"Michael Stackpole "I, Jedi"" - читать интересную книгу автора

I looked down at his body as Cilghal straightened his limbs. I'd screwed up badly, and because of it he was lying there. If I'd done things differently, there was no guarantee he wouldn't have ended up in the same place, but things might have taken another turn, one for the better. I'd failed him, and I'd had the arrogance to suggest he was failing us.
Failure stops here and now. Muscles bunched at the corners of my jaw. УWe're not alone. We have each other. We may not be Jedi, but we're not helpless either.Ф
The Dathomiri witch looked at me and restated her question.
УWhat can we do?Ф
УWe can do the obvious, can't we?Ф I jerked a thumb back down toward the Headhunter. УKyp was here and, if I had to guess, I'd say he was responsible for what happened to Master Skywalker. First thing we need to do is to let Coruscant know Luke has been hurt and that Kyp Durron was involved.Ф
The Mon Calamari Ambassador looked up. УUntil you have solid evidence that Kyp was here, blaming him for this is wrong.Ф
I frowned at her. УBut the Headhunter . . .Ф
УCould have been stolen from him and used by someone else.Ф
УYour caution is good, Cilghal, but Kyp's being here isn't that hard a conclusion to draw.Ф Kam walked over to the edge of the pyramid, looked down at the landing pad, then grunted. УThink Kyp is still hiding on this rock?Ф
Streen shook his head. УI can't hear Kyp.Ф
УI'd like to hope that means he's dead, but I don't believe it.Ф I glanced at Kam. УYou're wondering how he got off this rock if he left the fighter behind.Ф
УYes, and the only other ride in the system, unless we missed his coming with allies in the middle of the night, is the Sun Crusher.Ф His hands contracted into fists. УKyp knew how to make it work.Ф
Tionne shivered. УCould he have been powerful enough to recall it from the heart of the gas giant?Ф
Streen crouched down and plucked from the Temple's roof a small stone that scintillated brilliantly in the dawning sun. УCorusca gem. The only place in the universe they are formed is in Yavin's heart. It could have been lodged in the hatch as-sembly and fallen off when Kyp entered the Sun Crusher.Ф I groaned. УNot the news I wanted to hear.Ф
Cilghal raised a hand. УCorusca gems can be found here on Yavin, and we have no way of knowing how long that piece of one has been here. More importantly, we have no way of know-ing if the Sun Crusher is still in the gas giant or not. Again, you're reaching conclusions on the most circumstantial of evi-dence.Ф
УI can see why you were a diplomat, Ambassador.Ф I sighed heavily. УOkay, look, we have to take this in steps. First thing, we get Master Skywalker down and out of the elements.Ф
Tionne smiled. УWe should place him in the Grand Audience Chamber.Ф
I winced. УWon't that be like having him lie in state? He isn't dead.Ф
Her smile contracted. УI was just thinking that he liked the chamber and the acoustics are good for singing and it was the site of a great victory celebration.Ф
Karo came around behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. УGood thinking, Tionne. There's room enough there that we can all gather around and listen to you singing. We want him to feel he's still part of our community.Ф Kam looked past her at me and raised an evebrow.
УRight, exactly. You're thinking a lot more quickly today than I am, Tionne.Ф I glanced at the Mort Calamari. УAmbassa-dor, you've got a talent for healing. Will you monitor Master Skywalker and let us know what we need to help him? Our medical supplies are limited here .... У
УI can see to his initial care, yes. We should certainly get a full medical team out here as fast as possible, however.Ф Cilghal slowly blinked her eyes. УWe must also notify the New Republic and Councilor Organa Solo that something has happened to hcr brother.Ф
Brakiss added, УAnd let them know Kyp Durron has the Sun Crusher. With his hatred for remnants of the Empire, there is no telling what he will do with a weapon of that power.Ф
1 cut off Cilghal's protest of Brakiss' remarks. УAt the very least we need to get a survey team out here that can check to see if the Sun Crusher is still in the gas giant or not.Ф
Kirana Ti crouched and mopped sweat from Luke's brow with the hem of her Jedi robe. УWe should also make certain Master Skywalker is never alone. He should always have an honor guard with him.Ф
Dorsk 81 looked at her with horror on his face. УYou think Mastcr Skywalker is still in jeopardy?Ф
I cleared my throat. УWe can't discount that possibility. Kyp may have wanted him dead and held back at the last moment, for reasons we can't begin to plot. He might return to finish the job.Ф Or the dark man might try. УHaving someone with Master Skywalker also makes sense on the medical front, in case there is a change.Ф
The Mon Calamari nodded. УWe should get him inside now.
He is stable enough to move, I believe.Ф
УGood. I'll get on the HoloNet and speak to Coruscant to
start notification going. Ambassador, I'd like you to later speak
with Councilor Organa Solo. You can answer her questions
about her brother better than I can, and news of what has
happened here should come from someone who knows her, not
o У a stran..er.
Brakiss peered imperiously at me. УWhat about the rest of us?Ф
УI don't know. Do what you're able to do. Help Cilghal.
Make food. Meditate.Ф
The slender man frowned. УMeditate? Hardly helpful in this situation, wouldn't you say?Ф
Karo shook his head vehemently. УWe need to avoid panic and keep our wits about us. We should practice what we have learned so far, strengthening ourselves. If Kyp returns, if an-other problem arises, we need to be able to deal with it.Ф His head came up. УI'11 expect everyone who isn't assigned other duties to meet for exercises as usual.Ф
УIt's a plan.Ф I gave Karo a nod. УAnd a good one. Everyone clear? Good. Go to it.Ф
I descended to the comnmnications center and powered up the system. Luke's R2 unit stood faithfully by to help me, but his anxiety kept him bouncing from tread to tread. His whistles took on a pinched tone, reminding me of Whistler when he really wanted to have his gears lubed.
УGo, Artoo, having you near him will make Master Skywalker feel a lot better, I'm certain. And you can monitor lifesigns better than any of the rest of us.Ф I smiled as the droid raced from the comm center. I wasn't certain I wanted him around while I worked anyway.
I tried first to reach Wedge, but could only leave a message in his personal holocache. Next I tried Tycho and managed to get him at Squadron Headquarters.
He gave me a big smile. УDidn't expect to be hearing from you for a while. How is the training going?Ф
I shook my head and his smile atrophied. УWe just took a big hit. Luke Skywalker is down.Ф УDown?Ф
УHurt, but we don't know how badly. We can only guess what happened and it's not good. Luke's stable right now, and we hope he'll recover, but we're going to need a full medical team out here as fast as possible.Ф
Tycho glanced out of the holograph's frame, then nodded. 'Tve got a shuttle fueling and prefiighting right now. I'll alert a reed team and fly it out myself.Ф
УGood. I also have a list of other things I want you to bring.Ф
УWhatever you need.Ф