chanting crowd, hovering at the edge of the viewport, a dejected look on his wrinkled blue face.
The moment he caught sight of Qui-Gon, his dejection transformed, and he flew at the Jedi Master in undisguised fury.
'You! You swindled me!' He bounced in the air in front of Qui-Gon, shaking with rage. 'You knew the boy was going to win! Somehow you knew it! I lost everything!'
Qui-Gon smiled benignly. 'Whenever you gamble, my friend, eventually you'll lose. Today wasn't your day.' The smile dropped away. 'Bring the hyperdrive parts to the main hangar right away. I'll come by your shop later so you can release the boy.'
The Toydarian shoved his snout against Qui-Gon's nose. 'You can't have him! It wasn't a fair bet!'
Qui-Gon looked him up and down with a chilly stare. 'Would you like to discuss it with the Hutts? I'm sure they would be happy to settle the matter.'
Watto jerked as if stung, his beady eyes filled with hate. 'No, no! I want no more of your tricks.' He gestured emphatically. 'Take the boy! Be gone!'
He wheeled away and flew out of the box, body hunched beneath madly beating wings. Qui-Gon watched him depart, then started down the stairs for the racetrack, his mind already turning to other things.
Had he not been so preoccupied with his plans for what lay ahead, he might have caught sight of the Sith probe droid trailing after.
Within an hour, the arena had emptied, the racers had been stored or hauled away for repairs, and the main hangar left almost deserted. A few pit droids were still engaged in salvaging pieces of wreckage from the race, coming and going in steady pursuit of their work. Anakin alone of the Pod pilots remained, checking over his damaged racer. He was dirty and ragged, his hair spiky and his face streaked with sweat and grime. His jacket was torn in several places, and there was blood on his clothing where he had slashed his arm on a jagged piece of metal during the battle with Sebulba.
Qui-Gon watched him thoughtfully, standing to one side with Padme and Shmi as the boy, Jar Jar, R2-D2, and C-3PO moved busily over the Pod and engines. Could it be? he was wondering for what must have been the hundredth time, pondering the way the boy handled a Podracer, the maturity he exhibited, and the instincts he possessed. Was it possible?
He shelved his questions for another time. It would be up to the Council to decide. Abruptly, he left the women, walking over to the boy and kneeling beside him.
'You're a bit worse for wear, Annie,' he said softly, placing his hands on the boy's shoulders and looking him in the eyes, 'but you did well.' Smiling reassuringly, he wiped a patch of dirt off the boy's face. 'There, good as new.'
He ruffled the boy's unruly hair and helped bind his injured arm. Shmi and Padme joined them and were moved to give Anakin fresh hugs and kisses, checking him over carefully, touching his cheeks and forehead.
'Ah, gee... enough of this,' the boy mumbled in embarrassment.
His mother smiled, shaking her head. 'It's so wonderful, Annie--what you've done here. Do you know? You've brought hope to those who have none. I'm so very proud of you.'
'We owe you everything,' Padme added quickly, giving him an intense, warm look.
Anakin blushed scarlet. 'Just feeling this good is worth anything,' he declared, smiling back.
Qui-Gon walked over to where the hyperdrive parts were loaded on an antigrav repulsors led harnessed to a pair of eopies. Watto had made delivery as promised, though not without considerable grumbling and a barrage of thinly veiled threats. Qui-Gon checked the container straps, glanced out into the midday heat, and walked back to the others.
'Padme, Jar Jar, let's go,' he ordered abruptly. 'We've got to get these parts back to the ship.'
The group moved over to the eopies, laughing and talking. Padme hugged and kissed Anakin again, then climbed onto one of the eopies behind Qui-Gon, taking hold of his waist. Jar Jar swung onto the second animal and promptly slid off the other side, collapsing in a heap. R2-D2 beeped encouragingly as the Gungan tried again, this time managing to keep his seat. Goodbyes and thank-yous were exchanged, but it was an awkward moment for Anakin. He looked as ifhe.'wanted to say something to Padme, moving up beside her momentarily, staring up at her expectantly. But all he could manage was a sad, confused look.
Slowly, the eopies began to move off, Anakin and his mother standing with C-3PO, waving after.
'I'll return the eopies by midday,' Qui-Gon promised, calling over his shoulder.
Padme did not look back at all.
Qui-Gon Jinn and company rode out of Mos Espa into the Tatooine desert, R2-D2 leading the way, rolling along in front of the eopies and sled at a steady pace. The suns were rising quickly to a midday position in the sky, and the heat rose off the sand in waves. But the journey back to the Queen's transport was accomplished swiftly and without incident.
Obi-Wan was waiting for them, appearing down e rampway as soon as they neared, his youthful face intense. 'I was getting worried,' he announced without preamble.
Qui-Gon dismounted, then helped Padme down. 'Start getting this hyperdrive generator installed,' he ordered. 'I'm going back. I have some unfinished business.'
'Business?' his protege echoed, arching one eyebrow.
'I won't be long.'
Obi-Wan studied him a moment, then sighed. 'Why do I sense we've picked up another stray?'
Qui-Gon took his arm and moved him away from the others. 'It's the boy who's responsible for getting us these parts.' He paused. 'The boy whose blood sample you ran the midi-chlorian test on last night.'
Obi-Wan gave him a hard, steady look, then turned away.
