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Only then did Cliegg Lars realize that he had lost his leg。
Blood pooled all about the ground； pouring from the severed limb。 Eyes wide with horror； Cliegg grabbed at his leg。
He called for Owen。 He called desperately for Shmi。
A speeder bike whipped past him； a farmer fleeing the massacre； but the man did not slow。
Cliegg tried to call out； but there was no voice to be found past the lump in his throat； the realization that he had failed and that all was lost。 Then a second speeder came by him； this one stopping fast。 Reflexively； Cliegg grabbed at it； and before he could even begin to pull himself up at all； it sped away； dragging him along。
〃Hold on； Dad！〃 Owen； the driver； cried to him。
Cliegg did。 With the same stubbornness that had sustained him through all the difficult times at the moisture farm； the same gritty determination that had allowed him to conquer the harsh wild land of Tatooine； Cliegg Lars held on。 For all his life； and with Tuskens in fast pursuit； Cliegg Lars held on。
And for Shmi； for the only chance she had of any rescue； Cliegg Lars held on。
Back up the slope； Owen stopped the speeder and leapt off； grabbing at his father's torn leg。 He tied it off as well as he could with the few moments he had； then helped Cliegg； who was fast slipping from consciousness； to lie over the back of the speeder。
Then Owen sped away； throttle flat out。 He knew that he had to get his father home； and quickly。 The vicious wound had to be cleaned and sealed。 It occurred to Owen that only a single pair of speeders were to be seen fleeing the massacre ahead of him； and that through all the motion behind； he didn't hear the hum of a single speeder engine。
Forcing despair away； finding the same grounded determination that sustained Cliegg； Owen didn't think of the many lost friends； didn't think of his father's plight； didn't think of anything except the course to his necessary destination。
〃This is not good news；〃 Captain Panaka remarked； after delivering the blow to Senator Amidala。
〃We've suspected all along that Count Dooku and his separatists would court the Trade Federation and the various mercial guilds；〃 Padme replied； trying to put a good face on it all。 Panaka had just e in with Captain Typho； his nephew； with the report that the Trade Federation had thrown in with the separatist movement that now threatened to tear the Republic apart。
〃Viceroy Gunray is an opportunist；〃 she continued。 〃He will do anything that he believes will benefit him financially。 His loyalties end at his purse。 Count Dooku must be offering him favorable trade agreements； free run to produce goods without regard to the conditions of the workers or the effect on the environment。 Viceroy Gunray has left more than one planet as a barren dead ball； floating in space。 Or perhaps Count Dooku is offering the Trade Federation absolute control of lucrative markets； without petition。〃
〃I'm more concerned with the implications to you； Senator；〃 Panaka remarked； drawing a curious stare from Padme。
〃The separatists have shown themselves not to be above violence；〃 he explained。 〃There have been assassination attempts across the Republic。〃 〃But wouldn't Count Dooku and the separatists consider Senator Amidala almost an ally at this time？〃 Captain Typho interjected； and both Panaka and Padme looked at the usually quiet man in surprise。
Padme's look quickly turned into a stare； there was an angry edge to her fair features。 〃I am no friend to any who would dissolve the Republic； Captain；〃 she insisted； her tone leaving no room for debate…and of course； there would be no debating that point。 In the few years she had been a Senator； Amidala had shown herself to be among the most loyal and powerful supporters of the Republic； a legislator determined to improve the system； but to do so within the framework of the Republic's constitution。 Senator Amidala fervently believed that the real beauty of the governing system was its built…in abilities； even demands； for self…improvement。
〃Agreed； Senator；〃 Typho said with a bow。 He was shorter than his uncle but powerfully built； muscles filling the blue sleeves of his uniform； his chest solid under the brown leather tunic。 He wore a black leather patch over his left eye； which he had lost in the battle with that same Trade Federation a decade before。 Typho had been just a teenager then； but had shown himself well； and made his uncle Panaka proud。 〃And no offense meant。 But on this issue concerning the creation of an army of the Republic； you have remained firmly in the court of negotiation over force。 Would not the separatists agree with your vote？〃
When Padme put her initial outrage aside and considered the point； she had to agree。
〃Count Dooku has thrown in with Nute Gunray； say the reports；〃 Panaka cut in； his tone flat and determined。 〃That mere fact demands that we tighten security about Senator Amidala。〃
〃Please do not speak about me as though I am not here；〃 she scolded； but Panaka didn't blink。
〃In matters of security； Senator； you are not here；〃 he replied。 〃At least； your voice is not。 My nephew reports to me； and his responsibilities on this matter cannot be undermined。 Take all precautions。〃
With that； he bowed curtly and walked away； and Padme suppressed her immediate desire to rebuke him。 He was right； and she was better off because he dared to point it out。 She looked back at Captain Typho。
〃We will be vigilant； Senator。〃
〃I have my duty； and that duty demands that I soon return to Coruscant；〃 she said。
〃And I have my duty；〃 Typho assured her； and like Panaka； he offered a bow and walked away。
Padme Amidala watched him go； then gave a great sigh； remembering Sola's words to her and wondering honestly if she would ever find the opportunity to follow her sister's advice… advice that she was finding strangely tempting at that particular moment。 She realized then that she hadn't seen Sola； or the kids； or her parents； in nearly two weeks； not since that afternoon in the backyard with Ryoo and Pooja。
Time did seem to be slipping past her。
〃It won't move fast enough to catch up to the Tuskens！〃 Cliegg Lars bellowed in protest as his son and future daughter…in…law helped him into a hoverchair that Owen had fashioned。 He seemed oblivious to the pain of his wound； where his right leg had been sheared off at midthigh。
〃The Tuskens are long gone； Dad；〃 Owen Lars said quietly； and he put his hand on Cliegg's broad shoulder； trying to calm him。 〃If you won't use a mechno…leg； this powerchair will have to do。〃
〃You'll not be making me into a half…droid； that's for sure；〃 Cliegg retorted。 〃This little buggy will do fine。〃
〃We'll get more men together；〃 he said； his voice rising frantically； his hand instinctively moving down to the stump of his leg。 〃You get to Mos Eisley and see what support they'll offer。 Send Beru to the farms。〃
〃They've no more to offer；〃 Owen replied honestly。 He moved close to the chair and bent low； looking Cliegg square in the face。 〃All the farms will be years in recovering from the ambush。 So many families have been shattered from the attack；