Obi-Wan assumed a defensive stance as
Bruck lunged. He let the Force guide him
as it had done earlier. He blocked
the next blow easily. Then he jumped high to avoid
another blow and landed behind a pillar.
Lightsabers smashed together, sputtered
and burned, then whisked apart. The
air felt thicker, clogged with the energy of battle.
For long minutes, the two students fought
as if in a graceful dance. Obi-Wan leaped
away from every attack and blocked
every jarring blow. He did not try to hit Bruck.
Let him see that I'm not clumsy, Obi-Wan
thought bitterly. Let him see that I'm not
stupid. Let him see it over and over
again.
Sweat began to drench Obi-Wan's clothes.
His muscles burned. He could hardly
breathe fast enough to get the air
he needed. But as long as he did not attack in
anger, the Force remained strong with
him. He tried not to think about the fight. He
lost himself in the dance, and soon
he felt so weary, he did not think at all.
Bruck fought slower and slower. Soon,
Obi-Wan did not even need to leap away
from Bruck's weary attacks. He merely
blocked them, until finally Bruck gave up.
"Good, Obi-Wan," Yoda called. "Learning you are."
Obi-Wan switched off his lightsaber
and hung it on his belt. He used the blindfold to
wipe the sweat from his face. Next
to him, Bruck was double over, panting. He did
not look at Obi-Wan.
"You see," Yoda said. "To defeat an
enemy, you do not have to kill. Defeat the rage
that burns in him, and he is your enemy
no longer. Rage the true enemy is."
Obi-Wan understood what Yoda meant.
But Bruck's glazed glare told Obi-Wan that
he had not defeated his opponent's
anger. Nor had he won the boy's respect.
The two boys turned to Yoda and bowed
solemnly. A vision of his friend Bant rose in
Obi-Wan's head. One of the best things
about beating Bruck would be telling her
about it.
"Enough for one day," Yoda said. "Tomorrow,
a Jedi Knight comes to the Temple
seeking a Padawan. Ready for him you
must be."
Obi-Wan tried to hide his surprise.
Usually, when a Knight came to the Temple in
search of a Padawan, rumors beat the
arrival by days. That way, if a student wanted
to earn the honor of becoming the Knight's
Padawan, he or she could prepare
mentally and physcially.
"Who?" Obi- Wan asked, heart racing. "Who's coming?"
"Seen him before, you have," Yoda said. "Master Qui-Gon Jinn."
