托业阅读辅导：星球大战第二章(8)
The figure remained unmoved by Luke’s efforts to reach it. "Luke," it spoke again, "you’re our only hope." Our only hope.Luke was confused. Yet before he could gather the strength to ask for an explanation, the figure began to fade. And when every trace of the apparition had passed from his sight, Luke thought he saw the approach of a Tauntaun with a human rider on its back. The snow-lizard was approaching, its gait unsteady. The rider was still too far away, too obscured by the storm for identification.
In desperation the young Rebel commander called out, "Ben?!" before again dropping off into unconsciousness.
The snow-lizard was barely able to stand on its saurian hind legs when Han Solo reined it to a stop and dismounted.
Han looked with horror at the snow-covered, almost frozen form lying as if dead at his feet.
"Come on, buddy," he appealed to Luke’s inert figure, immediately forgetting his own nearly frozen body, "you aren’t dead yet. Give me a signal here." Han could detect no sign of life, and noticed that Luke’s face, nearly covered with snow, was savagely torn. He rubbed at the youth’s face, being careful not to touch the drying wounds. "Don’t’ do this, Luke. It’s not your time." Finally a slight response. A low moan, barely audible over the winds, was strong enough to send a warm glow through Han’s own shivering body. He grinned with relief. "I knew you wouldn’t leave me out here all alone! We’ve got to get you out of here." Knowing that Luke’s salvation—and his own—lay in the speed of the Tauntaun, Han moved toward the beast, carrying the young warrior limply in his arms. But before he could drape the unconscious form over the animal’s back, the snow-lizard gave an agonized roar, then fell into a shaggy gray heap on the snow. Laying his companion down, Han rushed to the side of the fallen creature. The Tauntaun made one final sound, not a roar or bellow but only a sickly rasp. Then the beast was silent.
Solo gripped the Tauntaun’s hide, his numbed fingers searching for even the slightest indication of life. "Deader than a Triton moon," he said, knowing that Luke did not hear a word. "We haven’t got much time." Resting Luke’s motionless form against the belly of the dead snow-lizard, Han proceeded to work. It might be something of a sacrilege, he mused, using a Jedi Knight’s favorite weapon like this, but right now Luke’s lightsaber was the most efficient and precise tool to cut through the thick skin of a Tauntaun.
托业阅读辅导：星球大战第二章(8)
At first the weapon felt strange in his hand, but momentarily he was cutting the animal’s carcass from hairy head to scaly hind paws. Han winced at the foul odor that rose from the steaming incision. There were few things he could remember that stank like a snow-lizard’s innards. Without deliberation he tossed the slippery entrails into the snow.When the animal’s corpse had been entirely eviscerated, Han shoved his friend inside the warm, hair-covered skin. "I know this doesn’t smell so good, Luke, but it’ll keep you from freezing. I’m sure this Tauntaun wouldn’t hesitate if it were the other way around." From the body of the snow-lizard, another blast of entrail-stench rose out of the disemboweled cavity. "Whew!" Han almost gagged. "It’s just as well you’re out cold, pal." There wasn’t much time left to do what had to be done. Han’s freezing hands went to the supply pack strapped to the Tauntaun’s back and rummaged through the Rebel-issue items until he located the shelter container.
Before unpacking it, he spoke into his comlink. "Echo Base, do you copy?" No response.
"This comlink is useless!" The sky had darkened ominously and the winds blew violently, making even breathing close to impossible. Han fought to open the shelter container and stiffly began to construct the one piece of Rebel equipment that might protect them both—if only for a short while longer.
"If I don’t get this shelter up fast," he grumbled to himself, "Jabba won’t need those bounty hunters."
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