"Dark Lord - The Rise Of Darth Vader (James Luceno)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Luceno James)

Star Wars

Dark Lord

The Rise of Darth Vader

by James Luceno



source: IRC
uploaded: 09.I.2006

PART I

THE OUTER RIM SIEGES

1

MURKHANA. FINAL HOURS OF THE CLONE WARS

Dropping into swirling clouds conjured by Murkhana's weather stations,
Roan Shryne was reminded of meditation sessions his former Master had
guided him through. No matter how fixed Shryne had been on touching the
Force, his mind's eye had offered little more than an eddying whiteness.
Years later, when he had become more adept at silencing thought and
immersing himself in the light, visual fragments would emerge from that
colorless void-pieces to a puzzle that would gradually assemble themselves
and resolve. Not in any conscious way, though frequently assuring him that
his actions in the world were in accord with the will of the Force.

Frequently but not always.

When he veered from the course on which the Force had set him, the
familiar white would once again be stirred by powerful currents; sometimes
shot through with red, as if he were lifting his closed eyes to the glare
of a midday sun.

Red-mottled white was what he saw as he fell deeper into Murkhana's
atmosphere. Scored to reverberating thunder; the rush of the wind; a welter
of muffled voices...

He was standing closest to the sliding door that normally sealed the
troop bay of a Republic gunship, launched moments earlier from the forward
hold of the Gallant-a Victory-class Star Destroyer, harried by vulture and
droid tri-fighters and awaiting High Command's word to commence its own
descent through Murkhana's artificial ceiling. Beside and behind Shryne
stood a platoon of clone troopers, helmets fitting snugly over their heads,
blasters cradled in their arms, utility belts slung with ammo magazines,