'Obi-Wan is better.'
She nodded. 'I thought he would be. I came to start the refueling. I didn't want you to leave without me.'
'I thought about it,' Qui-Gon said. 'Then I thought about how stubborn you are.'
'It's a family trait.' Eritha hesitated. 'Tahl is important to me, Qui-Gon. I'd do anything for her. I promise I won't slow you down.'
'I'll hold you to that,' he said.
They completed the refueling in companionable silence, and Obi-Wan joined them. The stars had faded but the sky was still gray as they bid good-bye to Bini, Kevta, and Yanci.
Qui-Gon thanked them for their courtesy, but his mind was already on the day ahead. The tracking would not be easy.
'We wish you luck on your quest,' Bini said. 'Don't push yourself with that leg,' Yanci told Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan thanked her and swung his leg a bit awkwardly over the saddle of his swoop. Eritha fired up her engines, and Qui-Gon took the lead.
With a last wave, they headed out of the settlement.
Qui-Gon went to the coordinates where the Rock Workers had lost the Absolute attack team the last time they pursued them.
'We need to find an indication that Balog headed this way as well,'
he told Obi-Wan. 'The Rock Workers think the Absolutes took the west route through the canyons. Balog would have to change direction here.'
'I don't understand,' Eritha said. 'The ground is sheer rock. How can you see anything?'
But the ground wasn't sheer rock, not to a Jedi. Obi-Wan left his swoop and began to search in ever- widening circles with Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon could see that his Padawan's leg was troubling him, but he focused on the task.
Obi-Wan found the first clue. At first it appeared to be a mere discoloration on rock. But further study told them it was the mark of Balog's high-speed engine. They recognized it now.
Qui-Gon crouched over the markings on the rock. 'Good work, Padawan.
Balog is heading west. Look at the pattern of the exhaust. That way.' Qui- Gon pointed to the crags in the distance. Beyond the crags, he would find her. He could feel it. Her presence suddenly pulsed inside him like a heartbeat.
Eritha watched them, mystified and impressed.
'Remind me never to hide from the two of you,' she said.
They set off again. Without the help of the probe droid, it was slow going. They were forced to dismount time after time to check their progress. By midday, they had found the campsite where Balog had spent the night.
'He left this morning,' Qui-Gon said quietly, studying the flat rock where Balog had placed his condenser unit for heat. He could see a scorch mark and some boot marks in the surrounding dirt. 'We are close.' His gaze was fierce when he lifted his head. He looked past Obi-Wan toward the rugged landscape. 'Very close.'
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon heard the noise of the transport at the same time. They both turned toward the source of the sound.
'What is it?' Eritha asked.
The speck in the distance grew rapidly and turned into Yanci, her auburn hair flying in the wind as she piloted a swoop at maximum speed toward them.
'Something's wrong,' Obi-Wan said.
Yanci pulled up so rapidly she almost tipped the swoop. She hovered next to them.
'We need you,' she gasped, out of breath. 'A raid… a massive raid..
like nothing we've seen — '
She bent over, trying to catch her breath. 'This time they are trying to destroy the entire camp,' she said after a moment. 'They are killing as many of us as they can. Using small explosives and blasters. We have rallied who we can and have made a last stand in an outbuilding. We have some weapons. Not many.'
Eritha put her hands to her cheeks. 'This is terrible. We must do something.'
'Of course we will come,' Obi-Wan said.
'Padawan,' Qui-Gon said. 'May I speak with you.' He turned to Yanci.
'Just one moment, no more.'
Obi-Wan dismounted from his swoop and went to join Qui-Gon a short distance away where they could not be overheard.
'You must return with Yanci,' Qui-Gon told him. 'I will go on. We are too close to Tahl to turn back.'
Obi-Wan stared at him, astonished. Qui-Gon understood how he felt.
The Rock Workers were in desperate need of help. The Jedi were asked to give it. He could not believe that Qui-Gon would turn away like this. But how could he return when he felt Tahl's presence, when he knew she was only hours away?
