rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第52部分

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s　fighting；　turning　it　under　and　igniting　it　immediately；　putting　it　into　the　swirling　flow。
　
　Obi…Wan　watched　in　admiration　as　Anakin　worked　the　two　blades　in　perfect　harmony；　spinning　them　over　and　about　with　blinding　speed　and　precision。　And　he　watched　with　similar　feelings　the　working　of　Count　Dooku's　red　lightsaber；　flashing　ahead　and　back　with　equal　precision；　picking　off　attack　after　attack　and　even　countering　once　or　twice　to　interrupt　the　flow　of　Anakin's　barrage。
　
　Obi…Wan's　heart　leapt　in　hope　as　Anakin　charged　forward　suddenly；　bringing　his　green　blade　over　his　shoulder　and　across；　down　at　the　Count。　Obi…Wan　understood　immediately；　even　before　he　noted　Anakin's　blue　blade　ing　up　and　over　the　other　way…the　green　blade　would　push　the　Count's　lightsaber　out　of　the　way；　clearing　the　path　for　the　victorious　strike！
　
　But　Dooku　retracted　impossibly　fast；　and　Anakin's　down…cutting　green　blade　hit　nothing　but　air。
　
　Dooku　stabbed　straight　ahead；　intercepting　the　blue　blade。　The　Count's　hand　worked　up　inside　and　over；　then　back　around　with　a　sudden　twist；　launching　the　blue　lightsaber　from　Anakin's　grasp。　Dooku　went　on　the　offensive　immediately；　driving　the　surprised　and　off…balance　Anakin　back。　Anakin　fought　hard　to　regain　his　fighting　posture；　but　Dooku　was　relentless；　thrusting　repeatedly；　keeping　the　young　Padawan　stumbling　backward。　And　then　he　stopped；　suddenly；　and　almost　on　reflex；　Anakin　turned　back　on　him；　roaring　and　slashing　hard。
　〃No！　〃Obi…Wan　cried。
　
　Dooku　stabbed　ahead　and　slashed　out　suddenly；　intercepting　not　Anakin's　green　blade；　but　the　Padawan's　arm；　at　the　elbow。　Half　of　Anakin's　arm　flew　to　the　side；　his　hand　still　gripping　the　lightsaber。
　
　Anakin　dropped　to　the　ground；　grabbing　his　severed　arm　in　agony。　Dooku　gave　another　of　his　resigned　shrugs。　〃And　so　it　ends；〃　he　said　for　the　second　time。
　
　Even　as　he　spoke；　though；　the　great　hangar　doors　of　the　tower　slid　open；　smoke　from　the　battle　outside　pouring　in。　And　through　that　smoke　came　a　diminutive　figure；　but　one　seeming　taller　than　all　of　them　at　that　moment。
　〃Master　Yoda；〃　Dooku　breathed。
　〃Count　Dooku；〃　said　Yoda。
　
　Dooku's　eyes　widened　and　he　stepped　back；　turning　to　face　Yoda　directly。　He　brought　his　lightsaber　up　to　his　face；　shut　down　the　blade；　then　snapped　it　to　the　side　in　formal　salute。　〃You　have　interfered　with　our　plans　for　the　last　time。〃
　
　A　wave　of　Dooku's　free　hand　sent　a　piece　of　machinery　flying　at　the　diminutive　Jedi　Master；　seeming　as　if　it　would　surely　crush　him。　But　Yoda　was　ready；　waving　his　own　hand；　Force…pushing　the　flying　machinery　harmlessly　aside。
　
　Dooku　clutched　up　at　the　ceiling；　breaking　free　great　blocks　that　tumbled　down　at　Yoda。
　
　But　small　hands　waved　and　the　boulders　dropped　to　the　sides；　bouncing　across　the　floor　all　about　the　untouched　Master　Yoda。
　
　Dooku　gave　a　little　growl　and　thrust　forth　his　hand；　loosing　a　line　of　blue　lightning　at　the　diminutive　Master。
　
　Yoda　caught　it　in　his　own　hand　and　turned　it　aside；　but　far　from　easily。
　〃Powerful　you　have　bee；　Dooku；〃　Yoda　admitted；　and　the　Count　grinned…but　Yoda　promptly　took　that　grin　away　by　adding；　〃The　dark　side　I　sense　in　you。〃
　〃I　have　bee　more　powerful　than　any　Jedi；〃　Dooku　countered。　〃Even　you；　my　old　Master！〃
　
　More　lightning　poured　forth　from　Dooku's　hand；　but　Yoda　continued　to　catch　it　and　turn　it；　and　seemed　to　bee　even　more　settled　in　his　defensive　posture。
　〃Much　to　learn　you　still　have；〃　Yoda　remarked。
　
　Dooku　disengaged　the　futile　lightning　assault。　〃It　is　obvious　this　contest　will　not　be　decided　by　our　knowledge　of　the　Force；　but　by　our　skills　with　a　lightsaber。〃
　
　Yoda　reverently　drew　out　his　lightsaber；　its　green　blade　humming　to　life。
　
　Dooku　gave　a　crisp　salute；　igniting　his　own　red　blade；　but　then；　formalities　over；　he　leapt　at　Yoda；　a　sudden　and　devastating　thrust。　But　one　that　never　got　close　to　hitting。　With　hardly　a　movement；　Yoda　turned　the　blade　aside。
　
　Dooku　went　into　a　wild　flurry　then；　the　likes　of　which　he　had　not　shown　against　Obi…Wan　or　Anakin；　raining　blows　at　the　diminutive　Master。　But　Yoda　didn't　even　seem　to　move。　He　didn't　step　back　or　to　the　side；　yet　his　subtle　dodges　and　precision　parries　kept　Dooku's　blade　slashing　and　stabbing　harmlessly　wide。
　
　It　went　on　and　on　for　many　moments；　but　eventually　Dooku's　flurry　began　to　slow；　and　the　Count；　recognizing　the　Futility　of　this　attempt　to　overwhelm；　stepped　back　fast。
　
　Not　fast　enough。
　
　With　a　sudden　burst　of　sheer　power；　Master　Yoda　flew　forward；　his　blade　working　so　mightily　that　its　residual　glow　outshone　even　those　of　both　of　Anakin's　lightsabers　when　he　was　at　the　peak　of　his　dance。　Dooku　held　strong；　though；　his　red　blade　parrying　brilliantly；　each　block　backed　by　the　power　of　the　Force；　or　else　Yoda's　strikes　would　have　driven　right　through。
　
　Just　as　he　was　about　to　launch　a　counter；　though；　Yoda　was　gone；　leaping　high　and　turning　a　somersault　to　land　right　behind　Dooku；　in　perfect　balance；　striking　hard。
　
　Dooku　reversed　his　grip　and　stabbed　out　behind　him；　intercepting　the　blow。　He　let　go　of　his　weapon　altogether；　tossing　it　just　a　bit；　and　spun　about；　catching　it　before　it　had　even　disengaged　from　Yoda's　blade。
　
　With　a　growl　of　rage；　Dooku　reached　more　deeply　into　the　Force；　letting　it　flow　through　him　as　if　his　physical　form　was　a　mere　conduit　for　its　power。　His　tempo　increased　suddenly　and　dramatically；　three　steps　forward；　two　back；　perfectly　balanced　all　the　while。　His　fighting　style　was　one　based　on　balance；　on　the　back…and…forth　charges；　thrusts　and　sudden　retreats；　and　now　he　came　at　Yoda　with　a　series　of　cunning　stabs；　angled　left　and　right。　Never　could　he　strike　low；　though；　for　never　did　Yoda　seem　to　be　on　the　ground；　leaping　and　spinning；　flying　all　about；　parrying　each　blow　and　offering　cunning　counters　that　had　Dooku　skipping　backward　desperately。
　
　Dooku　stabbed　up　high；　turning　the　angle　of　his　lightsaber　in　anticipation　that　Yoda　would　dodge　left。　But　Yoda；　as　if　in　plete　anticipation　of　the　movement；　veered　neither　left　nor　right；　but　rather；　dropped　to　the　ground。　The　Count　had　already　retracted　the　missed　thrust；　and　began　a　second　stab；　this　time　down　low；　but　Yoda　had　anticipated　that；　too；　and　went　right　back　up　behind　the　stabbing　blade。
　
　A　sudden　stab　by　Yoda　had　Dooku　quick…stepping　back　even　more　off…balance；　for　the　first　time；　and　then　Yoda　flew　away；　up　and　back。
　
　The　furious　Dooku　pursued；　thrusting　hard　for　Yoda's　head。　And　in　his　rage　when　his　stab　missed　yet　again；　he　reverted　to　a　slashing　attack。　Yoda's　green　blade　caught　the　blow；　holding　the　red　lightsaber　at　bay；　locking　the　two　in　a　contest　of　strength；　physical　and　of　the　Force。
　〃Fought　well；　you　have；　my　old　Padawan；〃　Yoda　congratulated；　and　his　lightsaber　began　to　move　out；　just　a　bit；　forcing　Dooku　back。
　〃The　battle　is　far　from　over！〃　Dooku　stubbornly　argued。　〃This　is　just　the　beginning！〃　Reaching　into　the　Force；　he　took　hold　of　one　of　the　huge　cranes　within　the　hangar　and　threw　it　down　at　Obi…Wan　and　Anakin。
　〃Anakin！〃　Obi…Wan　cried。　He　grabbed　at　the　plummeting　crane　with　the　Force；　and　Anakin；　startled　awake；　did　so；　as　well。　Even　working　together；　they　hadn't　the　strength　left　to　stop　its　crushing　descent。
　
　But　Yoda　did。
　
　Yoda　grabbed　the　crane　and　held　it　fast；　but　in　doing　so；　he　had　to　release　Dooku。　The　Count　wasted　no　time；　sprinting　away；　leaping　up　the　ramp　to　his　sail　ship。　As　Yoda　began　to　move　the　fallen　crane　harmlessly　aside；　the　sail　ship's　engine　roared　to　life；　and　all　three　Jedi　watched　helplessly　as　Count　Dooku　blasted　away。
　
　As　Anakin　and　Obi…Wan　walked　over　to　the　exhausted　Yoda；　Padme　rushed　in；　running　to　Anakin　and　wrapping　the　sorely　wounded　young　man　in　a　tight；　desperate　hug。
　〃A　dark　day；　it　is；〃　Yoda　said　quietly。
　
　Epilogue
　
　　In　the　gutters　of　lower　Coruscant；　a　graceful　sail　ship　glided　down；　its　wings　folding　delicately　as　it　went　to　its　more　conventional　drives；　settling　easily　inside　the　broken　pavement　of　a　seemingly　abandoned　building。
　
　Count　Dooku　climbed　out　of　his　ship；　walking　to　the　shadows　at　the　side　of　the　secret　landing　ramp；　where　a　hooded　figure　waited。　He　moved　before　the　shadowy　figure　and　bowed　reverently。
　〃The　Force　is　with　us；　Master　Sidious。〃
　〃Wele　home；　Lord　Tyranus；〃　the　Sith　Lord　replied。　〃You　have　done　well。〃
　〃I　bring　you　good　news；　my　lord。　The　war　has　begun。〃
　〃Excellent；〃　Sidious　said；　his　gravelly　voice　hinting　at　a　hiss。　From　underneath　the　dark　shadows　of　his　huge　cowl；　the　Dark　Lord's　smile　widened。　〃Everything　is　going　as　planned。〃
　
　Across　the　city；　in　the　somber　Jedi　Temple；　so　many　lamented　the　loss　of　friends　and　colleagues。　Obi…Wan　and　Mace　Windu　stood　staring　out　the　window　of　Master　Yoda's　apartment　while　the　diminutive　Master　sat　in　a　chair　across　the　way；　contemplating　the　troubling　events。
　〃Do　you　believe　what　Count　Dooku　said　about　Sidious　controlling　the　Senate？〃　Obi…Wan　asked；　breaking　the　contemplative　silence。　〃It　doesn't　feel　right。〃
　
　Mace　started　to　respond；　but　Yoda　interjected；　〃Bee　unreliable；　Dooku　has。　Joined　the　dark　side。　Lies；　deceit；　creating　mistrust　are　his　ways　now。〃
　〃Nevertheless；　I　feel　we　should　keep　a　closer　eye　on　the　Senate；〃　Mace　put　in；　and　Yoda　agreed。
　
　After　some　more　quiet　contemplation；　Mace　turned　a　curious　gaze　upon　Obi…　Wan。　〃Where　is　your　apprentice？〃
　〃On　his　way　to　Naboo；〃　Obi…Wan　answered。　〃Escorting　Senator　Amidala　home。〃　Mace　nodded；　and　Obi…Wan　caught　a　glimmer　of　concern　in　his　dark　eyes…　concern　that　Obi…Wan　shared　about　Anakin　and　Padme。　They　let　it　go　at　that　time；　though；　for　there　seemed　greater　problems　at　hand。　Again；　it　was　Obi…　Wan　who　broke　the　silence。
　〃I　have　to　admit；　without　the　clones；　it　would　not　have　been　a　victory。〃
　〃Victory？〃　Yoda　echoed　with　great　skepticism。　〃Victory；　you　say？〃
　
　Obi…Wan　and　Mace　Windu　turned　as　one　to　the　great　Jedi　Master；　catching　clearly　the　profound　sadness　in　his　tone。
　〃Master　Obi…Wan；　not　victory；〃　Yoda　went　on。　〃The　shroud　of　the　dark　side　has　fallen。　Begun；　this　Clone　War　has！〃
　
　His　words　hung　in　the　air　about　them；　thick　with　emotion　and　concern；　as　dire　a　prediction　as