The Defenders Of The Dead(5)

Qui-Gon pressed the exit indicator light, and they spilled out into the weak sunshine with relief. They remained in the shadow of the doorway, scanning the immediate area before moving on.

The mausoleum was perched on a ridge. Ahead of them rose a steep hill that ended in an overhanging cliff. A path wound through gardens to their left, a wall to their right.

“I guess we have to go that way,” Obi-Wan said, pointing to the path.

“I suppose,” Qui-Gon said. Still, he hesitated, his keen gaze searching the steep hillside in front of them. “But I-“

Suddenly, the dirt exploded in front of Obi-Wan’s feet.

“Snipers!” Qui-Gon yelled. “Take cover!”

The blaster fire came from the top of the overhanging cliff. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon leaped to the top of the wall on their right. Chips of stone splintered and flew as blaster fire ripped into the wall. Qui-Gon took a split-second to balance and survey what lay below. Then he leaped down, Obi-Wan directly behind him.

They landed in a small area with humming banks of machinery. Walls surrounded them on three sides, the mausoleum building on the other. They would be trapped here under fire, but at least the blaster fire could not reach them. Qui-Gon wondered fleetingly if the snipers would get bored and go away.

Unfortunately, in his long experience, snipers never got bored and went away.

Qui-Gon examined the machinery. “These must be the heating and cooling units for the

building,” he observed as blaster fire continued to rip over their heads.

“At least we’re out of the line of fire,” Obi-Wan said.

“I’m afraid we have a bigger problem,” Qui-Gon said. He bent down to examine a metal tank. “This is full of proton fuel. If the blaster fire hits it, we’ll be blown from here back to the starship.”

He exchanged a concerned glance with Obi-Wan. They would have to expose themselves to the snipers. They could not remain here and continue to draw fire.

“Let’s see what’s on the other side of that wall,” Qui-Gon said, indicating the wall opposite to the one they had leaped over.

Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon summoned the Force. When Qui-Gon felt it grow and pulse around them, he jumped, along with Obi-Wan. As they leaped into midair, they took a quick survey of what lay on the other side, blaster fire suddenly intensifying around them. Qui-Gon deflected it with his lightsaber.

They fell back to the ground.

“It’s a big drop down to that ravine,” Obi-Wan reported to Qui-Gon. “Do you think we can make it?”

“The ground looks soft,” Qui-Gon said. “That could help our landing, but if it’s swampy, we

could be in trouble. We don’t want to be swallowed by a bog. Remember that the terrain of Melida/Daan can be treacherous.”

“At least we’ll surprise the snipers,” Obi-Wan pointed out. “They won’t expect us to risk it.”

Qui-Gon nodded. “We can work our way around the cliff and scale it from the other side to surprise them further. The brush will cover us. They won’t know which way we went, and probably won’t expect us to attack.”

“The only alternative, Master, is to go back over the wall. Once we made it to that path, we’d have shelter in the gardens.”

Qui-Gon paused, thinking of their next move. While he considered the odds, he thought about the way he and Obi-Wan had come to function together as a unit. Though at times their relations could be bumpy, under pressure their rhythm matched, their thoughts clicked. He admired his Padawan’s ability to operate on all levels. Even under great pressure, Obi-Wan could strategize, calculate odds and opportunities, and make a joke.

“If we try for the gardens, we lose the element of surprise,” Qui-Gon said finally. “Remember this, Padawan: when one is outnumbered, surprise is your best ally. Let’s try the ravine.”

Blaster fire pinged against metal, and Qui-Gon flicked an apprehensive gaze at the proton gas tank. “I think it’s time we left. Don’t forget there’s a line of shrubs at the immediate bottom of the slope on the other side. Make your jump as wide as you can.”

Qui-Gon reached out for the Force. It was always there, ready for him to tap into. It was his companion as much as Obi-Wan was. He pictured the leap he would have to make. Nothing was impossible when the Force was near. His body would do what it needed to do.

They backed up as far as they could for a running start. Then they ran forward three quick steps and took the leap. They cleared the wall easily - the Force and the momentum sent them sailing through the air, over the steep slope into the ravine.

Qui-Gon felt the swampy ground move under his feet as he landed, but it did not suck him down. Obi-Wan landed softly a short distance behind him.