The Fight for Truth(23)

Thanks to the Jedi’s faster craft, they could cut that amount of time in less than half, Qui-Gon calculated. “How big is the plateau itself?” he asked.

“You could cover it in a matter of minutes with the right craft and surveillance devices,” Melie answered. “It’s not very large.”

“Let’s go,” Qui-Gon said to Adi.

Suddenly the door flew open. Six Enforcement Guides stormed into the room.

“Qui-Gon Jinn and Adi Gallia, we are here to escort you to the High Court. You have been found guilty of mind control. Come quietly or you will be shot.”

Siri used the bustle of departure from the food hall to drift close to Obi-Wan.

“Davi was taken to The Re-Learning Circle,” she told him in a low voice. “I overheard O-Bin talking to another Teaching Guide. We’ve got to do something.”

“I thought you wanted to escape,” Obi-Wan said.

Siri bit her lip. “Not until we find Davi.”

“I feel the same way,” Obi-Wan agreed.

“I think the Re-Learning Circle is right here, in the Learning Circle itself,” Siri told him.

“We have rec time today. Let’s try to sneak away and explore then,” Obi-Wan suggested. “Just don’t cause trouble in class, or we’ll have cleanup duty instead.”

Siri nodded. They walked in orderly rows to class. The morning stretched on. Often O-Bin would glance at Siri during the lesson, waiting

for her objection. But Siri remained silent, her face serene. Obi-Wan could feel members of the class wondering if O-Bin had won the battle and subdued her.

At last, classes ended and the students filed outdoors. Rec time consisted of running along a track that spanned a good part of the Learning Circle. Along the track various stations were set up for exercises that tested balance, coordination, and strength. They did not race against one other but against their own former times. Each student wore a sensor that recorded his or her progress after every lap. The sensors were connected to a large readout screen. The goal was to complete five circuits. Then they would be free to stroll around the part of the Circle set apart for outdoor activities.

Several classes ran the course at the same time. Teaching Guides supervised them, but they were more interested in drinking in the sun or talking among themselves than patrolling the students.

“Let’s run the course as fast as we can,” Obi-Wan suggested. “The sooner our five scores are recorded, the more free time we’ll have.”

Obi-Wan and Siri ran easily side by side. Within seconds, they were ahead of the pack. They reached the first station, a narrow beam suspended several meters above the ground.

The beam curved in a twisting shape in order to test balance. Without breaking stride, Siri, then Obi-Wan, leaped up on it, landed without wavering even a fraction, and lightly ran through its twists and turns without a pause. Siri leaped off the end, somersaulted, and landed. Obi-Wan followed her lead.

The next station was a durasteel wall that had small handholds and footholds to aid climbing. It glistened in the sun.

“I think it’s coated to make it more slippery,” Obi-Wan said to Siri as he raced alongside her. “Might be tricky to climb.”

She grinned. “Why bother?”

Using the Force, Siri leaped and landed on top of the wall, then sprang off and flew through the air. Again, Obi-Wan followed. He landed on top of the wall and jumped down easily.

They were far ahead now. The track course was an easy exercise for them. They had been studying balance and coordination at the Temple from an early age. They rounded the first lap and their score was recorded. Soon they outran others still on their first lap.

Around and around Siri and Obi-Wan ran. Students flooded the course, the faster ones in their second lap, the slower still on the first. It was easy to lose themselves in the crowd.

When they completed the fifth lap, they jogged easily along until they got to a part of the course that curved away from where the Teaching Guides sat on benches, enjoying the sun. Then they simply strolled away.

They noted utility sheds, more classrooms, Security Guide outposts, sleeping quarters for workers, supply sheds, and a landing platform. Nowhere did they see a building that could be the Re-Learning Circle.

“Maybe I was wrong,” Siri said, discouraged. “But 0-Bin clearly said that Davi packed his belongings and V-Tarz walked him there. They didn’t take a speeder.”

“We’ve covered most of the compound,” Obi-Wan said. “The rest is just cultivated gardens and fields for food production.”

Siri gazed over the fields. “Is quinto grain valuable on Kegan?” she asked.

“Not especially,” Obi-Wan said. “It’s Kegan’s basic crop. It’s the base for those veg patties that you love so much.”