Part 25 (1/2)

And Obi-Wan.

For all his frustration, and his fear that Obi-Wan would never see him as an equal no matter what he did or how many battles he won, he was moved by the depth of compa.s.sion he could feel in his former Master.

Why do I keep forgetting that he was raised a Jedi? That he'll never understand what it is to feel any strong emotion without feeling guilty about it straight after? Everything I was taught to rely on, he was taught to repress or deny. I keep forgetting that.

Looking up from a patient, Teeba Sufi saw him and frowned. ”Are you hurt, young Jedi?”

”No, Teeba. But you're wanted on the square for a village meeting. ”

”Don't be a fool, ” she said, fisting her hands on her hips. ”We can't...”

”You should go, Sufi, ” Obi-Wan said quietly. ”I'll care for your people. ”

”Fine, ” Sufi said, reluctant. ”But for a few minutes, Obi-Wan, no longer. And while I'm gone you should dose your friend. He's greensick too, though he probably won't admit it. ”

As the front door closed behind her, Obi-Wan eased out of his healing trance. Then he released his patient's hand and glanced up. ”If you've come to say sorry merely to smooth things over, don't. ”

Deep breath, deep breath. ”I haven't. ”

”Our presence in Torbel poses a clear and present danger to these people, Anakin. ”

”I know. And I don't like it any more than you do, ” he retorted. ”But leaving aside the real chance of them being slaughtered if we lower the s.h.i.+eld, consider this. If us holding out against those droids for even a few days gives our side a chance of getting here with a battle group, then how can we not do it?

In my opinion, the harm is in giving Durd two p.a.w.ns to use against the Republic. ”

Obi-Wan smoothed the sleeping woman's hair back from her forehead and stood. ”In your opinion. ”

”That's right. I do have opinions, Obi-Wan. And every so often they're not going to he the same as yours. ”

”Yes, Anakin, ” said Obi-Wan, giving him the kind of look that had shriveled him when he was still a boy. ”You've made that abundantly clear. ”

So much for finding common ground. At the rate he was letting his temper get the better of him they'd soon be standing on opposite sides of a canyon. With a wrenching effort he pushed emotion aside.

”What's greensickness?”

”Damot.i.te poisoning, ” said Obi-Wan, and pointed to a cupboard against the back wall, beside the sink. ”You'll find a bottle of medicine and a dosing cup in there. Top shelf on the right. Help yourself. ”

Anakin did as he was told, gagging as the vile concoction slid down his throat. Ignoring him, Obi-Wan moved to Arrad's cot, dropped into a crouch and rested his hand against the young man's forehead. Arrad looked peaceful enough-but was it the calm of healing or 105 the dreaded sloth of impending death? Obi-Wan's expression, remote and withdrawn, gave nothing away as he focused his energy inward.

Which I'm pretty sure means he's done talking to me right now.

And that meant the finding of common ground would have to wait. Perhaps the whole question would soon be irrelevant anyway. The villagers might vote to expel them.

Except I want to ask him if he's sensed anything in the Force. Does he have one of his bad feelings? Can be see bow this madness is going to unfold?

Apparently he'd have to wait for answers.

He rinsed the dosing cup in the sick house's basin, then returned it and the bottle to their rightful place. ”For what it's worth I am sorry, Obi-Wan. I never meant to disrespect you. I just-I need to honor my own truths. ”

Obi-Wan looked up. The light shafting through the window fell full across his face, bleaching him sand-pale. ”I know you do, Anakin.

And I know you want to save these people. But the truth is not everyone can be saved. ”

Anakin shook his head. ”I don't believe that. ”

”I know that, too. ” Obi-Wan frowned, very faintly. ”It's your greatest weakness... and your greatest strength. ”

And just like that he was ambushed by regret. I can't leave it like this. I can't. ”I don't want you angry with me, Obi-Wan. We won't get through this if you-if we...”

”I'm not angry. I don't get angry. Anger is a counterproductive emotion. ”

Yeah. Right. ”Disappointed then, ” he said, because there was no use arguing. ”Displeased. Whatever word you like. ”

”Anakin. ” Obi-Wan rubbed his temple. He had another headache brewing, bright sparkles of pain dancing in the Force. ”As you say, we had a difference of opinion. And now the matter is out of our hands. Why don't you go and get started on your s.h.i.+eld modifications, just in case? When I'm finished here I'll join you. ”

He was right, they both had work to do. Only... ”I really do think our message got through, Obi-Wan. I think Yoda's going to send help. ”

Not looking at him, Obi-Wan nodded. ”I hope so. ”

The village square was crowded with people, arms waving and voices raised as they argued over what to do about the Jedi. Pausing on the sick house step, Anakin watched as Rikkard and Jaklin moved among them, soothing, nodding, trying to be the calm voices of reason. Then he headed for the power plant. The Force was bright with the villagers' emotions-anger and fright, uncertainty and resentment. And these were the people who would in the next short while decide his and Obi-Wan's fate, either granting them a reprieve or sending them to face imprisonment and probable death.

His life in the hands of strangers was bad enough. But worse was the ominously silent and motionless pack of droids on the other side of the s.h.i.+eld. They didn't show any sign of firing. Oddly, he'd have been happier if they started shooting again.

To his surprise he found Devi still in the plant's monitoring station. After the long night and the terrible morning, she looked fragile with weariness. Only her rickety antigrav harness was keeping her upright.

”I thought you'd be out there with the others, ” he said. ”Debating what to do with me and Obi-Wan. ”

She shrugged, one hand balancing her slight, ungainly body against a bank of monitors. ”Rikkard knows what I think. ”

Reading her was easy: fear and fury and grat.i.tude in equal measure. She was smiling. He smiled back. ”Thank you, Devi. I wish I could promise nothing bad will happen to Torbel if we do stay, but...” His turn to shrug. ”I can't. ”

”Something bad will happen everywhere else if you don't, won't it?” she said. ”Something bad is happening everywhere else, with the war. ”

He was sick of painful truths. ”It is. ”

106.

Sighing, Devi smoothed her hand over the ranks of lights and switches that told her the story of Torbel's tenuous lifeline. ”People say it doesn't matter, what's happening out there. They say it's got nothing to do with us on Lanteeb. Would you hate me if I said I used to say the same thing?”

”No. Of course not. ”

”Well, I did, ” she said softly, shame in her voice. ”And then I met you and Obi-Wan. Now things are so complicated. ”

So was that how it worked? Was that how history was altered? A chance meeting... a sudden crisis... two men in the wrong place at the right time, following their consciences and changing minds...

Is it as easy as that, to change the fate of a galaxy ?