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Автор Джуд Уотсон
The Death Of Hope
Chapter 1
Obi-Wan Kenobi kept his eyes on his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn. He did not like to break Qui-Gon's concentration, but he was impatient to know what his Master was thinking.
They sat in the small, elegant waiting room at the Supreme Governor's residence on the planet of New Apsolon. A lightsaber lay on a small table next to Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon didn't move his eyes from it. Every few minutes he would pick up the hilt and hold it in his hand. He had even activated it a few times, losing himself in the sapphire glow. Then he would deactivate it and, still holding it tightly, get up to pace the room. In just moments he would abruptly whirl, slam the lightsaber down on the table again, and sit.
The process had been going on for some time now.
Obi-Wan was sure that his Master was formulating a plan. Jedi Knight Tahl had been kidnapped. They knew who the culprit was — Balog, the Chief Security Controller of New Apsolon. They just did not know why, or where Balog had taken her. Tahl had not been able to leave any clues behind.
Obi-Wan was trying to come up with the best course of action himself.
He hadn't gotten far. They both doubted that Balog was acting alone, but they didn't know who he was in league with. Confidently, Obi-Wan waited for Qui-Gon to conclude his internal strategy session. He had seen it in the past. His Master would turn and look at him directly. His gaze would be sharp and focused. He would crisply outline the best way to proceed.
Qui-Gon turned to him at last. "I should have gone with her to that meeting," he said sadly.
Startled, Obi-Wan could only shake his head. Qui-Gon never wasted time on what they should have done. "But Balog told us that only one Jedi was allowed. "
"I should have made her leave the planet when it was clear her identity was compromised. " Tahl had gone undercover and pretended to be one of the Absolutes.
They had once been the secret police of New Apsolon, and had since been outlawed. They had never disbanded, though, and had continued to meet in secret, gathering power over the years."But she would not have left. " Obi-Wan spoke patiently. He wasn't telling Qui-Gon anything his Master did not know already. "We need to contact the Temple. They will send help. "
"Not yet. " Qui-Gon's tone was firm. "We know now that there are many here who hate and resent the Jedi. If more Jedi arrive, it will make it harder for us to find contacts to help us. Especially among the Workers. "
"But a Jedi Knight is missing," Obi-Wan said. "It is our duty to contact the Council. "
"And we will," Qui-Gon told him. "But we need twenty-four hours first. We will find her, Obi-Wan. I can feel her. I know she is alive. I know she will find a way to help us once we get on her trail. " Qui-Gon returned to his pacing. "We should talk to Balog's assistant again. "
"We've already spoken to him twice," Obi-Wan said quietly. "Both of us felt sure he had nothing more to tell us. " It would feel strange and awkward to tell his own Master to focus, as Qui-Gon had told him so many times. Yet Obi-Wan felt that Qui-Gon needed to slow down. His Master's thoughts were circling in a pattern that would lead nowhere. Obi-Wan could see it clearly, for he had been taught by Qui-Gon how to think calmly in the midst of panic, how to find a way out.
