rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第44章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　
　　Obi…Wan　quickly　came　to　learn　why　the　acklay　was　such　a　crowd…pleaser。　The　creature　reared　up　high　and　came　straight　in　at　him。　When　Obi…Wan　rushed　behind　the　pole；　the　acklay　took　a　more　direct　route；　crashing　into　the　pole；　its　gigantic　claws　snapping　the　wood　and　the　chain。　Freed　by　the　beast's　fury；　Obi…Wan　turned　and　ran；　sprinting　right　at　the　nearest　picador；　the　acklay　in　fast　pursuit。　The　Geonosian　lowered　his　spear　at　the　Jedi；　but　Obi…Wan　dodged　inside　and　grabbed　it。　A　sudden　tug　pulled　it　free；　and　Obi…Wan　snapped　it　against　the　picador's　mount；　causing　the　creature　to　rear。　Hardly　slowing；　Obi…Wan　planted　the　butt　of　the　lance　in　the　ground　and　leapt；　pole…vaulting　the　picador　and　his　mount。
　
　Again　the　acklay　took　the　more　direct　route；　slamming　into　rider　and　mount；　sending　the　Geonosian　tumbling　to　the　sand。　Grabbing　the　picador　up　in　the　snap　of　a　claw；　the　monster　crunched　the　life　from　him。
　
　　Atop　her　post；　Padme　worked　frantically　to　free　the　chain。　But　already　the　felinelike　nexu　was　leaping　up　to　swipe　at　her　with　its　deadly　claws。　She　dodged；　but　the　nexu　came　on　again。
　
　Padme　whipped　it　with　the　chain。
　
　The　beast　didn't　stop；　its　claws　tearing　into　the　pole　as　it　climbed。　Then；　with　a　sudden　burst；　it　leapt　up　to　the　top　and　reared　before　Padme　issuing　a　victorious　roar。
　
　The　crowd　hushed；　sensing　the　first　kill。
　
　As　the　nexu　slashed；　Padme　turned　in　a　circle　the　other　way；　and　while　the　claws　tore　her　shirt　and　superficially　raked　her　back；　she　came　around　hard；　delivering　a　solid　blow　across　the　beast's　face　with　the　free…flying　end　of　the　chain。　The　nexu　fell　back　off　the　pole。　Padme　leapt　out　and　back；　away　from　the　creature　and　to　the　side；　and　let　the　chain　tug　her　back；　sending　her　in　a　spin　about　the　pole。　She　tucked　her　legs　as　she　spun；　then　double…kicked　out；　knocking　the　nexu　to　the　ground。
　
　Hardly　pausing　to　consider　her　handiwork；　she　scrambled　back　up　the　pole；　working　furiously　to　free　herself　pletely。
　
　　The　crowd　gasped　as　one。
　〃Foul！〃　cried　Nute　Gunray　in　the　dignitary　box。　〃She　can't　do　that！　Shoot　her　or　something！〃
　〃Wow！〃　Boba　Fett　yelled　in　obvious　admiration。　Jango　put　his　hand　on　his　son's　shoulder；　enjoying　the　show　every　bit　as　much　as　Boba。
　〃The　nexu　will　have　her；　Viceroy；〃　Poggle　the　Lesser　assured　the　trembling　Neimoidian。
　
　Gunray　remained　standing；　as　did　everyone　else　in　the　box；　as　did　everyone　else　in　the　stadium。　The　crowd　gasped　again　as　Obi…Wan　ran　around　behind　the　picador's　fallen　mount；　then　launched　the　stolen　spear　into　the　neck　of　the　furious　acklay。　The　beast　screeched　in　pain　and　slapped　the　struggling　orray　mount　aside。
　
　Across　the　way；　Padme　continued　to　work　the　chain　as　the　nexu　regained　its　balance　and　began　to　stalk　back　toward　the　pole。　Finally；　she　was　free。　But　the　nexu　was　right　below　her；　looking　up；　drool　spilling　from　its　oversized　maw；　death　in　its　eyes。　It　crouched；　ready　to　spring。
　
　And　got　trampled　into　the　ground　by　Anakin　and　his　reek　mount。
　〃You　okay？　〃he　called。
　〃Sure。〃
　〃Jump　on！〃　Anakin　cried；　and　Padme　was　already　moving；　leaping　down　from　the　pole　to　fall　into　place　right　behind　Anakin。
　
　They　passed　the　wounded　and　furious　acklay　next；　and　Obi…Wan　was　quick　to　take　Padme's　hand　and　vault　into　place　behind　her。
　
　Boba　Fett　yelped　in　glee　again；　as　did　many　of　the　Geonosians。　Nute　Gunray；　though；　wasn't　quite　so　pleased。　〃This　isn't　how　it's　supposed　to　be！〃　he　yelled　at　Count　Dooku。　〃She's　supposed　to　be　dead　by　now！〃
　〃Patience；〃　the　calm　Count　replied。
　〃No！〃　Nute　Gunray　shouted　back　at　him。　〃Jango；　finish　her　off！〃
　
　Jango　turned　an　amused　expression　Nute　Gunray's　way；　and　nodded　knowingly　as　Count　Dooku　motioned　for　him　to　stay　put。
　〃Patience；　Viceroy；〃　Dooku　said　to　the　fuming　Gunray。　〃She　will　die。〃　Even　as　he　spoke；　even　as　Gunray　seemed　about　to　explode　with　rage；　the　Count　motioned　back　to　the　arena；　and　the　Neimoidian　turned　to　see　a　group　of　droidekas　roll　out　from　the　side　paddock。　They　surrounded　the　reek　and　the　three　prisoners　and　opened　and　unfolded　into　their　battle　position；　giving　Anakin　no　choice　but　to　pull　back　hard　on　the　makeshift　rein　and　halt　the　creature。
　〃You　see？〃　Dooku　calmly　asked。
　
　The　Count's　expression　changed；　though；　just　for　a　moment；　as　a　familiar　hum　began　right　behind　him。　He　glanced　to　his　right　quickly；　to　see　a　purple　lightsaber　blade　right　beside　Jango　Fett's　neck；　then　turned　slowly　to　regard　the　wielder。
　〃Master　Windu；〃　he　said　with　his　typical　charm。　〃How　pleasant　of　you　to　join　us！　You're　just　in　time　for　the　moment　of　truth。　I　would　think　these　two　boys　of　yours　could　use　a　little　more　training。〃
　〃Sorry　to　disappoint　you；　Dooku；〃　Mace　coolly　replied。　〃This　party's　over。〃　With　that；　the　Jedi　Master　gave　a　quick　salute　with　his　glowing　lightsaber；　the　prearranged　signal；　and　then　brought　the　blade　back　in　close　to　Jango　Fett。　All　about　the　stadium　came　a　sudden　and　synchronized　flash　of　lights　as　a　hundred　Jedi　Knights　ignited　their　lightsabers。
　
　The　crowd　went　perfectly　silent。
　
　After　a　moment's　reflection；　Count　Dooku　turned　about　just　a　bit；　looking　back　at　Mace　Windu　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。　〃Brave；　but　foolish；　my　old　Jedi　friend。　You're　impossibly　outnumbered。〃
　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　Mace　countered。　〃The　Geonosians　aren't　warriors。　One　Jedi　has　to　be　worth　a　hundred　Geonosians。〃
　
　Count　Dooku　glanced　about　the　stadium；　his　smile　widening。　〃It　wasn't　the　Geonosians　I　was　thinking　about。　How　well　do　you　think　one　Jedi　will　match　up　against　a　thousand　battle　droids？〃
　
　He　had　timed　it　perfectly。　Just　as　he　finished；　a　line　of　battle　droids　came　down　the　corridor　behind　Mace　Windu；　their　lasers　firing。　The　Jedi　reacted　at　once；　spinning　about　and　flashing　his　lightsaber　to　deflect　the　many　bolts；　turning　them　back　on　his　attackers。　He　knew　that　these　few　droids　were　the　least　of　his　troubles；　though；　for　as　he　glanced　around　he　saw　the　source　of　Dooku's　confidence：　thousands　of　battle　droids　rolling　along　every　ramp；　in　the　stands　and　out　into　the　arena　below。
　
　The　fight　began　immediately；　the　whole　stadium　filling　with　screaming　laser　bolts；　Jedi　leaping　and　spinning；　trying　to　close　into　tight　defensive　groups；　their　lightsabers　deflecting　the　bolts　wildly。　Geonosians　scrambled　all　about；　some　trying　to　attack　the　Jedi…and　dying　for　their　trouble…　others　just　scrambling　to　get　out　of　the　way　of　the　wild　fire。　Mace　Windu　spun　about；　recognizing　that　his　most　dangerous　enemies　were　behind　him。　He　faced　Jango　Fett…and　found　himself　looking　down　the　barrel　of　a　stout　flamethrower。
　
　A　burst　of　flames　reached　out　for　the　Jedi　Master；　igniting　his　flowing　robes。　With　both　Dooku　and　the　bounty　hunter　so　close；　and　in　such　a　vulnerable　position；　Mace　just　leapt　away；　lifting　himself　with　the　Force　to　fly　out　from　the　box　and　land　in　the　arena。　He　pulled　the　burning　robe　from　his　back；　throwing　it　aside。
　
　All　around　him；　the　fight　intensified；　with　Jedi　battling　scores　of　Geonosians　in　the　stands；　and　many　other　Jedi　rushing　down　to　the　arena　floor　to　join　the　battle　against　the　largest　concentrations　of　Battle　Droids。　Mace　winced　when　he　spotted　Obi…Wan；　Anakin；　and　Padme　sent　flying　into　the　air　by　the　terrified　and　bucking　reek。　He　motioned　to　other　Jedi；　but　needn't　have；　for　those　closest　were　already　rushing　toward　their　vulnerable　panions；　throwing　lightsabers　to　Anakin　and　Obi…Wan。
　
　When　those　two　ignited　their　blades；　Anakin's　green　and　Obi…Wan's　blue；　and　Padme　came　up　between　them；　a　discarded　blaster　pistol　in　hand；　Mace　breathed　a　bit　easier。
　
　But　only　for　a　moment。　Then　the　Jedi　Master　was　a　blur　of　motion　once　more；　working　his　blade　furiously　to　turn　back　the　storm　of　laser　bolts　screaming　at　him　from　the　multitude　of　battle　droids。　He　joined　Obi…Wan　near　the　center　of　the　arena　soon　after；　and　back…to…back；　they　went　into　action；　moving　into　a　crowd　of　droids；　taking　down　several　with　deflected　bolts；　then　slashing　through；　turning　in　unison　as　they　went。　Obi…Wan　went　at　one　droid　with　his　lightsaber　up　high；　but　when　that　droid　lifted　its　defenses　appropriately；　the　two　Jedi　turned　about；　Mace　ing　around　with　his　lightsaber　down　low；　shearing　the　droid　in　half。
　
　Behind　Mace　Windu　and　Obi…Wan；　Anakin　and　Padme　fought　in　a　similar　back…to…　back　posture；　with　Anakin　working　in　a　mostly　defensive　manner；　deflecting　all　the　bolts　ing　at　him　and　at　Padme；　while　she　picked　her　shots　carefully；　taking　down　droid　after　droid　after　Geonosian。
　
　But　despite　all　the　gallant　efforts；　despite　the　mounds　of　slaughtered　enemies；　Geonosian　and　droid　alike；　the　oute　was　beginning　to　show　clearly；　as　the　Jedi　were　being　pushed　back　by　sheer　numbers。　The　general　retreat　flowed　toward　the　arena；　though　that　area　would　provide　little　respite。　In　addition　to　the　droids　and　Jedi；　the　two　monsters　rushed　about　crazily；　destroying　everything　in　their　path。
　
　　Into　this　maelstrom　marched　C…3PO；　his　body　at　least；　with　the　head　of　a　battle　droid　fixed　firmly　upon　it。　Shortly；　however；　this　motley　droid　caught　a　blaster　bolt　in　the　neck。　Down　it　went；　the　battle　droid　head　bouncing　free　of　the　torso。
　
　Across　the　arena；　in　a　tunnel　and　marching　toward　daylight；　3PO's　head；　attached　to　a　battle　droid　body；　felt　the　sensation；　but　distantly。
　〃My　legs　aren't　moving！〃　he　cried；　though　of　course　his　present　legs　certainly　were。　〃I　must　need　oil。〃
　
　　It　was　a　time　for　improvisation；　too　wild　a　scene　for　coordinated　and　predetermined　movements。
　
　Just　the　kind　of　fight　in　which　Padme　excelled。　Firing　a　blaster　with　every　step；　she　rushed　to　the　same　execution　cart　that　had　brought　her　and　Anakin　into　the　arena　and　scrambled　atop　the　confused　orray　pulling　it。
　
　Right　behind　her　came　Anakin；　his　lightsaber　a　blur　of　motion；　turning　laser　shots　back　at　the　battle　droids。　He　leapt　into　the　cart　and　Padm　kicked　the　orray　away。
　
　They　charged　the　circuit；　bouncing　across　the　fallen　droids　and　Geonosians；　Padme　firing　shot　after　shot　and　Anakin　sending　an　even　greater　line　of　destruction　out　by　turning　aside　all　shots　ing　their　way。
　〃You　call　this　diplomacy？〃　said　Anakin；　deflecting　blasts。
　
　Padme　grinned　and　shouted　back；　〃No；　I　call　it　'aggressive　negotiations'！〃
　
　　C…3PO　entered　the　maelstrom；　and　if　his　eye　sockets　would　have　allowed　him　to　widen　his　eyes　in　surprise　and　terror；　he　surely　would　have。
　〃Where　are　we？〃　he　cried。　〃A　battle！　Oh　no！　I'm　just　a　protocol　droid。　I'm　not　made　for　this。　I　can't　do　it！　I　don't　want　to　be　destroyed！〃
　
　This　mixed…up　droid　lasted　about　as　long　as　his　other　half　had；　across　the　way。　He　came　around　to　face　the　Jedi　Master　Kit　Fisto；　who　slammed　him　hard　with　a　Force　shove；　knocking　him　to　the　ground。　Next；　the　agile　Jedi　did　a　pirouette　movement　and　with　a　vicious　slice　of　his　lightsaber；　took　down　the　battle　droid　that　had　been　in　line　right　beside　C…3PO。　It　collapsed　on　top　of　C…3PO's　prone　form。
　〃Help！　I'm　trapped！　I　can't　get　up！〃　C…3PO　wailed；　a　call　that　caught　the　attention　of　none。
　
　Save　one。
　
　R2…D2　rolled　into　the　arena　and　wove　his　way　about　the　carnage　and　danger。
　
　　No　number　of　battle　droids　could　hope　to　separate　Mace　an