gazed at him for a tenth of a second. In the master’s eyes, Obi-Wan saw respect and acceptance.
“I will return,” Qui-Gon promised, and rushed into the caves.
In seconds, the draigons were on Obi-Wan. His lightsaber slashed and burned, sizzled and shrieked. Draigons roared in pain and fell before him. He was fighting better and stronger than he ever had, ever thought he could.
But he knew he could not hold the draigons off for long.
Qui-Gon raced through the caves, past Whiphid and Hutt guards, carrying his bag of dactyl.
Such was the look of purpose in his eyes that no one dared to stop him. Instead, Jemba’s guards cowered in fear, until Qui-Gon, halfway through the tunnel, meet Jemba himself.
“Halt!” the enormous Hutt ordered. “Where are you going?”
Qui-Gon stared evenly at Jemba. You had better get your guard to the mouths of the caves,” Qui-Gon warned. “We’re in trouble.”
“Hah!” Jemba laughed. “Your foolish pupil already tried that trick!”
Suddenly a draigon roared near the mouth of the tunnels. The sound was astonishing. The cave trembled. Bits of dust shook loose from the roof.
“It has started,” Qui-Gon said evenly.
He shouldered past the enormous Hutt and raced to get the dactyl to the Arconans.
Grelb squeezed between two flat rocks and lay for a moment, his heavy blaster in hand, staring down at the caves. He’d missed his chance to kill Qui-Gon Jinn. The big Jedi had already raced into the caves. But his pupil guarded the moth of the cavern, lightsaber ready.
He wanted the Master, but the pupil would have to do for now.
Draigons hurtled from the sky by the dozens, converging on the lad. Even Grelb had to admire the young Jedi’s skill. His lightsaber struck again and again, and the boy showed no sign of tiring. It was almost a pity to kill him.
Lightning split the sky. Rain pounded the stones over Grelb’s head. One good thing about hiding under these rocks — at least it was dry.
He raised his blaster rifle and tried to aim at the young Jedi. The boy’s lightsaber flashed among the draigons.
All I need now, Grelb thought, is one brief moment to pull of my shot. Just one…
Chapter 22
The battle was like none Obi-Wan had ever imagined. He felt no fear. He had accepted his death. The odds were just too great against him. Now he only fought to protect the Arconans. He felt no anger. He did not hate the hungry beasts that dropped endlessly from the blackened skies.
The Force was his ally.
He could feel it moving him, moving through him, and through the draigons. He leaped and somersaulted. He spun and slashed through muzzles and claws. The battle became a dance of sheer survival.
As he danced, Obi-Wan changed. He felt subtle promptings he’d never felt before. He saw attacks before they came. He sensed the flail of a tail before it happened. The muscles of the draigons seemed incredible defined, so that he could read tiny flickers of movements that revealed which way a draigon would turn. Dead draigons piled on the ground around him. He gave himself entirely to the dance.
After several long minutes, he began backing toward the mouth of the cave. He had an idea. If he could kill the draigons at the very mouth of the cave, the bodies would block the entrance. If enough entrances were blocked, they might have a chance.
He fought his way back ferociously. He had just gained the entrance when he heard a familiar laugh.
“Well done, little one!” Jemba chortled. The enormous Hutt slithered from the shadows farther back in the cave. He held an oversized blaster rifle.
Obi-Wan barely had time to glance at the Hutt, for three draigons had gathered at the mouth of the cave.
“Help me!” Obi-Wan called to Jemba as he fought. It would be easy for the Hutt to shoot the draigons. He could help with his plan. Obi-Wan knew he wouldn’t care to save him, but Jemba would certainly want to save himself.
“Of course,” Jemba chortled. “I’ll help you — to death!” He raised his blaster rifle and aimed.
Grelb huddled beneath his rock. Draigons lay at Obi-Wan Kenobi’s feet. The boy stood with the mouth of the cave yawning wide behind him.
The Hutt chuckled softly. He saw his chance and squeezed the trigger of his blaster.
The bolt shot out — but the Grelb’s surprise, young Obi-Wan must have sensed it coming, for he dodged to the side. The bolt barely missed him.
Grelb shouted in rage and prepared to fire again. This time, he would not miss. But suddenly, he felt huge teeth rip into his tail.
He had been concentrating too hard. He had forgotten to keep a lookout. A draigon had found him.
He barely had time to cry out before the draigon yanked him from under his rock.
Obi-Wan stood panting. He’d felt the Force, had dodged as the blaster bolt came from nowhere and sizzled
