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She was afraid of the dark. I used to stay in the room until she fell asleep. I sat by her sleep-couch and kept one hand on it so she would know I was there. She would touch my hand from time to time as she fell asleep. I'd watch her," Wehutti whispered. "She was so beautiful."
Suddenly, he bent over in the chair, his forehead hitting his knees.
Great sobs came from his body. "There was so much confusion," he said in a choked voice. "I didn't see her at first. I was looking at Nield. My wife is buried in that Hall. Her ashes lie there. I couldn't let them do it."
"Wehutti, it's all right," Qui-Gon said. "You did what you had to. So did Cerasi."
Wehutti raised his head. "So you say. So you all say," he repeated tonelessly.
"And now your supporters are mobilizing to fight another war," Qui-Gon said. "Only you can stop them. Can you do that, for Cerasi's sake?"
Wehutti turned to Qui-Gon. There was no expression in his eyes, and his face seemed bleached of all color. It glistened with the marks of his tears.
"And how will that help Cerasi? I don't care about war or battles. I can't stop anything from happening, that's clear. I have no hatred anymore. I have nothing."
"But Cerasi would want you to help," Obi-Wan said.
Wehutti turned toward the window that had no view. "There was so much confusion," he said numbly. "I was ready to shoot. Perhaps I did. Perhaps I killed her. Perhaps I did not. I will never know."
Obi-Wan felt a sense of hopelessness move through him as they left Wehutti's house. If Wehutti wouldn't interfere, war seemed inevitable.
Qui-Gon walked thoughtfully by his side. Obi-Wan had no idea what he was thinking. But that wasn't unusual. Even when they were Master and Padawan, Qui-Gon often kept his thoughts to himself.
They turned a corner and almost ran into Nield. Startled, Nield quickly skirted them. He did not look at Obi-Wan so much as look through him, as though he were invisible.
Obi-Wan's step faltered. He still wasn't used to the impact of Nield's hatred.
"You said that Nield accused you of being an outsider," Qui-Gon remarked. "Was this just because you opposed his decision to demolish the Halls?"
"That's when it started," Obi-Wan said. "He was angry at Cerasi, too.
But things are worse now."
"Since Cerasi's death?"
Obi-Wan nodded. "He… he said that her death was my fault. That I should have been watching out for her instead of trying to save the Hall. He said that because of me, she rushed to the scene that day."
Qui-Gon looked at him thoughtfully. "And what do you think?"
"I don't know," Obi-Wan whispered.
"Nield has accused you of what he fears he himself did," Qui-Gon said.
"If he hadn't been so adamant about the Halls, Cerasi would still be alive.
He's also afraid that he killed Cerasi, just as Wehutti is. They are both afraid they fired the fatal shot."
Obi-Wan nodded. He didn't trust himself to speak. He couldn't think of that day without being swamped by feelings of guilt and loss.
Qui-Gon stopped. "Cerasi's death was not your fault, Obi-Wan. You ca
You can only do what you think is right at each moment as you live it.
Was Qui-Gon also talking about Obi-Wan's decision to stay? Hope rose in Obi-Wan. Had he forgiven him?
Qui-Gon began to walk again. "Here we have two grieving people who are secretly afraid they've killed the person they loved most in the world.
Perhaps the key to peace is as simple as the answer to a question: Who killed Cerasi? Sometimes whole wars can turn on one tragic loss."
Qui-Gon had not been talking about Obi-Wan's decision. His mind was fixed on the problem at hand. As it should be. He was treating Obi-Wan with compassion, but it was compassion with distance. He hadn't forgiven Obi-Wan.
"But how can we discover who actually fired the shot?" he asked.
"Wehutti is right. It was very confusing. Nield and Wehutti were both poised to shoot."
They stopped. Obi-Wan saw with surprise that Qui-Gon had brought him to the plaza where Cerasi was shot.
"Now, Obi-Wan. Tell me what you saw that day," Qui-Gon instructed.
"Nield and his forces were here," Obi-Wan said, pointing. "Wehutti, there. I stood here. Their weapons were raised and they were trading threats. Cerasi came up through the fountain grate. I saw her…"
Obi-Wan's throat closed. He cleared it and went on. "I couldn't believe she was there. She began to run, and I ran, and I heard the blaster fire…
I didn't know where it came from, so I kept on ru
"Wait," Qui-Gon barked brusquely. "Stop telling me the story like a grieving friend." He softened his tone. "I know it is hard, Obi-Wan. But I can learn nothing if your emotions color what you say. You must remember without guilt and sorrow. Tell me as a Jedi would. Keep your feelings in your heart. Tell me what your mind saw. Now. Close your eyes."
Obi-Wan closed his eyes. It took him a few moments to compose himself.
He searched for a clear space to let the memory come. He calmed his mind and slowed his breathing.
"I heard the scrape of the grate before I saw her. I was already turning to the left. She saw everything in one glance. She lifted herself out. As soon as her feet hit the ground, she started to run. She jumped over the wall of the fountain. I turned back to the right for just an instant.
Nield was surprised. I saw Wehutti out of the corner of my eye. He…"
Obi-Wan stopped, shocked at the clarity of his memory. "He lowered his blaster," he said with surprise. "He didn't shoot Cerasi."
"Go on," Qui-Gon said.
"I ran, and I lost sight of Nield. I was facing Cerasi, trying to get to her. I saw the sunlight glint on the roof of the building across the square. I remember hoping the reflection wouldn't get in my eyes. I needed to see everything. I heard blaster fire. That's when she fell."
"Open your eyes, Obi-Wan. I have a question for you."
Obediently, Obi-Wan opened his eyes.