They proceeded single file through the narrow passages.
Qui-Gon took the lead. Ahead he saw a line of sky and ground and knew that soon they would be through. He slowed his pace and drew up to the opening.
In front of him the cliffs widened to embrace a small canyon. A deep pit was to the right, filled with water. The soil around the pit was a muddy red dotted with huge boulders. Sunlight danced on the smooth surface of the water. Some distance to the left he could see the dark opening of a cave. He saw no movement, no sign of living beings.
Obi-Wan and Eritha crowded behind him to scrutinize the area.
'There's no one here,' Eritha said, disappointed. 'Yanci was wrong.'
Obi-Wan spoke quietly. 'What do you think, Master? Are we in the wrong place?'
Qui-Gon reached out for the Force. He tested the air, searching for vibrations. He sent a message to Tahl. 1 am here.
He received something back a reverberation. Like a gentle touch on his cheek. Like a tiny sigh. Something 'No,' he said. 'This is the place.'
Suddenly they saw the water ripple on the lake. The ripples grew into waves. The two Jedi grew alert.
'We're wasting time. We should go back,' Eritha said.
The two Jedi remained focused on the lake. 'There is no wind,' Obi- Wan said.
'Exactly,' Qui-Gon murmured.
A structure rose from the surface. Water streamed off its curved top.
An opening slowly widened and a ramp emerged. It extended over the water to dry land. A few seconds later, two tech vehicles sped down the ramp, hit land, and then headed for the cave. They disappeared inside. They did not see the Jedi.
'Everything is hidden,' Qui-Gon said. 'The camp can't be seen from the air. Clever.'
'How shall we infiltrate, then?' Obi-Wan asked.
'We'll have to start with the cave. The tech vehicles didn't seem to go through a checkpoint,' Qui-Gon said, scanning the cave entrance. 'I don't think there are sensors outside the cave.' He turned back to Eritha.
'Stay here until we send for you.'
'No. If you go without me, I'll follow you.' Eritha's jaw set.
Qui-Gon frowned. 'Then stay behind us. Realize that you can endanger this mission if you act hastily. You will follow my orders. Agreed?'
'Agreed.' Eritha flashed a shaky grin. 'I'm stubborn, but I'm not stupid.'
'All right,' Qui-Gon muttered. 'Let's go.'
Chapter 14
They kept close to the cliff walls and boulders for as long as they could. Then they purposefully walked the short distance to the cave entrance. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan checked for scanners as they moved closer but saw none. Obi-Wan guessed that the Absolutes considered their hideout so well hidden that they did not need to install them.
They slipped into the darkness of the cave entrance with relief.
Immediately to the right was a pen where gravsleds and small speeders were kept. There was a bin filled with tech jackets. Qui-Gon signaled to the others, and they each donned one. Eritha hid her hair under a cap and dirtied her face, so she was less recognizable.
Feeling a little less exposed, they proceeded farther into the cave.
Glow rods set high in the walls gave faint illumination. They could see that the small opening to the cave was deceptive. As they moved deeper into it, the space widened and extended far in the distance.
'It goes out under the water,' Qui-Gon said in a low tone. 'This is bigger than it appears.'
Ahead a few Absolutes in the same tech jackets came walking toward them. Qui-Gon gave them an impersonal nod of greeting. They nodded back and continued walking.
Eritha let out a shaky breath. 'Whew.'
'It appears that there are enough Absolutes working here that not everyone knows one another,' Qui-Gon murmured. 'Good. Obi-Wan, look for any high-security devices on the tunnels leading off the cave. That could mean that Tahl is being held there.'
Obi-Wan could feel his Master's tension. They were so close now. He reached out to the Force to help him with his perceptions. Nothing could go wrong now. If they were captured, it would mean a delay that could cost Tahl her life.
They paused by a tunnel that was lined with computer equipment. 'This must be the tech-control area,' Qui-Gon said. He moved away quickly as someone walked out of a durasteel door and began checking the equipment.
They walked on, passing other beings who either nodded or walked quickly, focused on their business. Eritha kept her face turned away in case she was recognized despite her disguise. Obi-Wan noted a security sensor bank near an offshoot tunnel. He pointed it out to Qui-Gon.
'Let's try it,' Qui-Gon said.
