They burst up to the surface. Tahl's dark hair was slicked back off her forehead. Now she looked like a water creature, sleek and supple.
Suddenly, she frowned. 'Someone's coming,' she murmured. 'Do you see?
Down by the path.'
Qui-Gon said nothing. But a fraction of a second later, he noticed a disturbance in the overhanging leaves, far down the path.
'We're supposed to be in meditation right now,' she whispered.
'This way,' he said. He stroked to the edge of the lake, where a rocky outcropping would shield them.
They waited in the shadows, shivering a little from the coolness of the water. They heard the unmistakable sound of Yoda's shuffling step. Of all the Jedi Masters, for Yoda to catch them!
Qui-Gon's eyes narrowed in concern, but Tahl looked as though she would burst out laughing. Qui-Gon placed a hand over her mouth, and, grinning, she did the same to him.
Yoda stopped on the path over their heads. They did not breathe.
After a moment, he moved on.
After Yoda had moved away, Tahl dropped her hand, and Qui-Gon dropped his.
'You know, you almost beat me to the top,' she said. 'We could be rivals. But l think it would be better if we were friends.'
'Let's be friends,' Qui-Gon agreed. He spoke soberly. He took friendship seriously. Already he knew he wanted to be friends with this girl.
As if she couldn't contain herself any longer, Tahl dived underwater and moved away from him. She came up, shaking off water. The sun was shining, and the rays made the droplets shimmer.
'Friends forever!' she called to him, treading water. 'Deal?'
'Deal,' he said.
Forever.
Qui-Gon was still waiting when Obi-Wan burst into the small waiting area in the med complex a few hours later.
'Any news?'
Qui-Gon shook his head. 'They are still with her.'
'Have you seen her?'
'Not since I got here. Soon, they say.' Eritha hurried in. 'How is Tahl?'
'She is holding her own,' Qui-Gon said. 'Other than that, I don't know.'
Eritha paced in front of him. 'I don't understand why Manex had you bring her here. Well, I do. He always thinks what he has is the best. Where is he?'
'He waited with me for some time,' Qui-Gon said. 'He left to attend to some things at his home. He said he would be back.'
She sat down and pressed her palms together. 'I hate waiting. I know the Jedi don't feel that way.'
'We hate it, too,' Obi-Wan said. 'We are just better at it.'
Not so, Qui-Gon thought. The past two hours had been the hardest of his life.
Eritha waited for some minutes, then restlessly got up. 'I need some air. Will you contact me as soon as we know something?'
Obi-Wan assured her that they would. He remained next to Qui-Gon, not speaking. Qui-Gon felt his Padawan's sympathy and concern. He was grateful for his presence. It was easier not to wait alone. He knew that Obi-Wan loved Tahl, too.
'Did Tahl say anything about the kidnapping?' Obi-Wan asked him quietly.
'Balog was looking for the list of informers, just as Irini and Lenz thought,' Qui-Gon said. He briefly told Obi-Wan what Tahl had told him. He had trouble concentrating on the whys of Tahl's kidnapping. There would be time for that, as soon as he looked into her face and saw that she was her old self again.
'The message runner could be the key,' Obi-Wan mused. 'We know the list was stolen and could have been in Absolute hands. What if Oleg took it? If Tahl was spotted escaping with him, they would of course suspect that she had it. Tahl said that the Absolute leaders wanted to interrogate Oleg. If they couldn't find him, they would turn to Tahl.'
Qui-Gon was barely listening. 'It is a theory, Padawan. We shall see.
' The doors slid open, and the med team emerged. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan stood. The doctor went straight to Qui-Gon.
'Her vital signs are dropping. We did everything we could do. The damage to her internal organs was severe. She will see you now.'
Qui-Gon searched the doctor's face. 'So she will recover.'
'Her damage is severe,' the doctor repeated. His weary eyes were full of sadness as he looked at Qui- Gon.
'She will recover,' Qui-Gon repeated. This time there was certainty in his voice.
