The Defenders Of The Dead(28)

“The lying Daan are always quick to accuse without facts!” a Melida roared back.

Qui-Gon leaned against the sill and waited out the argument. Sometimes, it was better to sit back and wait for events to unfold.

Comlinks began to beep. Melida and Daan alike spoke into them, their faces registering shock. Reports flooded in from both sides. One by one, the deflection towers went down. First on the perimeter, then in the center. The explosions got closer as the last towers were blown.

“The Young are pouring in from the countryside,” Gueni reported, a look of amazement on his face. “The city is now open. Defenseless. And they are armed.”

Melida and Daan faced each other. Now they knew the threat that faced them was serious.

“Do you see now that you must join.together?” Qui-Gon asked quietly. “The Young only want peace. You can give it to them. Don’t you want to rebuild your city?”

“They say they want peace, but they wage war,”

Wehutti

said contemptuously. “Well, we can give them a war to make our ancestors proud. We may have lost some weapons, but we are not defenseless.”

“And we have weapons remaining as well,” a Daan said quickly. “Shipments are arriving this very afternoon from our stores outside the city.”

“They will collapse at any sign of resistance,” a Melida woman chimed in. “We can fight them.”

“But not together,” Wehutti said. “The glorious Melida can defeat them without Daan help.”

“For once, do not overestimate yourselves!” Qui-Gon spoke sharply. “You don’t have weapons. You don’t have air support. You have an army made of Elders and the wounded. Think of what you’re saying. There are thousands of them!”

Both sides of the room grew silent. Wehutti and Gueni exchanged a glance. Qui-Gon

glimpsed surrender underneath the sizzling distrust.

“Perhaps the Jedi is right,” Gueni said reluctantly. “I see only one way to defeat them. We must join our armies and weapons. But the Jedi must lead us.”

Wehutti nodded slowly. “It’s the only way we can be sure that the Daan will not turn on us once the battle is won.”

“It is our only assurance also,” Gueni said. “We cannot trust the word of the Melida.”

Qui-Gon shook his head. “I did not come here to lead you into battle. I came here to urge you to find a way toward peace.”

“But there is no peace!” Wehutti cried. “The Young have drawn the battle lines!”

“These are your children!” Qui-Gon cried out. He had lost his patience in the face of the cruel obstinacy of both sides. He controlled his voice and went on. “I, for one, will not kill children. Why are you so willing to do so?” He turned to Wehutti. “What about Cerasi? Are you willing to march into battle against your own daughter?”

Wehutti paled. His clenched fist uncurled.

“My grandson Rica is underground,” Gueni said.

“I have not seen my Deila in two years,” a woman Melida said quietly.

Other Daan and Melida looked uncertain. There was a long pause.

“All right,” Wehutti said at last. “If you will be our emissary, we will open talks with the Young.”

Gueni nodded. “The Daan agree. You are right, Qui-Gon. We cannot wage war against our children.”

“We will not meet with them,” Nield told Qui-Gon furiously. “I know what their promises are worth. They agree to meet as a diversion. They will tell us we must disarm. And then the fighting will begin again. This surrender is too soon. If we relent, they’ll think we’re weak.”

“They know you have backed them into a corner,” Qui-Gon argued. “They’re willing to talk. You succeeded, Nield. Now take your victory.”

Cerasi crossed her arms. “We did not succeed by being fools, Qui-Gon.”

Qui-Gon turned away with a sigh. He had been arguing with Cerasi and Nield since he’d returned. It had done no good. It was out of his hands, anyway.

Obi-Wan sat at the makeshift table, watching. He hadn’t offered an opinion, or tried to sway Cerasi or Nield. Qui-Gon had noted this with surprise. Obi-Wan had wanted peace on this

planet. Why did he stand back now? Once again, when Qui-Gon tried to connect with his Padawan, he found a void.

Headquarters was now crowded with the boys and girls who had arrived from the country. More congregated aboveground, gathered in parks and squares. The Young had mobilized, bringing whatever food they had and instituting a supply line. It would take all day to get everyone fed, but they were determined to succeed.

“How did you blow the deflection towers?” Qui-Gon asked Nield and Cerasi curiously. It was a question that had been bothering him since he’d heard the news. “You’d have to hit them from the air. But floaters couldn’t do that job. You’d need …”