Chapter Five—Part 3
After such knowledge, what forgiveness? Think now
History has many cunning passages, contrived corridors
And issues, deceives with whispering ambitions,
Guides us by vanities. Think now
She gives when our attention is distracted
And what she gives, gives with such supple confusions
That the giving famishes the craving. Gives too late
What's not believed in, or if still believed, In memory only, reconsidered passion. Gives too soon
Into weak hands, what's thought can be dispensed with
Till the refusal propagates a fear. Think
Neither fear nor courage saves us. Unnatural vices
Are fathered by our heroism. Virtues Are forced upon us by our impudent crimes.
These tears are shaken from the wrath-bearing tree
Gerontion by T. S. Eliot
Obi-Wan stands outside the entrance to the ruined hydroponic station watching Jabe Calwell and Varan Gault remove a piece of twisted metal from within. Most of the militia men are here helping to clean out the demolished station and salvage what they can. It has been a six days since the woman, who turned out to be Beru Whitesun's older sister, had set off a thermal detonator in an attempt to kill him.
He shifts his slightly, resting against the cane he is holding. Obi-Wan spent three days in a bacta tank and is mostly healed. However his left side, which took the brunt of the blast, is still sore. A young woman not yet in her thirties approaches him, coming from the house where many of the militia women were preparing food for the men. She has brown hair and blue eyes and bares more than a passing resemblance to the woman whom had tried to kill him a week ago. She is Dama Brunk nee Whitesun, the youngest of the Whitesun sisters.
"How are you feeling?" she asks.
"I have been worse," he replies wryly. Dama's face falls and Obi-Wan can sense her guilt swirling in the Force. When she had heard about what her oldest sister had done, she had come to the farm to see what she could do to make amends. She, her younger brother Haro Whitesun and her husband Sam Brunk, lived twenty kilometers outside of Anchorhead on a small moisture farm of their own.
"This is not your fault," he says softly.
"Isn't it? Coolie told me that she thought you were responsible for Beru's death. She was obsessed with it. But I'd never thought she'd do something like this…" she glanced at the ruined hydroponic station. "If I had known I could have stopped her."
"Auntie Dama!"
Luke runs toward them, Mrs. Marstrap walking behind him.
"Auntie Dama, you haven't seen my room yet, do you want to see it?" Luke is thrilled to have a newfound aunt.
Dama smiles indulgently at the boy. "If you will excuse me," she says Luke grabs her hand and pulls her back towards the house.
He and Mrs. Marstrapt exchange amused glances. Then her expression falters and she looks worried.
"I've been meaning to tell you something," she says, looking at Luke's retreating back. "But it's been so busy and you only just got out of the medcenter…"
She is quiet for a long moment and when she next speaks her voice is low and filled with concern.
"When Luke rescued you…. the hydroponics station… the doorway was blocked, there was this large metal beam and Luke he… he moved it out of the way so he could get you out."
"I see," he says although he truly does not.
"No, I mean, this sounds crazy I know, but he moved the beam without touching it. It just… floated out of the way…"
He feels his eyebrows raise in surprise. He did not think Luke had the ability to levitate something so large. Mrs. Marstrap misinterprets his expression and folds her arms.
"I know what I saw. I wasn't imaging things. That boy moved a ton of metal with his mind."
"I believe you."
"You do?" she sounds surprised.
"Yes. Have you told anyone else about this?"
Mrs. Marstrap snorts. "Who would believe me? I'm only telling you because you're his father and if he can do something like that…." she trails off looking troubled.
Obi-Wan sighs and reaches out gently directing the woman's chin until they were looking into each other's eyes.
"You did not see Luke do anything unusual," he says, using the Force to compel her to believe this.
"I did not see Luke doing anything unusual," she repeats, her voice monotone.
He drops his hand feeling guilty for the mind trick. Mrs. Marstrap is one of his oldest friends here on Tatooine but it is too dangerous for them both to know of Luke's abilities.
"Forgive me," he whispers.
"Whatever for?" Mrs. Marstrap laughs, looking at him with concern. "Why don't I make you some tea? You aren't quite healed yet, you know."
Obi-Wan nodded and allows himself to be led into the house after one last glance at the destroyed hydroponic station.