seat and buckled her crash webbing. With Anakin's and Uldir's seats wedged
in next to Tahiri's, the cockpit was crowded, but that couldn't be helped.
Ikrit, the last one in, climbed back onto Anakin's shoulder and strapped
himself in place. Tahiri flexed her bare toes again.
"I was lucky my feet didn't get hurt a lot worse," she said. She
tugged at a strand of her pale yellow hair. "I'll have to remember to thank
Tionne for thinking to send those boots for me."
And she did.
With a smile, Anakin watched Uldir slosh another bucketful of river
water onto the deckplates in the hold of the Lightning Rod. Tahiri squealed
and giggled as the warm river water ran across her bare feet. Anakin and
Uldir both chuckled as well.
Uldir went for more water, and Anakin picked up the scrub brush again.
The return trip from Dagobah had gone smoothly.
When they got back to Yavin 4, Artoo-Detoo had warbled happily to be
reunited with his master, and Luke had looked both happy and relieved.
Tionne had given each of the travelers, including Uldir, a big hug.
Anakin, Tahiri, and Uldir each had a long private meeting with Luke
and then with Tionne. In fact, there was so much talking and meeting and
hugging that at the end of a few hours, Anakin was convinced that there was
no one left who hadn't already talked to everyone else. But he was wrong.
Anakin was still in his uncle's office when Ikrit showed up... of his way
to take him to Dagobah on his quest.
And Peckhum would need the swamp mud out of his hold before he could
haul any more supplies. And so Anakin and Tahiri had worked willingly and
happily for the rest of the day. Uldir had been a bit more reserved, but
warmed up as they worked and joked together. Uldir returned, dumped his
bucket of water on the deckplates, plopped down on his knees in the puddle,
and began scrubbing.
He sighed.
"Do you think I'll ever become a Jedi?" he asked.
There was a brief, uncomfortable silence.
"Maybe," Tahiri said. "I don't really know enough about how it works."
Anakin shrugged.
"It's possible," he said. "Even Jedi Masters can make mistakes. Uncle
Luke told me that when he left Dagobah the first time, Yoda thought Uncle
Luke would never become a Jedi. But he did."
Tahiri sat back on her heels and tossed her blond hair out of her
face.
"Whether you become a Jedi or not, Uldir, if that's what you want,
we'll help as much as we can."
Anakin nodded his agreement.
Uldir smiled.
"Thanks, both of you. I'll go get us some more water."
Uldir trudged down to the river with an empty bucket and a heart full
of stubborn determination. He would become a Jedi. He would show them that
he could do it. Uldir was sure that if he just had the right equipment-a
lightsaber, Jedi robes-and the same training and opportunities as Anakin
and Tahiri, he would become a Jedi. He decided that he would start wearing
the robes of a Jedi right away, with a belt that could hold his lightsaber
when he got far enough along in his training. Then everyone would see that
he was serious.
Yes, he decided. He would show them all.
"There, that's better," Tahiri said, surveying their handiwork. Anakin
dried the last puddle of water off the deckplates by the ramp. The hold of
the Lightning Rod sparkled and gleamed, as clean as they had ever seen it.
"Anyone up there?" a voice called through the hatch. "Uncle Luke!"
Anakin said.
Master Luke Skywalker walked up the ramp, with Tionne and Master Ikrit
beside him. Artoo-Detoo scooted up the ramp after them.
"You kids seem to be doing pretty well on your assignment," Tionne
said.
Anakin spread his arms as if to show off their handiwork.
"All finished," he said. "Our mission is a success."
"We all learned a lot on Dagobah," Tahiri added. "But I'm glad the
adventure is over now."
Luke, Tionne, and Ikrit looked at each other. Luke chuckled. He put
one hand on Anakin's shoulder and one on Tahiri's.
"Somehow," he said, "knowing you two, I think you will have plenty
more adventures to come."
Behind him Artoo-Detoo gave a loud beep of agreement.
Anakin's Quest Page 9