rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第23部分
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Padme winced； knowing that she had to report honestly。 〃There are rumors； Your Highness； that the Federation's army was not reduced as they were ordered。〃
Clearing his throat； Anakin Skywalker stepped forward。 〃The Jedi have not been allowed to investigate；〃 he explained。 〃It would be too dangerous for the economy； we were told。〃
Queen Jamillia looked to him and nodded； looked back to Padme； then squared her shoulders and firmed her jawline； looking regal in the ornate raiments… very much the planetary ruler obedient to the Republic。 〃We must keep our faith in the Republic；〃 she declared。 〃The day we stop believing democracy can work is the day we lose it。〃
〃Let's pray that day never es；〃 Padme quietly answered。
〃In the meantime； we must consider your own safety；〃 Queen Jamillia said； and she looked to Sio Bibble； who motioned to the attendants。 All of them； advisers； attendants； and handmaidens； bowed and quickly left the room。 Sio Bibble moved near to Anakin； the appointed protector； then paused； waiting for all of the others to be gone。 At last he spoke。 〃What is your suggestion； Master Jedi？〃
〃Anakin's not a Jedi yet； Counselor；〃 Padme interrupted。 〃He's still a Padawan learner。 I was thinking…〃
〃Hey； hold on a minute！〃 Anakin cut her short； his eyes narrowed； brow furrowed； obviously agitated and put off by her dismissal。
〃Excuse me！〃 Padme shot right back； not backing down from Anakin's imposing glare。 〃I was thinking I would stay in the Lake Country。 There are some places up there that are very isolated。〃
〃Excuse me！〃 Anakin said； giving it right back to her； in words and in tone。 〃I am in charge of security here； M'Lady。〃
Padme started to fight back； but she noted then the exchange of suspicious looks between Sio Bibble and Queen Jamillia。 She and Anakin should not be fighting in this manner in public； she realized； not without making others believe that something might be going on between them。 She calmed down and softened her expression and her voice。 〃Anakin； my life is at risk and this is my home。 I know it very well…that is why we're here。 I think it would be wise for you to take advantage of my knowledge in this instance。〃
Anakin looked around at the two onlookers； and then back at Padme； and the hardness melted from his expression。 〃Sorry； M'Lady。〃
〃She is right；〃 an obviously amused Sio Bibble said； taking Anakin's arm。
〃The Lake Country is the most remote part of Naboo。 Not many people up there； and a clear view of the surrounding terrain。 It would be an excellent choice； a place where you would have a much easier time protecting Senator Amidala。〃
〃Perfect！〃 Queen Jamillia agreed。 〃It's settled then。〃 Padme could tell from the way Anakin was looking at her that he wasn't overly pleased。 She offered an innocent shrug in response。
〃Padme；〃 Queen Jamillia went on； 〃I had an audience with your father yesterday。 I told him what was happening。 He hopes you will visit your mother before you leave。 Your family's very worried about you。〃
How could they not be？ Padme thought； and it pained her to consider that the dangers her strong positions were bringing to her were affecting other people whom she loved。 How could they not？ It was a perfect reminder of why family and public service didn't usually mix。 Padme Amidala had made a conscious and definitive choice： public service or family。 Some on Naboo juggled the two； but Padme had always known that such a dual role as wife； perhaps even mother； and Senator would not do well for family or state。 She hadn't been worried about her own safety at all through these trials； willing to make whatever sacrifices were necessary。 But now； suddenly； she had to remember that her choices and positions could affect others on a very personal level； as well。
She wore no smile as she walked with Anakin； Sio Bibble； and Queen Jamillia out of the throne room and down the palace's main staircase。
Chapter Thirteen
The largest room in the vast Jedi Temple on Coruscant was the hall of the Archives。 Lighted puter panels stretched out in long； long lines of bluish dots along the walls； running so far that a person viewing them from one end of the room would see them converging at the other end。 Throughout were the images of Jedi past and present； groups of sculpted busts done in bronze by many of the finest artisans of Coruscant。
Obi…Wan Kenobi stood at one of these busts； studying it； touching it； as if examining the facial features of the person depicted would give him some insight to the man's motivations。 There weren't many visitors in the Archives today…there rarely were more than a few…and so the Jedi expected that his call to Madame Jocasta Nu； the Jedi Archivist； would be answered shortly。
He stood patiently； studying the strong features on the bust； the high and proud cheekbones； the meticulous hairstyle； the eyes； wide and alert。 Obi… Wan hadn't known this man； this legend； Count Dooku； very well； but he had seen him on occasion and he knew that this bust captured the essence of Dooku perfectly。 There was an intensity about the man as palpable as that which had sometimes surrounded Master Qui…Gon； especially when Qui…Gon had found a particularly important cause。 Qui…Gon would go against the Jedi Council when he felt that he was right； as he had done with Anakin some ten years earlier； before the Council had agreed to recognize that the boy's special circumstances； the incredible Force potential and the promise that he might be the one spoken of in prophecy。
Yes； Obi…Wan had seen this kind of intensity in Qui…Gon on occasion； but what he knew of Dooku was that； unlike Qui…Gon； the man had never been able to shut it off； had always been stomping around； chewing over an issue。 The lights in his eyes were ever…burning fires。
But Dooku had taken it to extremes； and dangerous ones； Obi…Wan realized。 He had left the Jedi Order； had walked out on his calling and on his peers。 Whatever problems Dooku must have seen； he should have recognized that he could better repair them by remaining within the Jedi family。
〃Did you call for assistance？〃 came a stern voice behind Obi…Wan； drawing him from his thoughts。 He turned to see Madame Jocasta Nu standing beside him； her hands folded together before her； practically disappearing within the folds of her Jedi robes。 She was a frail…looking creature； quite elderly； and noting that brought a smile to Obi…Wan's face。 How many younger and less experienced Jedi had looked upon that facade； the thin and wrinkled face and neck； the white hair tied tight； thinking that they could push the woman around； getting her to do their studying for them； only to encounter the truth that was Jocasta Nu？ She was a firebrand； that weak facade hiding her true strength and determination。 Jocasta Nu had been the Archivist for many； many years； and this was her place； her domain； her kingdom。 Any Jedi ing in here； even the most exalted of Jedi Masters； would play by the rules of Jocasta Nu； or they would surely face her wrath。
〃Yes； yes I did；〃 Obi…Wan finally managed to respond； realizing that Jocasta Nu was staring at him inquisitively； awaiting an answer。 The old woman smiled and walked past him to regard the bust of Count Dooku。 〃He has a powerful face； doesn't he？〃 she mented； her quiet tone taking the tension out of the meeting。 〃He was one of the most brilliant Jedi I have had the privilege of knowing。〃
〃I never understood why he quit；〃 Obi…Wan said； following Jocasta Nu's look to the bust。 〃Only twenty Jedi have ever left the Order。〃
〃The Lost Twenty；〃 Jocasta Nu said with a profound sigh。 〃And Count Dooku was the most recent and the most painful。 No one likes to talk about it。 His leaving was a great loss to the Order。〃
〃What happened？〃
〃Well； one might say he was a bit out of step with the decisions of the Council；〃 the Archivist replied。 〃Much like your old Master； Qui…Gon。〃
Even though Obi…Wan had just been thinking the same thing； somewhat； to hear Jocasta Nu speak the words so definitively caught him off guard； and painted Qui…Gon in a more rebellious light than he had ever considered。 He knew that his former Master had his moments； of course； the greatest of those being the confrontations concerning Anakin； but he had never thought of Qui…Gon as that much of a rebel。 Apparently； Jocasta Nu； who had her finger as squarely as anyone on the pulse of the Jedi Temple； did。
〃Really？〃 Obi…Wan prompted； wanting the information about Dooku； of course； but also hoping to garner some insight into his old and beloved Master。
〃Oh； yes； they were alike in many ways。 Very individual thinkers。 Idealists。〃 She stared at the bust intently； and it seemed to Obi…Wan as if she had suddenly gone far； far away。 〃He was always striving to bee a more powerful Jedi。 He wanted to be the best。 With a lightsaber； in the old style of fencing； he had no match。 His knowledge of the Force was 。 。 。 unique。 In the end； I think he left because he lost faith in the Republic。 He believed that politics were corrupt。。。〃
Jocasta Nu paused for a moment and looked at Obi…Wan； a very revealing expression that showed she did not think Dooku as out of step as many of the others apparently did。
〃And he felt that the Jedi betrayed themselves by serving the politicians；〃 the Archivist stated。
Obi…Wan blinked； soaking in the words。 He knew that many； Qui…Gon included… even himself included； at times…often felt the same way。
〃He always had very high expectations of government；〃 Jocasta Nu went on。
〃He disappeared for nine or ten years； then just showed up recently as the head of the separatist movement。〃
〃Interesting；〃 Obi…Wan remarked； looking from the bust to the Archivist。
〃I'm still not sure I understand。〃
〃None of us does；〃 Jocasta Nu replied； her serious expression melting into a warm smile。 〃Well； I'm sure you didn't call me over here for a history lesson。 Are you having a problem； Master Kenobi？〃
〃Yes； I'm trying to find a planet system called Kamino。 It doesn't seem to show up on any of the archive charts。〃
〃Kamino？〃 Jocasta Nu looked around； as if she was searching for the system right then and there。 〃It's not a system I'm familiar w
