[Junior Jedi Knights] - 02(20)
Soon they reached the middle passageway, where morning light lazily drifted through cracks and holes in the mountain. Here the tunnel divided in two directions. One went back to Lyric’s world, the other led up to the portal of Sistra and the brown green tundra of the moon.
“We know the way from here,” Anakin said softly. “Will you be safe? Or do you want us to take you back to your people before we leave?” Anakin asked.
“No,” Sannah replied.
“No you won’t be safe, or no you don’t want us to go back with you?” Tahiri asked the girl.
“No, I don’t want to go back to my world,” Sannah said in a quavering voice, her yellow eyes fixed on the two Jedi candidates.
“What do you mean?” Anakin asked.
“I want to go with you,” Sannah replied evenly. “I want to study at the Jedi academy, learn about the Force, and develop the skills I need to help protect my people.”
“We can’t take you with us,” Anakin gently explained. “We’re not Jedi Knights; we don’t have the authority to bring anyone to the academy. Only Luke Skywalker and the other Jedi can do that.”
“Why?” Sannah said.
“Yes, why?” Tahiri echoed, as she mulled over the idea.
“Tahiri,” Anakin said in exasperation, “you know we can’t just bring Sannah back to Yavin 4!”
“But you saw the way she fought the raith,” Tahiri replied. “She’s sensitive to the Force-I can feel it, Anakin!”
“You’ve seen what the predators on this planet do to my people,” Sannah said as she met Anakin’s ice blue eyes. “The children are defenseless. For every avril we successfully fight off, there is another that steals two of us away. For every raith we spear, five more devour our eggs. And judging from the time it took you to leave the lower passage, and the tears in your jumpsuit, you’ve seen the strength of the purella. We cannot fight them at all!” Sannah cried. “It is not in anger that I ask you to take me,” Sannah said, steadying her voice. “Though controlling my fury is something I will have to learn. Take me because I feel the thing you call the Force. Take me because I will pledge myself to the peace and knowledge of the Jedi, and to the use of the Force not in anger, but only only in defense.”
“Do the elders know that you want to leave with us and attend the academy?” Tahiri asked. They couldn’t take the girl with them without the elder Melodies’s permission.
“Yes,” Sannah replied. “I leave with their blessing. Especially Lyric’s.”
“If Luke Skywalker doesn’t feel you are strong in the Force, you’ll probably be returned to Yavin 8,” Anakin said slowly.
“I’ll take that risk,” Sannah replied. “I’m only nine years old. If I am permitted to stay until my changing ceremony, I’ll return with the skills to help. And regardless of Luke Skywalker’s decision, at least I will have tried to help my people.”
Anakin turned toward the portal.
“Come on, then,” he called over his shoulder to Sannah.
Tahiri grinned at the girl and grabbed her hand. The three children emerged from Sistra into the early-morning sunlight. They paused on the purple rocks and breathed in the fresh air of hope. Tahiri, Anakin, and Sannah climbed down Sistra quickly. Anakin hoped that Old Peckhum had returned with the supply ship; he and Tahiri were too tired for another battle. Moments later, his hopes were answered as the longhaired old courier raced toward the children.
“I’ve been searching all night for you!” Peckhum cried, his hands wrapped around an old-fashioned blaster rifle. “I couldn’t find the portal to Lyric’s world in the mountains. Where have you been-I was so worried!” He didn’t pause to wait for an answer. “You look terrible,” he said as he studied Tahiri’s and Anakin’s torn, dirt-covered clothing. “Are you all right? And who’s this?” He gestured toward Sannah.
“We’re fine,” Anakin assured the frantic pilot.
“This is Sannah,” Tahiri added. “She’s coming back to Yavin 4 with us. “
Peckhum was too relieved to argue with them. All he wanted to do was get safely back to the Jedi academy. No more baby-sitting for him! The children and the courier began walking toward the shuttle. They did not encounter any raiths or reels as they traveled. And, when they heard the distant shriek of an avril as they boarded, Anakin smiled at its fierce, though strangely beautiful, cry.
Sannah had never been on a shuttle. She sat next to Peckhum and stared out the window as her world shrank from view and the shuttle was engulfed by the evening skies. Anakin could hear her questions drift back from the front of the craft, and visions of Lyric, who had been in the same seat only yesterday, swam through his mind. He wondered if he’d ever see her red ringlets, glistening pink tail fin, and gentle yellow eyes again. He hoped Lyric would be happy in the crystal waters of her world.