Part 44 (1/2)

Now he and the rest of the troops-and while some were wounded none had died-were methodically going through what remained of the village, collecting undamaged personal items and communal equipment and stacking it neatly in one of the streets bordering the square.

Sad to say, there wasn't much.

Lined up in the road on the other side of the square were twenty-eight body bags. Sergeant Coric and Checkers had been in charge of that sad duty. The dead were being kept company by some of the weeping villagers who'd emerged from Torbel's mine when the fighting was over. Their grief filled the Force.

Anakin, Master Ken.o.bi and Taria sat together in the square's designated triage area. They weren't alone. About forty villagers had been separated from the others and were being given emergency medical treatment, too. The twilight air was full of smoke and the soft sounds of suffering.

One woman-Master Ken.o.bi called her Sufi-insisted on shadowing the clone medics and double-checking every pill and hypo and ointment they administered. Master Ken.o.bi had tried telling her not to worry, she could trust them, hut this Sufi woman was having none of it. And she was trailed by a scrawny girl child called Greti, who had a strange Force presence and kept running back to Master Ken.o.bi to make sure he was all right. Ahsoka thought that was quite odd.

But I can't really blame her. He looks terrible. They all Jo.

178.

They looked so bad-cut and bruised and seared in many places by Masterfire-that every time her gaze fell on them she felt her heart b.u.mp, and her breathing hitch. It brought back memories of how scared she'd been on Maridun, when Skyguy was injured, and how afraid he'd been after Master Ken.o.bi's never-explained mission to Zigoola. She had to keep reminding herself that the past was the past, she must focus her mind on the present.

In the present, Torbel's villagers were scared of her.

Before she'd been hustled away by three medics, all to herself, Taria had pulled her aside. ”You're going to make them uncomfortable, Ahsoka. Don't take it personally. These people are culturally-unsophisticated. ”

No kidding. They're looking at me like I might try and eat them, or something.

She was doing her best, but it was a little hard not to take it personally. Especially since she'd just helped save their lives.

”Ahsoka!”

Startled, she looked up. ”Yes, Master Ken.o.bi?”

He crooked a finger at her. ”A moment?”

”Master?” she said, joining him, and flicked a smile at Skyguy and Taria. Even though they were hurt and exhausted they both smiled back, then looked at Master Ken.o.bi. So did she.

The medics had given him so many chems his eyes had gone blurry. ”Padawan Tano, there's someone I'd like you to meet. ” He turned. ”Greti!”

The skinny girl was sitting beside one of the sick villagers. Hearing her name, she leapt up and came running. ”Teeb?”

”Greti, this is Ahsoka, ” Master Ken.o.bi said. ”She's one of the people who saved Torbel from the droids. ”

”Saved?” The girl pulled a face. ”It's burned down, Torbel is. ”

”Greti. ” Master Ken.o.bi (licked the end of her nose with his fingertip. ”Manners. If not for Ahsoka you'd likely be dead. ”

The skinny village girl looked her up and down in silence. Then she put her hands on her hips and tipped her head to one side. ”You don't have any hair. ”

”That's right, ” Ahsoka said warily. ”I'm a Togruta. ”

”Your skin's a funny color, too. ”

”Not where I come from. ”

Now Greti twisted her fingers in her frayed tunic pockets. ”Is that far away?”

Ahsoka nodded. ”Very far. ”

”Oh, ” said Greti, and thought about that. ”Can I go there?”

”Well-I suppose so, ” she said. ”If you want. ”

”Does anyone have hair where you come from, Ahsoka?” Skyguy and Taria were trying not to laugh. She shot them a look, then frowned at the skinny girl. ” Y'know, Greti, not everybody wants hair. Not everybody needs hair. Not everybody likes hair. I don't...”

”Obi-Wan, ” said Master Windu, appearing without warning. ”I've just...” And then he stopped, because even Master Ken.o.bi was laughing. ”What?”

Greti stared up at him. ”Are you from Togruta, too?”

”No, ” said Master Windu blankly. ”Who does this child belong to? She needs to be kept with her family. ”

Master Ken.o.bi sobered. ”My apologies. Master. Greti, go find your mam. I'll see you again later. ”

179.

”Promise?” said the skinny girl, and threw her arms around him.

Surprised, Ahsoka watched Master Ken.o.bi pat the girl's back, gently. ”I promise. ”

As the girl scuttled away, taking her strange Force presence with her. Master Windu fixed Anakin, Master Ken.o.bi, and Taria with his dark, intense gaze. He'd been so busy being in charge, and they'd been pounced on by the medics so fast, this was the first time he'd spoken to them since the end of the brief, intense firelight.

”I've just been in communication with Senator Amidala, ” he said. ”She's been talking with Queen Jamillia, and they have offered refugee status to the people of Torbel. ”

Anakin sat up. ”They have?”

”If the villagers agree, the Supreme Chancellor has authorized Coruscant Sky to take them from here directly to Naboo. So-who do I speak to?”

Master Ken.o.bi took a deep breath and pushed to his feet. ”That would be Rikkard, Master. Excuse me. ”

Ahsoka frowned as Master Ken.o.bi walked slowly to the group of sick and injured villagers. Anakin and Taria were frowning, too. It wasn't right, Master Ken.o.bi without his customary, confident swagger.

”Master Windu, ” said Master Ken.o.bi, returning with another man who was streaked head to toe with dirt. ”This is Teeb Rikkard, head miner and one of Torbel's village speakers. Rikkard, this is Master Windu of the Jedi Council. He has a proposition for you, one I think you should strongly consider. Jaklin, too, if she's feeling better. ”

Master Windu nodded gravely. ”Teeb Rikkard. ”

”Master Windu, ” said the man Rikkard. There were tears in his eyes, and his voice was unsteady. ”Torbel thanks you for what you've done. ”

”I'm sorry it was necessary, ” said Master Windu. ”I'm sorry you've lost your home. But we might have found you a new one. Please, Rikkard. Walk with me. ”

Once Master Windu was out of earshot. Master Ken.o.bi looked at Anakin. ”Interesting. By any chance did you...”

”No, ” Anakin said quickly. ”I don't have a comlink. But I think it's the perfect solution. Don't you?”

Master Ken.o.bi stared at the ruined village, and then at the groups of uninjured villagers at the far end of the square. ”It could be, yes, ”