Star Wars_ Episode V_ The Empire Strikes Back - Donald F. Glut [47]
Looking dazed, the young Jedi student shook his head clear. He looked around him, rubbing his shoulders to ease the ache from Yoda's seeker balls' attack. Glimpsing the seekers still suspended over him, Luke scowled. Then he heard Yoda chuckling merrily nearby, and turned his glare on him.
'Concentration, heh?' Yoda laughed, his lined face creased with enjoyment. 'Concentration!'
Luke was in no mood to return his smile. 'I thought those seekers were set for stun!' he exclaimed angrily.
'That they are,' the amused Yoda answered.
'They're a lot stronger than I'm used to.' Luke's shoulder ached painfully.
'That would not matter were the Force flowing through you,' Yoda reasoned. 'Higher you'd jump! Faster you'd move!' he exclaimed. 'Open yourself to the Force you must.'
The youth was beginning to feel exasperated with his arduous training, although he had only been at it a short time. He had felt very close to knowing the Force - but so many times he had failed and had realized how very far away it was from him still. But now Yoda's goading words made him spring to his feet. He was tired of waiting so long for this power, weary at his lack of success, and increasingly infuriated by Yoda's cryptic teachings.
Luke grabbed his laser sword from the mud and quickly ignited it.
Terrified, Artoo Detoo scurried away to safety.
'I'm open to it now!' Luke shouted. 'I feel it. Come on, you little flying blasters!' With fire in his eyes, Luke poised his weapon and moved toward the seekers. Immediately they zipped away and retreated to hover over Yoda.
'No, no,' the Jedi Master scolded, shaking his hoary head. 'This will not do. Anger is what you feel.'
'But I feel the Force!' Luke protested vehemently.
'Anger, anger, fear, aggression!' Yoda warned. 'The dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow ... quick to join in a fight. Beware, beware, beware of them. A heavy price is paid for the power they bring.'
Luke lowered his sword and stared at Yoda in confusion. 'Price?' he asked. 'What do you mean?'
'The dark side beckons,' Yoda said dramatically. 'But if once start you down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Consume you it will... as it did Obi-Wan's apprentice.'
Luke nodded. He knew who Yoda meant. 'Lord Vader,' he said. After he thought for a moment, Luke asked, 'Is the dark side stronger?'
'No, no. Easier, quicker, more seductive.'
'But how am I to know the good side from the bad?' he asked, puzzled.
'You will know,' Yoda answered. 'When you are at peace ... calm, passive. A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge. Never for attack.'
'But tell me why-' Luke began.
'No! There is no why. Nothing more will I tell you. Clear your mind of questions. Quiet now be - at peace ..." Yoda's voice trailed off, but his words had a hypnotic effect on Luke. The young student stopped protesting and began to feel peaceful, his body and mind relaxing.
'Yes ...' Yoda murmured, 'calm.'
Slowly Luke's eyes closed as he let his mind clear of distracting thoughts.
'Passive..."
Luke heard Yoda's soothing voice as it entered the receptive darkness of his mind. He willed himself to travel along with the master's words to wherever they might lead.
'Let yourself go
When Yoda perceived that Luke was as relaxed as the young student could be at this stage, he made the tiniest of gestures. As he did, the two seeker balls above his head shot toward Luke, firing stun bolts as they moved.
In that instant Luke sprang to life and ignited his laser sword. He leaped to his feet and, with pure concentration, began deflecting the bolts as they spun toward him. Fearlessly he faced the attack, and moved and dodged