The Hospitality Guides suddenly stood. 'That was an excellent meeting,'
V-Haad said. 'I'm so glad to hear of the wonderful Jedi way.'
'And we are sure you are tired from your journey,' 0-Rina added. 'We will show you to the quarters we have for you. There will be plenty of time for more discussion.'
'Unless you must go,' V-Haad said. 'We know how important the Jedi are.'
'We can stay as long as V-Nen and O-Melie want us to,' Adi said firmly.
'I have a request,' Qui-Gon said. 'We would like to walk to our destination. We did have a long journey, it's true. We'd like to stretch our legs and see more of your beautiful planet.'
The two Hospitality Guides exchanged glances at this unexpected request.
'Of course,' 0-Rina said, reluctance coloring her usual bright expression. 'If you would like that…'
'We would,' Qui-Gon said firmly. 'And of course we would enjoy the company of V-Nen and O-Melie as well. It will give us a chance to get to know one other.'
The Guides could not refuse. O-Melie and V-Nen went to ask their neighbor O-Yani if she could continue watching O-Lana.
'The baby is sleeping now,' O-Melie said quietly as she slipped back inside. 'We would be happy to walk with you.'
The Guides and O-Melie and V-Nen went out. Under the cover of adjusting his cloak, Qui-Gon turned back to Obi-Wan and Siri.
'Leave us and wander off when you can,' he said in a low tone. 'Do it without being seen. The Guides will come after you. Avoid them. You can use the time to gather information about Kegan. Do not cause disruption or upset. Remember, observation without interference. Do not reveal that you are Jedi.'
Obi-Wan and Siri nodded, their expressions alert.
Qui-Gon saw Adi's worried look. He thought he understood. They would cause a disruption. A minimal disruption, and worth the risk, in his opinion. But Adi might not think so. He was not used to having to ask another Jedi Master to approve a course of action. He waited, his eyes on her, to see if she would object.
As he waited, Qui-Gon wondered again why Yoda had sent two teams to this planet. Had Adi been sent in order to monitor his tendency to follow his instincts and bend the rules? Was she meant to oversee how he and Obi-Wan worked together?
And if she did not approve of his suggestion, what would he do?
But Adi nodded. 'This had better work,' she murmured as she stepped out into the bright sunlight.
'Tell me, V-Haad and 0-Rina,' Qui-Gon said as they walked through the streets of Kegan. 'I see that you have solved many problems that other worlds have not. Why don't Keganites travel to other worlds and share knowledge with them?'
'We have no need to,' V-Haad said. 'We have what we need for a good life here. And travel can be dangerous. The galaxy is a violent place. If we traveled it would encourage others to travel here. That could bring danger to Kegan. You can't deny that there is violence throughout the galaxy.'
'No, I cannot,' Qui-Gon agreed. 'But there is also trade and an exchange of knowledge.'
0-Rina and V-Haad merely smiled and shook their heads.
'We have everything we need,' V-Haad repeated. 'Importing trade or knowledge is unnecessary and harmful to the General Good.'
'Why would advances in knowledge be harmful?' Obi-Wan asked, curious.
Qui-Gon saw a red flush mount on V-Haad's neck, even while his smile stayed fixed on his face.
'Kegan is a beautiful planet,' Adi remarked in an obvious attempt to change the subject.
Quickly, 0-Rina switched the topic to the lovely spaces of Kegan, pointing out native species as they passed the Garden Circle with its blooming flowers.
Qui-Gon remained silent. There was something else bothering him about Kegan — something besides the determined smiles on the faces of the Hospitality Guides. Suddenly he realized he had not heard laughter since he'd landed on the planet. He had not seen any public sculptures or fountains or works of art. He had not heard music. On such a peaceful planet it was unusual. Perhaps it was the lack of joy — despite the smiles — that was disturbing him.
'Here is our marketplace,' 0-Rina said proudly, sweeping an arm to show them the circular area crowded with stalls. 'No one needs currency to buy.
Everyone barters with their own surplus. No one goes hungry.'
It was the oddest marketplace Qui-Gon had ever seen. Although they had just passed fruit orchards in the Garden Circle and had seen trees with boughs bent with ripe fruit, there was not a fresh fruit or vegetable to be seen. Strips of dried fruit and vegetables hung from hooks, and large bins contained grains. There were cobblers for boots and tailors who sold tunics and work gear. Shoppers went about their business with smiles and nods. They did not linger with pleasure at a display or stop to be tempted by a treat.
There was plenty to see in the market, but nothing enticing to buy.
'Very… useful,' Siri said politely.
A cart headed for them, loaded with bolts of rough linen. Qui-Gon stepped quickly to his right, seeming to get out of the way. He stepped into the path of a stall keeper who was placing tools on a rack for display. The rack tilted, and the tools spilled into the path.
Quickly, Qui-Gon bent down to help the stall keeper pick up the tools.
