Lowering his gaze, he continued into the encroach-ing darkness. Through the wind, he heard occasional sounds of creatures within canyon. None of them sounded threatening, but Ben had to concentrate to filter out the more distracting noises as he searched for the boys.

A small, unseen lizard, concealed within one of the many cracks in the wall to Ben's right, let out an anxious chirp. A moment later, Ben heard a swiftly approaching humming sound, and he ducked fast as several sketto whipped through the air. The four-winged, flying reptiles tore past him, angling back the way he had come until they vanished around a bend. Ben knew that the sketto normally stayed put during sandstorms, and he wondered what, if anything, had spooked them.

And then he heard a blood-curdling roar. Loud as thunder, it seemed to come from just around the next turn in the canyon. Ben recognized the cry instantly.

Krayt dragon!

His eyes went wide with alarm, but he was already moving, running as fast as he could around the turn. But when he emerged at another fork, where two ravines intersected, he stopped sharply. There was no sign of the beast.

An echo, he realized, at the same time sensing that Luke was still alive . . . frightened, but still alive. Ben almost cursed himself for not having discerned the roar as an echo before he went bounding into action like an overeager amateur. He stood frozen at the can-yon's natural intersection, waiting for another sound to follow, and hoping that it wouldn't be human screams.

A moment later, there came a loud thud, something like a battering ram hitting a canyon wall. The crash reverberated down from the ravine at Ben's left. He ran into the ravine with his eyes forward, moving surely over and past jagged stones. As he ran, his nostrils flared slightly as he picked up the ugly scent of gored flesh, and then he almost ran straight into the source. It was a dewback's carca.s.s.

Ben did not pause to examine the slaughtered dew-back that practically filled the path before him. He scrambled over its body and kept running. He heard a steady thumping sound, but it was several strides later before he realized with some annoyance that the sound came from his own heart, which was pounding unusu-ally fast. Getting old, he thought ruefully.

He focused on his heartbeat, slowing and stabilizing it as he ran on. The pa.s.sage between the walls delivered Ben to the top of a ledge that overlooked a wider but still enclosed area. Looking into the gloom, he saw a krayt dragon - a canyon krayt, wild with hunger and rage - running straight for the mouth of a crevice. And inside the crevice were two cringing figures.

"Luke!" Ben shouted, without thinking or caring about whether he revealed his presence or awareness of Luke's ident.i.ty. The dragon's ma.s.sive horned head slammed into the crevice's outer wall, and stones exploded at the impact.

From inside the crevice, Luke's friend screamed, "We're dead!"

Not quite, Ben thought with immense relief, but then the krayt backed up and prepared to charge again. Using the Force, Ben reached out to the krayt dragon's primitive mind.

The monstrous beast suddenly stopped and roared, baring its long, yellowed teeth. Then it shook its wide head as if it were trying to shake something free, and snorted hard before it backed away from the crevice. Try as it might, and hungry as the krayt had been, it couldn't get rid of the thought that had suddenly entered its brain: it was tired. Very, very tired.

Sleep.

As gusts of sand continued to blast through the area, the krayt lowered its body onto the canyon floor, closed its eyes, and began to snore in great, long rasps.

Ben eased himself down from the ledge and stepped past the slumbering krayt to approach the crevice. As he neared the position of the two hiding boys, he heard Luke's friend whimper, "We're never going to find the way home ! They'll find our bones one day . . . just old bones . . . "

Ben cleared his throat, and both boys jumped within the crevice as they turned their heads to face him. Both boys had sand goggles draped around their necks and were similarly attired in the faded white tunics and leg-gings that were typical of most moisture farmers. When Luke's eyes met his own, it suddenly occurred to Ben that Luke was the same age he had been when he made his first journey to Ilum.

Ben decided that this was, after all, the day he would finally introduce himself to Luke.

"I'm Ben Ken.o.bi," he said. "We don't have much time if I'm going to get you boys home."

Luke gasped, "Do . . . do you know the way to the Lars homestead?"

Knowing that the less Luke knew of his purpose on Tatooine, the better, Ben appeared thoughtful and said, "Lars? Now, would that be Owen and Beru Lars?"

Luke nodded.

"It's been a very long time since I've seen them," Ben said, "but yes, I think I know the way."

He motioned for the boys to put their goggles on and follow him. Exiting the cramped crevice, they walked after Ben as he led them around the sleeping krayt. Although the boys had no idea where they were headed, they trusted Ben and kept up with him through the mean-dering turns in the canyon.

The winds began to die down as they exited the canyon, and the night sky was mostly clear above the area where Ben had parted ways with the sand-crawler. Luke's young friend was apparently stunned by the abrupt change in weather, for he stammered, "What happened?"

"We're in the eye of the storm," Ben said, his eyes on the clouds that seemed to be churning against the horizon.

"If we keep a quick pace," Luke said, "we can travel with it long enough to find a safe shelter."

Luke's friend shook his head, and then sagged to his knees. Ben crouched down to examine the boy and con-firmed that he was just exhausted. Lifting his gaze to Luke, Ben said, "I can carry your friend if you can keep pace, young man."

"Luke," Luke said. "Luke Skywalker."

Ben looked at him quizzically, wondering if the boy had heard when he'd called out his name in the canyon. If Luke had heard, he didn't mention it, but instead ges-tured to the other boy and said, "My friend is Windy Starkiller. We sure were lucky that krayt fell asleep when it did."

"Yes," Ben said as he lifted Windy up onto his back. "Lucky." Although he knew that luck had nothing to do with the krayt, he saw no point in telling Luke more than he needed to know. He's not ready for the truth, Ben thought. As he walked off with Windy on his back, Luke at his side, and the stars above his head, his thoughts strayed to the dewback, who certainly hadn't been lucky that day.

Perhaps Luke won't ever be ready.

Ben glanced at Luke and saw his lower lip was trem-bling. "Something wrong, young Luke?"

"I was just thinking about our dewback," Luke replied. "He belonged to Windy, but we both took care of him. His name was Huey."

Ben found it interesting that he and Luke had been thinking of the dewback at the same time, but he stayed silent as he walked alongside Luke, waiting for the boy to continue.

"It's my fault he died," Luke said. "Windy and I were bored, and some of the older kids had been calling us 'small fry,' so . . . we decided to ride Huey out into the Wastes."

Ben nodded slightly to show that he was listening.

Luke said, "I got him killed because I wanted to prove that I wasn't a 'small fry.'" He kicked at the sand. "It was stupid coming out here alone, and Huey paid for it."

Adjusting Windy on his back, Ben replied, "My young friend, you have learned a valuable lesson about responsibility. Always keep this memory. Events in our lives have consequences that ripple through the lives of others."

Luke gave Ben a sidelong glance, and Ben realized from the boy's somewhat baffled expression that his words may have overwhelmed the boy. Ben added, "All life is connected."

Luke seemed to think about this for a moment, then he nodded in agreement. Ben thought, At least he listens.

As Ben felt his back begin to ache from the strain of carrying Windy, the wind started to pick up again. Ben jutte d his bearded chin toward a looming b.u.t.te, which resembled a silhouette of an enormous tree stump against the dark storm clouds. "I know a safe place up ahead," Ben said. "We'll take shelter there."

While the winds wailed outside Ben's old hovel, Luke and a recovered Windy sat inside with Ben. Ben had secured the hovel's camouflage door, and the boys were happy to share the rations that he offered. After swallowing a nutrient tablet, Luke asked politely, "How long have you lived on Tatooine, Mr. Ken.o.bi?"

Ben stroked his beard as he replied, "Longer than some, I suppose, but not as long as others."

"Oh," Luke said, apparently not noticing that Ben hadn't even slightly answered his question. Eager to learn more, Luke continued, "Do you have family here?"

Ben shook his head. "Just myself."

"Huh," Luke said. "I live with my aunt and uncle. Beru and Owen Lars. You said you know them?"

Knowing that Luke might relate their conversation to Owen, Ben said cautiously, "I recall whereabouts they live, but I regret I never really got to know them . Not well, anyway."

Luke's eyes brightened as he replied, "I'm sure they'll be happy to see you, especially after Windy and I tell them how you helped us. "

That would be pleasant, Ben thought, but he doubted that Owen would ever be entirely happy to see him.

"My parents will want to thank you, too," Windy chimed in. Ben just smiled in return.

"If you don't mind my asking," Luke continued, "what were you doing out in the Jundland Wastes tonight?"

Ben said, "That's where I live."

Luke gaped. "You live in the Wastes?" He and Windy exchanged astonished glances, then Luke returned his gaze to Ben and added, "All by yourself?"

Ben gave a shrug, then said, "Well, a fellow has to live somewhere.'"

"Don't you get ever get lonesome?"

"Not at all. As long as I have the suns in the morning and the moons at night, I'm reasonably content."

Windy said, "Do you live in a house, or a place like, um . . . ? " Moving his hands, he gestured at the hovel's interior.

Ben chuckled. "In fact, young Windy, I do live in a house."

Luke said, "Maybe we could visit you some time, Mr. Ken.o.bi?"

"I'd enjoy that very much," Ben said. "But please, call me Ben."

"Sure . . . Ben."

"But before any of us go making more travel plans," Ben said, "let us try to get some rest. We can talk more in the morning."

Windy's worried parents were already at the Lars homestead, standing beside Owen and Beru, when Ben arrived with the two boys. Owen was clutching his blaster rifle. Windy ran straight to his mother who wrapped her arms around him.

"This is Mr. Ken.o.bi!" Windy gasped. "He saved us from a krayt dragon!"

Windy's mother looked up to Ben and said, "Thank you, Mr. Ken.o.bi!" Windy's father patted his son on the back as he smiled gratefully at Ben.

Ben returned the smile sheepishly, then looked to Owen. Owen glowered at him.

Luke arrived at Beru's side and exclaimed, "Mr. Ken.o.bi told us stories about living out on the Dune Sea . . . it was great ! Can he stay for a while?"

Without hesitation, Owen answered firmly, "Mr. Ken.o.bi has to leave now."

There was a moment of awkward silence. Then Beru, clearly outraged, glared at her husband and said, "Owen Lars!"

Ignoring his wife, Owen stepped forward and grabbed Ben's upper arm. "I want you off my property," Owen said, "and don't come back!" He gave Ben a shove.

Ben stumbled back but instantly regained his bal-ance. Looking away from Owen, he faced Luke. Ben had hoped to talk more with Luke, who looked posi-tively stunned by Owen's behavior. Now, all Ben could manage was a slight, sad smile for Luke before he turned and walked away.

Back home to the Jundland Wastes.

CHAPTER TEN.

One day, during Ben Ken.o.bi's nineteenth year on Tatooine, he felt an overwhelming urge to go for a walk in the canyons of the Jundland Wastes. As much as he enjoyed walking for exercise, he couldn't explain why he felt so compelled on this particular day, but decided to follow his instincts.

He was just a few kilometers from his home when he sensed danger in the canyon up ahead. More pre-cisely, he sensed Luke was in danger.

What's that boy doing out here? Ben knew that Luke owned a skyhopper and had gained a local reputation as a talented pilot, but he also knew that Owen had recently grounded Luke after a reckless race at Beggar's Canyon. Before Ben could further ponder why Luke was so far from home, he smelled something in the air. Tusken Raiders! There was no mistaking their scent.

Ben pulled his cloak up over his head and quickened his pace. As he rounded a bend in the canyon, he saw three Tuskens rummaging through a landspeeder that was parked beside some large boulders. He recognized the speeder as Luke's, and then saw Luke himself lying motionless on the ground near the Tuskens. It appeared they had knocked him out cold.

Without breaking his stride across the canyon's stony floor, Ben performed his best imitation of a krayt dragon's hunting cry. The long, high-pitched howl echoed loudly off the canyon walls, prompting the Tuskens to grab their weapons and flee, leaving Luke and the landspeeder behind.

Ben moved swiftly beside Luke's unconscious form, bent down, and checked Luke's pulse. As he confirmed Luke was all right, he heard an electronic moan to his right, followed by a short beep. Ben paused, then pulled back his hood and turned to his right to see a blue-domed astromech droid cowering in the shadows under a rocky ledge.

Goodness, Ben thought. It looks just like R2-D2. He smiled at the droid and said, "h.e.l.lo there!" Waggling his fingers in a beckoning gesture, he encouraged, "Come here, my little friend. Don't be afraid."

The droid emitted a series of concerned-sounding beeps.

"Oh, don't worry," Ben said as he gestured to Luke, "he'll be all right."

Luke stirred, then slowly opened his dazed eyes to look up at Ben. Ben helped him rise to a sitting position. "Rest easy, son," Ben said, "you've had a busy day. You're fortunate to be all in one piece."

Luke rubbed the back of his head and then focused on his rescuer. "Ben? " he said. "Ben Ken.o.bi? Boy, am I glad to see you!"

The astromech droid wobbled out from under the ledge and approached Luke and Ben.

"The Jundland Wastes are not to be traveled lightly," Ben said as he pulled Luke up to his feet. "Tell me, young Luke, what brings you out this far?"

"Oh, this little droid!" Luke said, gesturing at the astromech who beeped in response. Luke continued, "I think he's searching for his former master, but I've never seen such devotion in a droid before . . . "

Ben smiled again at the astromech, who beeped at him. Ben returned his gaze to Luke, who said, "Ah, he claims to be the property of an Obi-Wan Ken.o.bi. Is he a relative of yours? Do you know who he's talking about?"

Ben's smile melted away. He kept his eyes on Luke and tried to remain calm, but the boy's words had prac-tically stunned him. Catching his breath, Ben eased himself back to rest against a boulder. "Obi-Wan K e n o b i . . . " he said. "Obi-Wan?" His gaze drifted to the ground. "Now that's a name I've not heard in a long time . . . a long time."

"I think my uncle knows him," Luke said. "He said he was dead . . . "

"Oh, he's not dead," Ben said, rolling his eyes with mild amus.e.m.e.nt. "Not yet."

"You know him?"

"Well, of course I know him. He's me! "

The astromech chirped as he rotated his dome to study Ben more closely.

Glancing at Luke, Ben said "I haven't gone by the name Obi-Wan since, oh, before you were born."

"Well, then, the droid does belong to you."