"He's back." Owen's voice is grim, but it precipitates a rush of movement towards the door. It's a strange feeling, and I know everyone else feels it too, a desperate desire to see and at the same time, a horrible reluctance. We want to know, but can't bear to look.
Cleigg is ahead of me, Beru pushing his wheelchair, and even before I get to the door I know what I'll see. I can tell by the way his shoulders sink and Beru flinches. I know there's only one person on the hovercraft.
One person and a corpse. Anakin cradles in his arms a body wrapped in cloth. His shoulders are tense and his face is closed, dark, empty. His mouth is set in a grim line. We're all staring, but he meets my eyes only once, glancing up as he passes. I flinch. I can't help it. There's something in his eyes that I don't understand, but it feels like a physical blow. Something's changed.
What happened to him, out there in the desert?
Thanks to everyone who reviewed, and encouraged me to continue. I know this story is not the easiest to read, as I update it so rarely, so many thanks for the persevearance!