know that they were not Lena.

Could it really be infatuation? Obi-Wan wondered. After taking several deep breaths and letting go of his anger and frustration, Obi-Wan could not deny it. As usual, Qui-Gon was right. He was falling for Lena.

But it was not just her beauty. No, it was more than that.

It was her strength—the strength she drew from her vulnerability-that had enamored him. Lena was a grieving young widow. The husband she had loved was only recently lost. But instead of hiding in the hole that he’d left, she pulled new purpose from it. She was not drowning in it, refusing to speak of the loss. Not like Qui-Gon.

Obi-Wan’s thoughts drifted back to his Master. He shook his head as he climbed a steep bridge arching over a waterfall. Perhaps the bond between them was not as damaged as Obi-Wan imagined. No matter how he tried, Obi-Wan could not deny that Qui-Gon correctly recognized Obi-Wan’s feelings for Lena, and before he did.

How can he be so clear about the emotions of others when he cannot seem to untangle his own? Obi-Wan wondered.

“With time,” Master Yoda would say. “With time all are healed.”

Obi-Wan felt new energy flood through him as he relaxed and let go of everything that had been bothering him. He had been in danger of letting his emotions blind him. Now he felt more sure.

Still, Obi-Wan did not believe his Master had been right about everything. Walking more quickly and scanning the park for Lena, Obi-Wan realized his resolve to help her was stronger than ever. Whether or not his judgment had been clouded by affection, he knew that Lena was on the side of rightness.

For the first time in hours, Obi-Wan felt clear. And he was more certain than ever that Lena was doing the right thing. She was fighting for peace and justice, and not just for herself. For her entire planet. As a Jedi it was his duty to help.

As these thoughts formed in his mind, a new one floated over them like a dark cloud: They were running out of time.