Jedi Apprentice 9: The Shattered Peace (звёздные войны) Page 3

  "Yes, perhaps Leed will return soon," Qui-Gon said. "He will miss his clan. As you miss him."

  Ganeed's eyes suddenly filled with tears. "As we do," she said softly.

  A silence fell over the clan for the first time. Obi-Wan could read sorrow on each face. Leed was truly loved, he saw.

  For a moment, all they heard were Bu's tiny hiccups as she nestled her downy head against her mother's shoulder.

  "This is a waste of time," Taroon suddenly said. "They won't tell us anything."

  "We should leave you to your midday meal," Qui-Gon said graciously, bowing to the clan.

  "We wish you ease and serenity," Ganeed said, smiling through tear-filled eyes. "And if you find Leed, please protect him."

  "We shall," Qui-Gon promised.

  They retreated down the walkway that joined the structure to the main dock, then started back toward Meenon's dwelling.

  "They were no help at all," Taroon complained. "I don't know how Leed could stand to live with so many people."

  "They seem to enjoy one another's company," Qui-Gon observed.

  "They certainly like to talk," Obi-Wan added. He had felt awkward among the clan, but he had also felt their warmth and their obvious affection for one another.

  "Yet they did not say a thing," Qui-Gon said. "Did you notice that, Padawan?"

  Obi-Wan thought about it. "They all contradicted each other's guesses. It seemed as though they were giving us leads, but they weren't."

  "Exactly. And then when we turned our attention to Drenna, suddenly everyone needed to eat. Come this way." Qui-Gon headed down a smaller floating dock that was perpendicular to the main passageway. A small floating garden was set up for the benefit of the dwellers of the floating city. Qui-Gon paused behind a lush bush studded with orange blooms.

  "What are we doing?" Taroon asked irritably. "We have no time to pick flowers."

  Qui-Gon didn't answer. Obi-Wan saw that from here they had a perfect view of the front of the clan's dwelling. In another moment, Drenna came outside. She stood on the dock and looked to her right, then her left. She had buckled a supply belt around her tunic, and Obi-Wan could see its pouch was full.

  She turned and quickly walked down the dock in the opposite direction.

  "Let's go," Qui-Gon said.

  "Why should we follow a Senali on her useless errands?" Taroon scowled.

  "Because she will bring us to Leed," Qui-Gon answered.

  Chapter 6

  At first it was easy to follow Drenna. Senalis strolled along the docks on this fine day, pausing to purchase flowers and food at various markets that were set up along the way. The Jedi and Taroon could melt into the crowd and keep her in sight.

  The Jedi had already adapted to the idea that the ground was not firm under their feet. The docks swayed and bobbed in the gentle roll of the sea. Taroon had more trouble. Occasionally he would stumble and his skin would flush to a bluish rose.

  "What kind of a world builds its cities on water?" he grumbled after he had stumbled again and narrowly escaped tumbling off the dock. "I don't see how my brother can stand this awful place."

  Qui-Gon lifted an eyebrow at Obi-Wan in a private gesture. Obi-Wan smiled. He knew what his Master was thinking. Senali had turquoise seas, blooming gardens, and, from the looks of it, a peaceful and content population. Taroon harbored the prejudice of Rutanians, most of whom had not set foot on Senali since the war that had divided them forever. They considered Senalis lazy primitives who had not built a thriving culture or economy and who lived only for pleasure.

  The floating city stretched over several kilometers. Drenna led them over bridges and walkways into different sections, some with brightly painted multistoried buildings, some with eccentric structures that bobbed cheerfully on the water. They passed rows and rows of docks with different crafts tied to the pilings. The crowd began to thin, and they hung back, keeping Drenna just in sight.

  At last Drenna turned toward one of the silver bridges that connected the floating city to the mainland. She hurried over the bridge and disappeared down a road that curved around a dense thicket of trees. They quickly followed.

  Trees lined the road that verged the shore. The branches were heavy with green fronds that bent the limbs down to the ground, their feathery leaves lying like lace on the sandy road. Deep green shadows flickered, and every now and then a glimpse of the turquoise sea appeared like a startling vision through the thick curtain of leaves.

  Qui-Gon tapped into the Force to help him track Drenna. He had to be alert to the smallest sounds ahead, to the disturbance in the air he could feel as she passed through it.

  Senali was a small world, and most of the population traveled by sea or on foot. The Jedi did not see many speeders or other craft that moved through air. Small transports occasionally buzzed by, carrying goods and food.

  The road split into two main roads and a narrower trail that wound through the trees. Drenna was no longer in sight. Qui-Gon hesitated only a moment before determining that she had taken the narrow trail.

  Obi-Wan kept close on his heels. The path slowly narrowed until they had to go single file. The firmly packed soil of the road had changed to a loose, powdery sand that sucked at their footsteps. Again, Taroon had trouble keeping up.

  "There's more sand in my boots than on the ground," he muttered. "Why don't these people build decent roads?"

  Qui-Gon held up a hand and they stopped. He closed his eyes, listening intently.

  "She is running now," he said, surprised. "We must go faster."

  They quickened their pace. Taroon stopped complaining and concentrated on keeping up with them. The sound of the surf covered the noise of their feet slapping against the sand.

  They turned a corner and saw that the trail ran straight into the high wall of a sheer cliff. There was still room to walk around it, along a narrow strip of beach. A wave lapped at their heels as they skirted the cliff wall, avoiding the rocks that were studded with sharp coral that could slice into skin.

  They found themselves in a beautiful cove with a beach that curved like a quarter moon. Sheer cliffs surrounded them.

  The beach was empty except for a slight figure in the distance. Qui-Gon had been right: Drenna was running now, jogging easily down the beach toward the end of the far curve.

  "Does she realize now that she's being followed?" Obi-Wan asked as they picked up their pace. They kept in the shadow of the cliff in case she turned around.

  Suddenly, Qui-Gon stopped short. He looked up at the cliff, then back at the churning sea.

  "She always knew she was being followed," he said. "We must go back."

  Taroon looked behind them. "Look at that. The path is already cut off."

  Waves now thundered against the cliff wall. If they tried to return, they would be trapped. The tide was strong enough to batter them against the sharp rocks.

  Water suddenly foamed around their ankles.

  "The tide is coming in," Obi-Wan said.

  "The tides are famous on Senali," Qui-Gon said, his eyes now moving over the cliff face. "The four moons make them swift and extreme."

  Drenna had disappeared around the cliff face at the far end of the beach. Obi-Wan calculated the distance, then stepped back as a wave of alarming force hit him at the knees.

  They would not make it, he realized.

  Taroon came to the same conclusion as he glanced at the faces of the Jedi.

  "She led us into a trap!" he cried.

  Chapter 7

  Qui-Gon was already calculating their next move. "We can run to the end of the cove that way. The tide will catch up with us, so we'll have to swim around the cliff. At least there are no rocks on that end. We can make it."

  "But I can't swim!" Taroon cried. "No Rutanian can. Swimming is for primitives."

  "Right now, swimming is for survival," Qui-Gon said dryly. He scanned the sea. He saw roiling eddies and a tidal pattern that was extremely treacherous. He and Obi-Wan could make it — they were
Jedi. But he could not risk Taroon's life. He would not want to endanger Obi-Wan, either.

  They quickly backed up as the next wave hit them waist-high. The strength of it was astonishing. Taroon almost fell, and Qui-Gon caught him by the arm and steadied him.

  "I hate the sea," Taroon muttered. He wiped his wet hair out of his eyes.

  "How do you feel about climbing?" Qui-Gon asked.

  Taroon eyed the cliff. "You've got to be kidding!" he exclaimed. "There's no way to climb that cliff."

  Qui-Gon did not answer. He knew there was no time to waste. He slipped his electrobinoculars from his utility belt and scanned the cliff, looking for handholds and footholds. There weren't many. And the cliff was so high that their liquid cable launchers wouldn't reach the top. There was nothing to hook them around on the cliff face, either.

  The water foamed around his knees and tried to suck him backward. Taroon clutched Obi-Wan for support.

  "How could you have gotten us into this?" he asked the Jedi. "That female has made fools of us!

  Qui-Gon focused the electrobinoculars. He saw a tiny fissure in the rock, just enough for the spike tip of his liquid cable launcher to find purchase. It would have to do.

  He replaced the electrobinoculars and withdrew the launcher, motioning for Obi-Wan to do the same.

  "Wait until mine hooks, then launch yours," he directed.

  Qui-Gon got it in one try, which was fortunate, for the next wave was up to the Jedi's shoulders. Obi-Wan got his launcher anchored on the second try, at the next ebb. They tested the line, and it held.

  "Go," Qui-Gon said tersely. He motioned to Taroon to take hold of the cable. He would stay behind the prince in order to protect him from falling.

  He only hoped the launchers would raise them high enough to escape the tide. The form of vegetation clinging to the wall told him that most of the cliff went underwater at high tide. Qui-Gon did not look forward to hanging in midair and watching the sea rise ever closer to them.

  He watched as his Padawan zoomed ahead, pulled by the cable. He dangled above their heads.

  "Hold on," Qui-Gon instructed Taroon. The cable retracted, bringing them high above the beach. They hung suspended near the cliff face.

  "Do you think the water will reach us?" Taroon asked, beginning to turn around.

  "Don't look down," Qui-Gon said sharply, but it was too late. Taroon had seen how high they were. He flinched, and his knee banged against the cliff. He let out a hoarse cry and closed his eyes.

  "I am right behind you, Taroon," Qui-Gon told him. "We can get through this if you don't panic. The cable is holding our weight. Don't look down."

  Taroon took a deep breath. "I'll be all right," he said. "I was just surprised, that's all."

  Qui-Gon admired his composure. He knew Taroon was afraid.

  "See if you can find a foothold," Qui-Gon directed. "That will take the weight off your arms. You can't fall. You're fastened to the cable."

  Qui-Gon searched the cliff area overhead. He could not see another fissure. They would have to hang here and hope the sea wouldn't rise to drown them. He knew that he and Obi-Wan could hang here for hours if they had to. But he was not sure about Taroon.

  "The tide is still rising," Obi-Wan said to him quietly. "The waves could break over our heads. Maybe we should put on our breathers."

  Qui-Gon nodded. It was a good suggestion. "In a minute." He did not want to panic Taroon until he had to.

  "Can't we go higher?" Taroon asked nervously. "I can feel the spray of the waves." "We are all right for now," Qui-Gon said. But he could see that within moments the crashing waves could hit them.

  Suddenly, he saw another cable shoot down from the overhang a hundred meters up. It dangled between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan.

  "Take it!" someone shouted. "It will hold all of you! The sea is rising!"

  Qui-Gon reached out and tested it. He exchanged a glance with Obi-Wan.

  Should we do it? Obi-Wan asked silently.

  We have no choice, Qui-Gon answered him.

  Obi-Wan nodded. He grasped the cable first. Taroon came next. Then Qui-Gon. The three of them now hung on a cable and had to trust whoever was overhead.

  The cable retracted slowly, bringing them smoothly up the face of the cliff toward the top. Obi-Wan clambered over, then Taroon. Qui-Gon was last to tumble over the edge. He shot to his feet immediately.

  A tall, sturdy local stood before them. A necklace of pink coral was hung around his neck and circled his wrist. He grinned at them.

  "Glad you could make it."

  Taroon gasped. "Leed!"

  Chapter 8

  Leed joyfully rushed toward his brother. They threw their arms around each other.

  "My brother!" Leed cried.

  "My brother!" Taroon answered.

  "How it pleases me to have your company," Leed said. "You've grown almost as tall as I am."

  "Taller," Taroon said with a smile.

  They stepped back. Leed turned to the Jedi. "And you must be the Jedi, sent to bring me back to Rutan."

  "I am Qui-Gon Jinn and this is Obi-Wan Kenobi," Qui-Gon said. "We are here to ensure that you are not being forced to remain or manipulated."

  "You can see I am neither," Leed said.

  "I have not had time to see much of anything yet," Qui-Gon responded in a friendly way. Leed turned to his brother. "I must apologize for Drenna. She wasn't trying to kill you, just to protect me."

  "She may not have meant to, but she almost did kill me," Taroon said darkly. "I could have drowned!"

  "Yet you did not," Leed said. "Come out, Drenna. You see they will not harm me."

  Leaves rustled, and Drenna emerged from the blue-green shadows of the overgrown trees. She had blended into the shades and shadows perfectly. Taroon was surprised to see her, but Obi-Wan saw from Qui-Gon's expression that he had sensed her presence.

  Drenna stood apart from the group. She eyed them warily, clearly not convinced they had not come to abduct Leed.

  She turned to the Jedi and Taroon. "Well? You see that Leed is here of his own free will. Now you can return to Rutan."

  Qui-Gon turned to Leed. "If you truly wish to remain on Senali, you should face your father with your decision."

  Leed shook his head firmly. "Nothing can make me return. He will force me to stay, imprison me."

  "If we give you our word that we will not allow your father to force you to stay, will you come?" Qui-Gon asked.

  "It is not that I do not respect the great powers of the Jedi," Leed said slowly. "I do not wish to offend you. But my father has wiles and treacheries you have not seen. There are things you can't protect me from."

  "That is not true!" Taroon protested.

  "If you feel as you do, we have a problem," Qui-Gon said to Leed, his tone pleasant but firm. "You will not return to Rutan. And we will find it hard to leave Senali without you."

  Leed met Qui-Gon's gaze stonily. Neither of them moved. Obi-Wan's eyes went from one to the other. In both of them, he saw conviction that would not be swayed. Qui-Gon was such a strong presence that it was hard to imagine going up against his will.

  Yet he had done the same once.

  On Melida/Daan, he had met Qui-Gon's resolute will with his own. They had clashed and been torn apart as a result. Obi-Wan had believed then with all his heart that he was right. He had come to see that he had been blinded by loyalty to a cause not his own.

  But what about Leed? He had lived on Senali for most of his childhood. He had come to manhood here. Obi-Wan could not help feeling sympathetic to Leed's wishes. It was obvious that he loved his brother. But it was clear that his bond with his adopted sister, Drenna, was just as strong.

  In an abrupt change of mood that reminded Obi-Wan of Leed's father, Leed broke the tension with a shrug and a warm smile. "Well, then. If you are to be my guests, I shall have to bring you to my home. Come."

  Leed led them through a maze of overgrown paths and then struck out through a marsh, moving easily
from only slightly submerged rocks to firm ground undetectable to most eyes. The air here was thick and close. Brightly colored flying creatures buzzed and sang overhead.

  At last they emerged high above the shoreline on a cliff similar to the one they had left. But here the sea was gentle as the land curved, making a natural harbor. A chain of islands were in the distance.

  They hiked down to the beach where Leed and Drenna tossed aside huge fronds to uncover a boat.