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Mace's lightsaber found his palm, and a meter-long fountain of energy grew from its emitter. "That remains to be seen."

FROM THE PRIVATE JOURNALS OF MACE WlNDU

It took only minutes to clear a landing zone. I had used the Force to pile some of the smaller trees, intending to kindle their damp wood with my blade to make a huge smoking bonfire, but I didn't have to; before we had even cleared the zone, three flights of gunships swarmed overhead.

They didn't seem to have much difficulty understanding the situation: twenty-eight kneeling Balawai with fingers laced together behind their necks must have made matters clear enough.

"Looks like we pulled it off," Nick said, though he seemed to take little satisfaction from success. "We saved 'em. Wish they could return the favor."

We had barely begun cutting when we had both felt Vastor's forces drawing tight around us: a living noose. Nick had commented that my little deception hadn't fooled him for long.

I didn't answer. I had a feeling that in this particular game of dejarik, Kar was not my true opponent.

One of the gunships circled close overhead: offering itself as bait, to see if hidden guns would open fire when it came within range. And in the Force, I could feel the gunners inside it targeting Nick and me with laser cannons; only our proximity to the Balawai held them back.

As Nick would say: it was time to saddle up.

But before we left, I crouched beside the father of Urno and Nykl. "I want you to take a message to Colonel Geptun."

He looked dazed, and his words slurred with exhaustion. "Geptun? The security chief in Pelek Baw? How am I supposed to get in to see him?"

"He'll debrief you personally."

"He will?"

"Tell him the Jedi Master has handled his Jedi problem. Tell him that if he disarms his irregulars and withdraws the militia from the highland, this war is over. He has my word on it."

The man goggled at me as though antlers had suddenly sprouted from my forehead-and his astonishment was no greater than Nick's.

"One more thing: remind him that in less than a week I've solved a problem he couldn't manage in four months."

I rose, and stood over him so that my shadow fell across his face.

"Tell him that if he does not do as I suggest, he'll be the problem. And I will solve him."

"t't led Nick off into the jungle without waiting for a reply.

I did stop for a moment, though, and looked back through the trees, to where the boys' father held them in his arms as they waited for the descending gunship.

To where Keela held Pell, both of their heads lowered against the leaf-whirl thrown up by the ship's turbojets.

I don't expect to be forgiven. I don't even hope for it. I only hope that someday, these children may be able to look at a Jedi without hatred in their hearts.

That's the only reward I want.

Night was falling, and the sun slanted low through the canyon mouth.

Navigating was easy: they loped through the thickening twilight, heading directly toward where the Force showed Mace maximum threat.

"So, you've handled the militia's Jedi problem, have you?" Nick muttered as they jogged under the trees. "That'll come as a surprise to Kar and Depa, I'm guessing."

"I'm not interested in Kar," Mace said. "I'm only interested in Depa.

Where's the nearest subspace comm?"

Nick shrugged. "The Lorshan Pass caverns. That's our base-it's only a couple of days away, if we can ever lose the fraggin' gunships. That's where we're heading anyway. Why?"

"Less than a day after you get me subspace comm, Depa and I will be leaving this planet. I am willing to waste no more time. I need subspace to call for extraction."

"And me, right? You wouldn't leave your whole staff behind, would you?

"You have seen what my word is worth."

"You think maybe you could, like, send me out first? Because, y'know, I don't want to be anywhere in this whole sector when Kar finds out she's leaving."

"Leave Vaster