[Junior Jedi Knights] - 01(24)

“I think it means that we have to keep the golden globe a secret or whatever we saw inside of it will be destroyed,” Anakin explained.

“Okay, let’s tell Luke that we went for a walk and got lost,” Tahiri suggested.

It wasn’t a great excuse, but it was true-they had gotten lost trying to return to the Great Temple. In the end, they’d still broken one of Luke’s rules, but it wouldn’t be as bad as telling him they’d gone into an old palace. The old palaces were falling apart; Luke would be angry that she and Anakin had gone into one. And he might also ask what was inside the palace. Given Anakin’s strong feelings and the voice in his head, it didn’t seem wise to tell Luke everything they had seen. Anakin agreed they should use Tahiri’s excuse. It was the only way to follow the warnings in his head and heart without directly lying. But Anakin knew that if Luke asked him for the whole truth, he would have to give it-regardless of the outcome. He simply couldn’t lie to his uncle. The group reached a narrow wooden bridge that crossed the river. On the other side loomed the Great Temple.

“Wish I’d known about this bridge before I got into that raft and almost drowned,” Tahiri grumbled. “Either way, I guess we’re home,” she said in a soft, scared voice.

Slowly Tahiri, Anakin, and Artoo crossed the bridge. Ikrit had disappeared.

“Look who is waiting by the door,” Anakin warned.

Luke Skywalker’s black jumpsuit had faded into the night, but his face was easy to see. It was a tired and unhappy face. And it wore a scowl. Anakin, Tahiri, and Artoo moved toward the Jedi Knight.

“Where have you been?” Luke Skywalker asked Anakin and Tahiri in a stern voice. He had been waiting on the front steps of the Great Temple for his students to return.

“We have been searching the academy and the jungle for both of you. You are in deep trouble.” Anakin bowed his head. He was afraid that he was about to be kicked out of the academy for breaking one of Luke’s rules. If that happened, he knew, he and Tahiri would never be able to return to the golden globe.

“We went for a walk and then the storm came up and we got lost.” Anakin heard Tahiri say.

“You got lost?” Luke repeated in disbelief. Artoo beeped softly. Luke stared at the droid. “Artoo, you’re telling me that you had to guide these students back to the academy?”

Anakin and Tahiri looked at each other in surprise. Artoo was helping them! Tahiri met Luke’s eyes with her large green ones.

“Yes, we got lost. We were so frightened,” she said. Tahiri looked like she was going to cry.

Luke shook his head. “I’m sorry that you were lost, but there is no excuse for sneaking out of the academy. I should punish you both,” Luke said sadly.

“Please give us another chance, Uncle Luke,” Anakin begged. “We will never sneak away again,” he promised.

“Please, Master Luke, don’t punish Anakin. It was all my fault,” Tahiri cried. Tahiri ignored Anakin’s look of confusion and kept talking. “I just had to go out to see the jungle. I’ve never seen a jungle before. I’ve never seen so much water. I talked Anakin into coming with me because I was afraid to go there alone.”

Luke looked at the young girl. He could understand her desire to see the jungle-he had grown up on the desert planet of Tatooine, too. But that was still no excuse.

“Uncle Luke, it’s my fault, too,” Anakin said softly. His eyes met Luke’s. “I chose to go with Tahiri. I’m responsible for my choices.”

Tahiri couldn’t help letting a small smile cross her lips. Anakin had finally said he was responsible for his choices. It wasn’t that she was happy that he was sharing the blame; she’d expected Anakin to do that. It was that he had taken a step toward understanding that he had the power to make his own choices. That meant he had the power to choose to use the Force for good. Anakin didn’t have to be like his grandfather Darth Vader if he didn’t choose to be.

Luke turned toward Tahiri. He had seen her smile. Luke was surprised to see that the young girl also understood that Anakin had difficulty recognizing that he could make his own choices.

Luke, Leia, and Han had known for some time that the boy believed he might turn out to be like his grandfather. Perhaps, Luke thought, Leia shouldn’t have named her son Anakin. After all, Anakin Skywalker was a difficult man to come to understand. This had been true even for Luke. So much wisdom in a child so young, Luke thought as he stared at Tahiri.

The girl was a mess. Her hair was full of leaves and small twigs. Her orange jumpsuit was soaked through. And her bare feet were covered with mud. But so much wisdom, Luke thought in amazement. Luke Skywalker closed his eyes. He knew in his heart that Anakin Solo was meant to be a powerful Jedi. He would serve the light side of the Force well, once he understood completely that Darth Vader’s choices had nothing to do with his own.