Siri snorted, then tried to turn it into a cough. Anakin remembered that Obi-Wan had told him that Siri had never done very well in her diplomacy classes at the Temple.
Even Didi looked embarrassed at Bog's bragging. He smiled at the Jedi in turn. 'Who needs galactic heroes when we have Jedi?'
'Precisely,' Liviani said crisply. 'And Bog is wrong about our not having problems.'
Bog looked crestfallen at having disappointed Liviani. 'I know of no problems, Liviani.'
Liviani ignored Bog and turned to the Jedi. 'There are rumors that there will be an illegal Podrace on the outskirts of the city.'
Anakin suddenly became very interested.
Siri frowned. 'We had not heard this.'
Liviani nodded. 'Podracers from all over the galaxy have been spotted arriving on Euceron. We have heard that they are gathering on the city's northern border in the Great Dordon Caves, whose extensive tunnels are, unfortunately, ideally suited for this suicidal sport.'
'Podracing is illegal in the Core Worlds,' Bog said disapprovingly.
'If I were Senator — I am running for Senator of my home planet of Nuralee, by the way — I would consider introducing a law to outlaw Podracing galaxy-wide. It only promotes gambling and violence.' Bog gave a quick glance at Liviani to see if she approved of his declaration.
Liviani continued to ignore him, however. 'You see our problem,' she said to the Jedi. 'The Ruling Power is worried about bad publicity, so it wants us to ignore the rumors. If Podracers die in the caves, no one will care, officially.' Liviani's delicate eyebrows drew together in a worried frown. 'But the authorities underestimate how popular these races are.
Beings will hear of them. Betting will take place, and spectators — some of them quite important on their home planets — will find the race. We cannot guarantee safety and crowd control.'
'The Games must proceed smoothly,' Bog added. 'Absolutely.'
Anakin barely heard their voices. His brain had started to buzz as soon as he'd heard the word Podrace. He hadn't seen or been in one since he was a slave on Tatooine.
It was as though the thick clouds overhead parted, for suddenly he felt the blow of the hot suns of Tatooine on the back of his neck. He could taste the grit of sand between his teeth. And he could feel the rise of the same fierce desire that had filled him as a young boy, the simplest, most powerful feeling he knew: the will to win.
Anakin felt his Master's eyes on him, as though the surge of feeling had touched Obi-Wan like a warning finger. A mask of serenity dropped over Anakin's face. He could call it up at will for times such as this, times when his blood seemed to race closer to his skin.
Liviani was speaking, and Obi-Wan turned back to her. Anakin kept his expression calm but interested, Like a Jedi would be. But inside… inside he was a slave boy, on fire to race again.
Chapter Three
Does he really think he's fooling me?
Obi-Wan's exasperation with his Padawan did not show on his face.
Anakin's attempts to hide his excitement may have tricked the others, but Obi-Wan felt it charge the air. He had never seen Anakin compete in a Podrace, and Qui-Gon had not given him many details, but he knew how outrageously dangerous Podracing was. Pilots sat in open cockpits, racing fragile crafts that were powered by massive engines tethered to the racer by flexible cables. Obi-Wan could imagine that the prospect of Anakin once again pitting his skills and reflexes and daring in such a race would be irresistible.
But it would not be worthy of a Jedi. Jedi did not seek thrills.
Obi-Wan could understand a momentary tug toward the past. He would expect his Padawan to overcome it. A longing for such things was childish, in his opinion. As soon as they were alone, he would speak to Anakin about it….
'Obi-Wan, my friend?' Didi spoke in a low tone at his elbow. 'A word?'
Liviani had received a call on her comlink and had turned away, so Obi-Wan followed Didi a few paces away from the others.
'I just wanted to say,' Didi began, smoothing his tunic with plump fingers, 'how my entire being is convulsed with joy to see your handsome and noble face once again — '
'You want a favor,' Obi-Wan said flatly. He was fond of Didi, but he did not for one second think that Didi would hesitate to take advantage of their friendship.
Didi looked wounded. 'Not a favor. Some company on a little errand — '
Obi-Wan began to turn away in dismissal.
'All right, all right! The truth! A favor!' Didi said quickly. He spread his hands, palms out. 'But such a tiny one it hardly qualifies.'
Obi-Wan closed his eyes for a second in irritation. Qui-Gon would ask for my patience. 'What is it?'
'Shortly after arriving in Eusebus, I bought a swoop bike,' Didi said.
'I thought it would make navigating these crowded streets much easier.
However, hardly had I gone two meters when the engine… whoosh, ka-blam!'
Didi's fingers traced an explosion in the air. 'I want my money back, yet I fear that slimy son of a monkey-
