There is boundless hope in the only chance.
It's finished! By a lucky coincidence, Santal manages to escape from captivity and avoid an unenviable fate! Now, traveling like a hare in a box on a Rodian ship, she is filled with the hope of returning home. Meanwhile, on Coruscant in the Jedi Temple, life goes on as usual ...
The massive building of the Temple towered over a kilometer above the rest of Galactic City, built on an ancient source of power located inside the mountain. There was a free space around, the Street of Processions, from which the best view of the Temple opened. From the outside, the building looked like a tall, stepped ziggurat with five spiers at the top, symbolizing the Jedi's pursuit of enlightenment.
The central and highest spire, surrounded by four smaller ones, is also known as the Temple Spire. It is considered the main one: it contains the ancient texts of the Jedi founders, and in this sacred place the Jedi indulge in meditation.
In the first of four smaller spiers, the twelve members of the Jedi High Council sit on various affairs of the Republic. The High Council plays a vital role in that it has the power to decide the fate of the entire Jedi Order and thus to a certain extent influence the Galactic Republic as well.
It was there that Grand Master of the Jedi Order Yoda went early in the morning. He walked slowly, leaning on a cane.
"Good morning, Master Unduli. "Good morning, Master Yoda.
Both masters bowed respectfully to each other. And then each went his own way.
When Yoda entered, everyone was already there. Seeing the green head, everyone immediately stood up. The twelve councilors bowed their heads. Someone clasped his hands behind his back, someone folded them in front of him. Someone simply lowered freely on the sides. Together they began:
May the Force be with us all. And may the peace of our Temple be with us. An abode open for thought and conversation. The sphere of mutual respect and the dominance of a noble goal. Let each take his place as an equal among equals. May our work be done in trust, Free from the shackles of conceit and envy At this and subsequent meetings.
They all sat down. You could start.
What is it? - Elina Sabura lamented. Nobi almost ran next to her, afraid to leave behind his bustling wife.
In the morning, the poor summer girl could not find a place for herself. Her named niece is missing! Elina sensed something was wrong in the morning. On ordinary days Santal got up before everyone else, walked a little in her room. And then she went to them and woke them up if, in her opinion, they fell asleep. And today she and her husband woke up in a calm atmosphere. Nobody touched.
The aunt went into her niece's room and froze on the threshold. The bed is not made. Not a trace of the girl. Letanka was about to faint. What a fool she is! I didn't look! But Elina even at night through her sleep heard some shuffling, but did not attach any importance to it. And my husband muttered, they say, don't worry, it's just the wind. But she calmed down and did not check! Fool tailhead! Lecca would have been cut off for her stupidity!
Calm down, Elina. It is not your fault. - Nobi, distinguished by his dark green skin, put his hand on his
wife's shoulder. "I'm ...
Do not say anything! You didn't make a promise to your pregnant girlfriend that you would take care of her baby if something happened. So most of the responsibility lies with me! O Strength, what to do? What to do?!
Maybe the police? Or call the Jedi? Nobi suggested.
No! - Elina barked. The husband staggered back. - You can't call the Jedi! They are already busy all the time. And generally speaking. If they find Santal, they won't give them back! She's got ... - Letanka stopped short.
Despite this, her husband added two and two without difficulty.
"So is she ... a Jedi?" - The man was surprised to learn something new about the girl he raised for three years.
Yes. More precisely, she can become one. All the essentials - sensitivity to Strength and character traits - she has. - Elina decided that there was no need to deny it. If the husband already understood everything. - But I will not allow this.
Why? Why are you doing this? - In fact, Nobi had a lot of questions, but nevertheless he decided to ask such in order to find out everything he wanted.
"You see, when I was younger, two Jedi saved me from a terrible fate. These were her parents. If not for them, I would have been a slave to the Hutts to this day. Low bow to them for that! We became friends. And two months before the death of Adir, that was the name of Santal's mother, she said that she was expecting a child. And then, on my own initiative, I decided to become her nanny. Although they wanted to raise the baby themselves. But I still gave my word that if something happened, I would take care of her or him. How she looked into the water! - Letanka sobbed.
Well, if you are so good to the Jedi, then why the "little ones"? - Nobi still did not fully understand. "And you didn't tell me that you were a slave!
Twi'lek was shocked: how bad it was! And his wife was silent, keeping everything to herself! Well, how can you ?!
"I'm ashamed of what happened. I still remember how difficult it was for me to come to my senses at first. I felt dirty and humiliated. You have no idea what I endured there!
So tell me! I will listen to you! Don't think that I will love you less! Nobi exclaimed hotly.
Elina was dumbfounded. Never before had her husband been so determined. And she made up her mind. She told how she had to dance in a meager outfit, live in mud, eat scraps. But that's not the worst part. She was once beaten for disobedience. On the very first day of slavery, the Hutt wrapped its tail around it and held it for some time. Sometimes, he hugged and licked. Or he could just try to stick his tongue in his mouth or in his ass. It took a long time. Elina felt like a whole year. It was owned by two Hutts. The first one lost at cards. Bastian killed the second one.
After that, she became very suspicious. She began to lead a sedentary lifestyle. After the miraculous return, she vowed never to leave her home planet again. Never! Enough! Seen enough of the world! This is what she wanted to teach Santal: to be a homebody, to hate and be afraid of the Hutts. That's why I told her several times before going to bed almost every night that there were giant slugs on Tatooine that would eat her. And Santal believed, although she still ran away during the day to observe nature. A bully, but such a nice baby! Letanka always wanted to lightly pat the girl on the cheek.
Elina thought about it. Oh, how she would like to kill at least one slug! Well, okay. Bastian fulfilled the
dream for her. We must be content with what we have.
Most of all, she was afraid not so much of Santal falling into slavery to the Hutts, as of the fact that someone would catch her, take her away to no one knows where, beat her, and she and Nobi would never see their niece again! Such thoughts made me want to cry.
Look. - Nobi made to pay attention to himself. - No shoes. Maybe she ran away?
What for? What have we done to her? - Elina threw up her hands.
Nothing. But you know how curious she is. I saw something and went to look. And I was lost. "If you're right, then she's here somewhere.
But on the other hand, she would find her way home. Santal is not stupid. She must have been stolen after all. Lured and stolen! Poor thing! It can be anywhere: in a slave market, in slavery, in space ... Suddenly, somewhere on the street, freezes and cries? - Letanka grabbed her head, sat up and howled.
Nobi walked over and gave his wife a weak slap in the face, wanting to revive her.
Calm down! I think I came up with it. Actually, I don't understand why you don't want Santal to become a Jedi. Not everyone can be one. This is one of the noblest professions. These wonderful creatures help people disinterestedly. Keep peace in the galaxy ...
I know without you! - Elina interrupted him. - Yes, they are wonderful. Should I not know. But it seems to me that everyone, except for Adira and her husband Bastian, is a little bit. Jedi steal children! The parents probably disagree, and they take it away. To join your ranks.
Yes, where did you get it?
My grandmother told me so. Until she died when I was five. Only mother and father remained. Glory to the Force, while they are healthy.
And here I am an orphan almost from birth. From early childhood by itself, - said sad Nobi. - How did yours bless us? I am still surprised.
"You made a good impression on them. They saw before them a simple but noble Twi'lek with a kind heart and a pure soul.
Nobi blushed, but almost immediately turned serious.
So how will we look for Santal?
We ourselves will walk down the street. And at the same time we will write an ad that a three-year-old human girl has disappeared. Name is Santal Sabura. Let's describe the appearance in detail. Let them search for her throughout the galaxy.
Well done, dear. - In Elina's soul, hope flared up with a bright flame.
Thanks. Just a question. Will we write about the reward?
I do not know. I personally think no reward is needed. Let them return for free. Santal is not a thing, she is the daughter of the great Jedi. It means that it is priceless.
I agree. Let's start. Where is her picture?
In a drawer.
Santal woke up from hitting her head on the wall of the box. It felt like she realized that they had arrived. Without waiting for anyone, the girl wanted to get out of the box. But - what an attack! - did not work.
Santal was frightened. She began to feel like she was suffocating.
However, the Force was kind to the baby. Firstly, there were fruits in the box, and they were quite tasty. So the girl who woke up ate ate, although she got her nightie dirty, because she crushed two pieces.
Secondly, not so little time has passed since the lid was opened. Realizing that she had a great chance, Santal got out with a little difficulty and jumped to the floor. And then, quietly stealthily, she walked to the exit, while no one sees.
- Hey! Who are you? What are you ... - Still, one of the two noticed her. Namely, the one with blue pigmentation.
For Santal, this call was like a signal. The baby started at full speed. Stopped only two blocks later. When I first turned around, I realized that they were not running after her.
In an amicable way, one could ask to take him home. + Santal almost jumped for joy. +
That uncle showed her how prudent he is. She may have run away from him, but all the same. He tried with all his might to keep her. And his: "I had to make sure that nobody was following me." And she, Santal, is it worse? It means that it is also necessary to do so. Try to predict who will do what. It seemed to her an exciting game.
The girl all the time looked around and watched the world around her. How interesting it turns out to be! But dangerous too, she remembered to remind herself. So my aunt was right and wrong at the same time.
In general, Santal Sabura took a lot of steps during the day. I went to many places. I saw a lot of things. By the evening I was completely exhausted. And this despite the fact that she sat down and rested more than once. And all the same, the legs were erased. All in red pieces! The girl even took off her shoes and saw a bubble on each foot. Santal put on her shoes again and went. Oh, how hard it was! And it hurts to come.
At this point, the girl despaired. She is on an unfamiliar planet, all alone. And she rubbed her legs. And it was already getting dark. And if someone sticks to her? Here her aunt told her that during the day it is dangerous for young children to walk without adults. And even worse at night. All sorts of monsters wake up. Remembering this, Sabura was seriously scared. Now and then look, he will cry again.
But here I wanted to turn my head to the left for some reason. And there, very close, there was a blue stripe. This conclusion was drawn by the eyes. The strip was so attractive that the girl decided that it was her parents who were giving her a sign: she had to go there. And she went. Slowly, but went.
I got there in about an hour. During this time, the girl kept looking around her, shuddering, reacting to the slightest rustle. I was afraid to meet a monster or that uncle.
Santal stopped and ... was stunned. She had never seen such beauty before. So it was not in vain that I suffered. After all, there was a lot of water in front of her! So much so that the opposite bank was not visible. The water formed a white line as it approached. And sounds are a delight to the ears.
Santal was so happy that she took off her shoes and started jumping on the soft and light earth. The girl really enjoyed running and jumping - it seemed to her that the pain had subsided. And then she climbed into the water, but, however, immediately got out - it's cold, and the nightie got wet. I had to take it off and put it next to the shoes. The girl entered slowly, ankle-deep, then knee-deep and finally waist-deep. She began to walk, jump and wave her arms, causing the spray to fly in different directions. And when she got tired, she went out, sat on the ground to dry. And so for the whole night more than five times. Santal could
no longer count.
It is worth noting that the girl was thirsty all the time away from home, and upon arrival on the new planet she was generally burning. Therefore, after seeing so much water, she could not resist and filled her mouth. And after a couple of moments she spat it out. Salty water turned out! But at least she rinsed her mouth.
And also at the very edge of the water Santal found a very beautiful and unusual thing. The girl decided to take it as a keepsake. Then she ate the last fruit, because I couldn't stand it anymore.
From malnutrition over time, she began to feel sick at times. Santal even began to think that he would die. However, in this situation, there was one plus: she will be able to meet with her parents. If they are there. But she didn't know if it was so or not. And since she didn't know, then she had to fight for life.
At dawn, Santal noticed three things. First, at this moment the landscape became even more beautiful. The earth turned out to be not only soft, but also white. And the water is pale blue. The place looked like Tatooine. But there are two suns that burned mercilessly. And here is one thing, and it is very pleasant to expose a naked body under it. You will immediately get warm.
Santal decided to play enough one last time and go in search of food. But at the same time she firmly decided that someday she would return here. The main thing is not to forget.
The girl walked calmly through the streets. Having stolen five fruits, I went on for a walk. No, this planet is much better. There are trees, grass. Yes, Santal knew the meaning of the word "nature" and everything connected with it: "landscape", "tree", "leaves", "mountains", "plains", "hills". Only she hadn't seen it before. My aunt once mentioned that the terrain is different on all planets. Somewhere there is snow all the time, somewhere solid forests. And on her home planet there are mountains, a desert, even an ice cap somewhere, but she never saw it.
After walking in a picturesque place - which was called a park, but the girl found out about it later - Sabura sat down next to a tree to rest and eat. Then she did not notice how she dozed off. I woke up only when someone began to poke something hard at her. The girl roused herself to answer, but the stranger began first:
- Hello, child.
Santal looked around until she found the owner of the voice.