Chapter Two
I shot an arrow into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For, so swiftly it flew, the sight
Could not follow it in its flight.
I breathed a song into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For who has sight so keen and strong,
That it can follow the flight of song?
Long, long afterward, in an oak
I found the arrow, still unbroke;
And the song, from beginning to end,
I found again in the heart of a friend.
The Arrow and the Song by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Luke Lars is so excited he cannot stay still as he cranes his neck to look around Anchorhead. This is his first time going into town and he cannot believe how many people there are, even as he wrinkles his nose at the smell. The combination of so many pack animals: dewbacks, eopies and banthas in the desert heat is gross. Or as, dad would say, unpleasant. He wonders how the townspeople stand it. He asks his dad, who is driving the landspeeder slowly through the wide streets.
His dad laughs and says, "I think they are used to it, youngling."
Luke is doubtful but doesn't say anything. He is grateful when they arrive at a big house on the outskirts of the town. He is surprised because all of the houses he has seen before are mostly underground but, like all the other buildings in the town, Biggs' house is built on top of the ground and is the size of a hydroponic station.
He has never been to Biggs' house before and as he gets out of the landspeeder he cannot help feeling a little scared. He feels his dad's hand on his shoulder and looks up, knowing that his dad must have sensed what he felt.
"Are you alright? Huff, I mean, Mr. Darklighter has always had a taste for the ostentatious."
Luke nods. He is six after all and going on seven. He's too big to be afraid of a house.
"What's ostentatious mean?"
His dad smiles with one side of his mouth. "It means he likes to show off."
"Oh. Biggs likes to show off too. He always has the best toys. He says it's because his dad is rich."
"He is, but there are more important things in life than being rich. Can you tell me one?"
Luke groans. Dad is always asking him stuff like this. At least it's an easy one.
"Being good's more important," he says confidently.
"Why?"
Luke frowns, thinking.
"It just is!" he says, knowing that his dad won't accept such an answer but unable to come up with something better.
"Think about it this week and tell me your answer when I come back."
Luke is staying at the Darklighter's for a week while Dad rebuilds one of the old Hydroponic stations. He nods. Maybe Biggs will know the answer, he's nine years old and can do hard math like division already. A silver protocol droid leads them inside the house where he says goodbye to Dad and is dragged by Biggs to a room that is entirely filled with toys.
"This is the play room," Biggs says.
"You have a whole room just for playing in?" he asks, amazed.
"Yes."
This week was going to be so much fun!