The Uncertain Path

20

Obi-Wan went to Lake Weir, where Nield had spent happy times as a boy.

He went to the Unified Congress Building. He went everywhere he could think of until suddenly he stopped dead and knew exactly where Nield was.

He was with Cerasi.

Obi-Wan rushed through the strangely deserted streets. Had the citizens of Zehava heard that a battle was forming? He didn’t have time to worry about it.

Obi-Wan arrived at the Hall of Evidence. The entrance was pockmarked with blaster fire and beamdrill holes. He pushed open the door and stepped into darkness. He waited for his eyes to adjust, then walked down the aisle to where Cerasi’s marker had been placed.

Nield lay on the floor, one arm curled around Cerasi’s marker. A lump rose in Obi-Wan’s throat. Any anger he’d felt vanished in an instant. He remembered Cerasi’s tales of Nield’s childhood. One person after another who loved him had been killed—father, mother, brothers, and a cousin who raised him afterward. He’d become a homeless orphan, afraid to trust or love anyone. Then he’d met Cerasi. If Obi-Wan’s grief was terrible, Nield’s must be even worse.

As soon as Nield saw Obi-Wan, he shot to his feet. “How dare you come here,” he said shakily.

“I had to find you,” Obi-Wan said. “I found out something that you need to know.”

“You can’t tell me anything I need to know,” Nield shot back contemptuously.

“It wasn’t you who killed Cerasi,” Obi-Wan said quickly.

“You’re right—it was you!” Nield cried.

“Nield,” Obi-Wan said softly. “You know I miss her, too. We were friends once. What happened? Why do you hate me so much?”

“Because she’s dead!” Nield screamed.

Suddenly, he rushed at Obi-Wan. He swung at him with his fists, raining blows on Obi-Wan’s head and shoulders. Nield was wiry and strong, but Obi-Wan was larger and stronger, and better trained. It was easy for him to step around Nield, grab his arms and lock them behind his back. Nield tried to twist away.

“Don’t struggle, and it won’t hurt,” Obi-Wan ordered, but Nield continued to try to free himself. “Listen to me, Nield. Mawat is the one who armed the Elders.”

Nield stopped struggling.

“He wants a war,” Obi-Wan went on. “If it starts, and if the Young don’t win, you’ll be blamed. I suspect he could be in league with the Elders. He wants to rule Melida/Daan, and he’ll make any alliance he can to do it.”

“Mawat wouldn’t betray me,” Nield said.

Obi-Wan ignored the protest. “Mawat wanted the shooting to start the day Cerasi died. He positioned sharpshooters on the roof. They were ordered to fire if you or Wehutti backed down. They did fire. That’s how Cerasi was killed. It wasn’t you. It wasn’t Wehutti.”

Obi-Wan let go of Nield’s arms. Nield turned to face him.

“Mawat has been pressuring me to mobilize,” Nield said reluctantly. “I went along at first. After Cerasi… I couldn’t think. I could hardly breathe. But something happened to me here, next to Cerasi. I saw how wrong I was. How could I have wanted another war? Now I see why he was pushing me.”

Obi-Wan heard sounds from outside the Hall. He exchanged a puzzled glance with Nield. There were no windows in the Hall, so they hurried to the front entrance. They peered out the beamdrill holes.

Mawat and a group of Scavenger Young were outside. They were busily placing something against the walls.

“They’re wiring it with explosives,” Obi-Wan guessed. “They’re going to blow it up. That will provoke the Elders. And Mawat will blame it on you, Nield. Everyone will believe it. After all, you’re the one who proposed the destruction of the Halls.”

“We have to stop them,” Nield said.

Obi-Wan noted Nield’s unconscious use of “we.” He withdrew his lightsaber and activated it. As it shot to life and he saw its pale blue glow, he felt encouragement rush through him.

“We can take them together,” he said.

Nield nodded and reached for his vibroblade.

“Good luck,” Obi-Wan said.

Slowly, Nield began to grin. “We don’t need luck.”

“Everybody needs luck.”

“Not us.”

Nield put his hand on Obi-Wan’s shoulder. Their friendship had risen from ash and smoke. Danger lay outside, but they would face it together.

Weapons held high, they charged outside to meet Mawat.