Star Wars_ The Approaching Storm - Alan Dean Foster [37]
Obi-Wan nodded amiably. “Very well then. No landspeeders. How do we travel?”
“For traversing the great prairies, there are many riding animals that are suitable.”
Anakin made a face. “Animals!” He’d always been far more comfortable working with machines. If they gave him enough time and access to sufficient equipment and spare parts, he could have built them a vehicle that would perform as required. But the native had been insistent—no landspeeders.
“By far the best is the suubatar.” Kyakhta’s enthusiasm was palpable. “If you can afford them, they are the preferred means of travel for Alwari highborn. Arriving in a camp atop one immediately marks the rider as a person of consequence. Not to mention taste.”
Luminara considered. “The Jedi Council prefers that we travel modestly. We have at our disposal only limited means of exchange.”
“I think we might manage it,” Obi-Wan told her. “Given that we’ve been told to resolve this business as quickly as possible, no one should object to our spending a little to achieve that aim. The sooner we leave Cuipernam in search of these Borokii, the better our chances of quick success, and the safer we all will be.”
“Riding a suubatar is like riding the wind.” An eager Bulgan leapt over a dozing crowlyn. As he cleared its wide jaws, it pawed at him indifferently and went back to sleep.
Anakin shrugged. “I’m a champion Podracer. I’m afraid no organic riding steed, no matter how ‘noble’ it might be considered locally, is going to impress me very much.”
But he was wrong.
If there was one thing advanced technology had largely eliminated from modern transportation, it was smell. The latter was present in abundance at the travel market, where an amazing variety of domesticated riding creatures was to be found. While the two older Jedi went with their new guides to find suitable animals, the pair of Padawans were placed on guard.
“I’ve already apologized to my Master for allowing myself to be abducted.” As she spoke, Barriss’s eyes were never still, regarding every vendor and shopper, every merchant and animal trainer, as a potential threat.
Having already been lulled once by the apparent tranquillity of his surroundings, Anakin was equally alert. He stood alongside his counterpart, wishing she were someone else but never less than properly and politely respectful of her already established bravery and talent.
“There’s no need to be embarrassed. I’ve done plenty of stupid things in my life, too.”
“I didn’t say it was stupid.” She turned away from him.
He hesitated momentarily. “Look, I’m sorry. We’ve managed to get off on the wrong foot somehow. All I can say in my defense is that I’ve got a lot on my mind.”
“You’re a Jedi Padawan. Of course you’ve got a lot on your mind.” Eyeing a seuvhat driver heading purposefully in their direction, her hand strayed toward her lightsaber. When he turned his vehicle, her fingers fell away from the weapon.
“I mean I’m preoccupied.” Reaching out, he put a hand on her shoulder, hoping the gesture would not be misconstrued. He needn’t have worried. “If I hadn’t been, if I’d been doing my job, I would have been paying more attention to the shop you went into. I might have followed up in time to prevent your abduction.”
“The fault was mine, not yours. I was guilty of thinking of only one thing at a time. Besides,” she added briskly, “if events had unfolded differently, I wouldn’t have been able to help those two unfortunate Alwari, and we would still be looking for guides to take us to find this overclan. As Master Yoda says, there are many paths through life, so it is best to be happy with whichever one we finally decide to take.”
“Ah yes, Master