Part 2 (2/2)
Soaring through the twisting chasms and over broad fiats, Anakin managed to catch up with the other Podracers during the first lap. As the towering rock formations that dotted Mushroom Mesa whipped past him, he caught the scent of burning fuel a split second before he saw the scattered, smoking remains of the green-engined Pod that had been piloted by a Gran named Mawhonic. Somehow, he knew in his gut that Sebulba was responsible for the crash, and had no illusions that the Gran had survived.
Gripping his controls, Anakin gnashed his teeth and thought, I'm not going to die like that!
Anakin progressed at furious speed, maneuvering past several compet.i.tors as he sent his Podracer faster through the Boonta's exotic-named perils of Jag Crag Gorge, Laguna Caves, and Bindy Bend. While other pilots slowed slightly to negotiate the notoriously twisty chasm known as the Corkscrew, Anakin maintained a steady high speed until he arrived at Devil's Doork.n.o.b, a pa.s.sage so narrow that pilots were required to flip their vehicles on their sides to travel through it. With expert skill beyond his years, he flipped his Pod to launch out of Devil's Doork.n.o.b, then accelerated to even greater speed over the broad expanse of the dead-sea bed known as Hutt Flats. Moments later, Mos Espa Arena came into view, and then he hurtled past the crowds who'd watched his delayed departure only minutes earlier.
There were still two laps to go.
Anakin knew he was rapidly gaining on the leading racers. As his Pod shot out of Beggar's Canyon, he caught sight of Mars Guo far up ahead, just behind Sebulba. Suddenly, one of Mars Guo's engines exploded, and a moment later, his Pod was flying in all directions. Anakin plunged his own Pod dangerously close to the around in a desperate effort to evade the fiery, airborne debris, but one large chunk of stray metal struck the steelton control cable that linked his Pod to his starboard engine. The control cable broke free, and Anakin's pod now linked only to the port engine - began spinning out of control.
Straining against the belts in his c.o.c.kpit, Anakin tightened his neck muscles and clenched his teeth to prevent his head from snapping back. Stay focused! He sensed he was still traveling forward, and knew that the only reason he hadn't crashed so far was because the energy binder arc between the two engines had not yet failed.
As the surface of Tatooine blurred and spiraled around him, he punched at his c.o.c.kpit controls until he stabilized the Pod, then reached for an emergency tool: his extendible magnetic retriever. He reached out with the tool, aiming its tip at the metal end of the starboard control cable that whipped and flailed alongside his c.o.c.kpit. There was a satisfying clank as the magnetic retriever locked onto the cable's end. Anakin felt his arm strain as he pulled back on the cable, then he thrust the tool directly into the starboard cable socket. An instant later, he'd regained control of his s.h.i.+p.
Anakin didn't congratulate himself. His momentary bss of control had allowed the Xexto pilot Gasgano and a couple of other pilots to pa.s.s him, and Sebulba was still in the lead. Anakin did what he had to do: he kept going, only faster.
He swung around Gasgano, but as he attempted to pa.s.s the Veknoid pilot Teemto Pagalies, he felt a sudden bone-jarring jolt as Pagalies swerved to deliberately smack one of his long engines against Anakin's Pod. Anakin sat tight in his c.o.c.kpit and stayed in control to lead Pagalies out of the Laguna Caves to emerge at the base of the wide, high-walled stretch called Canyon Dune Turn.
KRAK!.
Despite the roar of his engines, Anakin heard the shot from above. A millisecond later, bright sparks flashed in front of him as fired projectiles pinged off his Pod. Sand people! They 're shooting at me! He pushed his throttle levers, which sent him faster across the canyon. Anakin made it. Pagalies wasn't so fortunate.
Anakin caught up with Sebulba in the Corkscrew, but the cruel Dug flashed his engines directly in front of the young human. Anakin's Pod fell back, but he was still in second place as he followed Sebulba's Pod sideways out through Devil's Doork.n.o.b. Less than a minute later, Anakin followed Sebulba again through Mos Espa Arena.
Only one more lap!
Anakin kept on Sebulba's tail through the course, and was almost directly behind him when they began werving through the narrow confines of Beggar's Canyon. Sebulba swung hard to the side, forcing Anakin off the course and onto the steep gradient of a service ramp- A moment later, Anakin's engines were carrying his Pod up and out of the canyon, launching him skyward.
No! Anakin thought. If he didn't win the race and the prize money, he wouldn't be able to help the Jedi buy the stars.h.i.+p parts he needed to leave Tatooine. And he wanted very much to help the Jedi and the girl who traveled with him.
I can't lose!
When his Pod reached its maximum repulsorlift alt.i.tude, Anakin stayed calm as the vehicle arched back toward Tatooine's surface. Far below, he could see Sebulba's Pod still traveling through the canyon. Keeping his eyes on Sebulba's position, Anakin steered into a steep dive. He felt the air tear against his cheeks as he plunged back into the canyon, then angled his Pod and accelerated to position himself in front of the enraged Dug.
The thrill of being in the lead didn't last long. As Anakin and Sebulba headed through Jett's Chute on their way to the Corkscrew, Anakin's left engine overheated and began billowing smoke. The boy's nimble fingers quickly adjusted the controls to correct the malfunction, but as the two Pods blasted out of Devil's Doork.n.o.b and over the final stretch of Hutt Flats, Sebulba began ramming Anakin from the side in a last nasty effort to force him out of the race.
Anakin thought, He's crazy!
The Dug slammed into Anakin again, but instead of knocking Anakin off course, the two Pods' steering rods became tangled and locked onto each other. Anakin glanced at Sebulba and saw the Dug frowning. If they remained locked in this position all the way over the finish line, the race would be a tie, but Anakin knew that would never happen. Sebulba will either kill me or get us both killed before he'd allow a tie.
Anakin jostled his throttle levers back and forth. I have to break free.
There was a loud snap as Anakin's Pod broke free from Sebulba's, and then the Dug's engines exploded. Sebulba shouted as his shattered Pod began cras.h.i.+ng through the sand; Anakin swerved to avoid the debris, then accelerated for the finish line.
I did it! I won! I won! The crowd in the arena went wild.
After the race, a jubilant Anakin met with his mother, Padme, Jar Jar, R2-D2, and C-3PO in the main hangar at the arena, where Watto had delivered the stars.h.i.+p parts that Qui-Gon had requested. Anakin hadn't expected a celebration of his victory, but any hope of spending more time with his new friends ended when Qui-Gon showed up a few minutes later, looked to his traveling companions and said, ”Let's go. We've got to get these parts back to the s.h.i.+p.”
Anakin bit his lower lip. He wished he could leave Tatooine too, but knew it was pointless to say so. As Padme and the others prepared to leave, he looked up at Qui-Gon, who said, ”I have a few things to do before I leave. Go back home with your mother, and I'll meet you there in about an hour.”
After returning home with Shmi and C-3PO and getting cleaned up, Anakin could not resist going outside to meet with some enthusiastic youngsters who'd seen him in the Boonta. He enjoyed their attention, and did his best to recount in detail the numerous hazards he'd encountered during the race. Most of the kids were very impressed. They listened attentively until a young Rodian, speaking in Huttese, said, ”Too bad you didn't win fair and square.”
Anakin glared at the Rodian and said, ”You're calling me a cheater?”
”Yeah,” the Rodian said. ”No other way a human could've won. I'm guessing you probably...”
Before the Rodian could say another word, Anakin had knocked him to the sandy street. The other kids began shouting as Anakin straddled the Rodian and began punching him. Only a few blows had been exchanged before a long shadow appeared over both boys. Distracted, Anakin glanced up to see Qui-Gon standing beside him. A moment later, the Rodian shoved Anakin off of him.
Gazing down at Anakin, Qui-Gon said flatly, ”What's this all about?”
”He said I cheated,” Anakin glowered. Keeping his eyes fixed on Anakin, Qui-Gon raised his eyebrows slightly and said, ”Did you?”
Anakin was mildly outraged by the question. After all, Qui-Gon knew he hadn't cheated. Wondering why Qui-Gon didn't defend him, Anakin snapped, ”No!”
Unruffled, Qui-Gon looked to the Rodian and asked, ”Do you still think he cheated?”
In Huttese, the Rodian answered, ”Yes, I do.” As Anakin pushed himself up from the ground, Qui-Gon said, ”Well, Ani. You know the truth. You'll just have to tolerate his opinion. Fighting won't change it.” Maybe not, Anakin thought as he walked off with Qui-Gon, leaving the Rodian and the other kids behind. Still, he wasn't sure that tolerance was the best option. If you don't defend your honor, no one will. He wondered if Jedi ever had to defend their honor, but was reluctant to ask Qui-Gon. Even though the Jedi hadn't scolded him for fighting the Rodian, Qui-Gon had made it fairly obvious that he hadn't approved.
As they walked the short distance back to Anakin's home, Qui-Gon explained that repairs were already underway to Queen Amidala's stars.h.i.+p, and that he'd sold Anakin's Pod. Handing a small pouch filled with redits to Anakin, Qui-Gon said, ”Hey. These are yours.”
Feeling the weight of the bag, Anakin exclaimed, ”Yes!” Followed by Qui-Gon, he entered his home, where he found his mother sitting at her worktable. ”Mom,” he cried, ”we sold the Pod! Look at all the money we have!”
”My goodness!” Shmi said as Anakin revealed the contents of the pouch he carried. ”But that's so wonderful, Ani!”
Standing in the doorway, Qui-Gon added, ”And he has been freed.”
Anakin turned away from his mother and looked up at Qui-Gon. Wondering if he'd heard right, Anakin said, ”What?”
”You're no longer a slave,” Qui-Gon said.
Still slightly stunned by this unexpected news, Anakin looked back to his mother and said, ”Did you hear that?”
”Now you can make your dreams come true, Ani,” his mother said. ”You are free.” Then she sighed and looked down at the dirt floor.
Anakin thought his mother looked sad, and couldn't understand why she would be. Before he could ask, she turned her gaze to Qui-Gon and said, ”Will you take him with you? Is he to become a Jedi?”
”Yes.” Qui-Gon said. ”Our meeting was not a coincidence. Nothing happens by accident.”
Suspecting he really was dreaming, Anakin faced the Jedi and said, ”You mean, I get to come with you in your stars.h.i.+p?”
Kneeling down so he was almost eye-level with the boy, Qui-Gon said, ”Anakin, training to become a Jedi is not an easy challenge, and even if you succeed, it's a hard life.”
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