"I think he went back to Rutan on his own," Garth said. "That would make sense. He did not want to worry us."
A storm of argument broke out over this last suggestion. Jaret and Hinen began to shout. Tinta upset the plate full of bread. Bu began to hiccup, and Jaret handed her to Ganeed.
Ganeed smiled at the Jedi over the baby's shoulder as she patted her back. "You see? We have no idea where Leed could be."
"Even Drenna doesn't know," Tinta said.
Qui-Gon cast his keen gaze on the young boy. "Is Drenna a special friend of Leed's, Tinta?"
"She is closest to him in age," Ganeed said, handing the baby to Mesan.
Obi-Wan shot a searching glance at Drenna for the first time. Her close-cropped hair almost matched the silvery cast to her dark-blue skin. She raised her silver eyes to the Jedi.
"You can see this place is confusing," she said, making a wry face. "Maybe Leed just wanted some peace and quiet to make up his mind. I think he will return soon."
"Drenna, help Wek set the table," Nin called. "Go sit down, boy, you are underfoot."
"Let's eat," Jaret said. "I'm hungry."
"Well, come to the table, then," Nin scolded. "I can't do everything for you."
Drenna sprang up and began to ladle the food into bowls.
"Yes, perhaps Leed will return soon," Qui-Gon said. "He will miss his clan. As you miss him."
Ganeed's eyes suddenly filled with tears. "As we do," she said softly.
A silence fell over the clan for the first time. Obi-Wan could read sorrow on each face. Leed was truly loved, he saw.
For a moment, all they heard were Bu's tiny hiccups as she nestled her downy head against her mother's shoulder.
"This is a waste of time," Taroon suddenly said. "They won't tell us anything."
"We should leave you to your midday meal," Qui-Gon said graciously, bowing to the clan.
"We wish you ease and serenity," Ganeed said, smiling through tear-filled eyes. "And if you find Leed, please protect him."
"We shall," Qui-Gon promised.
They retreated down the walkway that joined the structure to the main dock, then started back toward Meenon's dwelling.
"They were no help at all," Taroon complained. "I don't know how Leed could stand to live with so many people."
"They seem to enjoy one another's company," Qui-Gon observed.
"They certainly like to talk," Obi-Wan added. He had felt awkward among the clan, but he had also felt their warmth and their obvious affection for one another.
"Yet they did not say a thing," Qui-Gon said. "Did you notice that, Padawan?"
Obi-Wan thought about it. "They all contradicted each other's guesses. It seemed as though they were giving us leads, but they weren't."
"Exactly. And then when we turned our attention to Drenna, suddenly everyone needed to eat. Come this way." Qui-Gon headed down a smaller floating dock that was perpendicular to the main passageway. A small floating garden was set up for the benefit of the dwellers of the floating city. Qui-Gon paused behind a lush bush studded with orange blooms.
"What are we doing?" Taroon asked irritably. "We have no time to pick flowers."
Qui-Gon didn't answer. Obi-Wan saw that from here they had a perfect view of the front of the clan's dwelling. In another moment, Drenna came outside. She stood on the dock and looked to her right, then her left. She had buckled a supply belt around her tunic, and Obi-Wan could see its pouch was full.
She turned and quickly walked down the dock in the opposite direction.
"Let's go," Qui-Gon said.
"Why should we follow a Senali on her useless errands?" Taroon scowled.
"Because she will bring us to Leed," Qui-Gon answered.
Chapter 6
At first it was easy to follow Drenna. Senalis strolled along the docks on this fine day, pausing to purchase flowers and food at various markets that were set up along the way. The Jedi and Taroon could melt into the crowd and keep her in sight.
The Jedi had already adapted to the idea that the ground was not firm under their feet. The docks swayed and bobbed in the gentle roll of the sea. Taroon had more trouble. Occasionally he would stumble and his skin would flush to a bluish rose.
"What kind of a world builds its cities on water?" he grumbled after he had stumbled again and narrowly escaped tumbling off the dock. "I don't see how my brother can stand this awful place."
Qui-Gon lifted an eyebrow at Obi-Wan in a private gesture. Obi-Wan smiled. He knew what his Master was thinking. Senali had turquoise seas, blooming gardens, and, from the looks of it, a peaceful and content population. Taroon harbored the prejudice of Rutanians, most of whom had not set foot on Senali since the war that had divided them forever. They considered Senalis lazy primitives who had not built a thriving culture or economy and who lived only for pleasure.
The floating city stretched over several kilometers. Drenna led them over bridges and walkways into different sections, some with brightly painted multistoried buildings, some with eccentric structures that bobbed cheerfully on the water. They passed rows and rows of docks with different crafts tied to the pilings. The crowd began to thin, and they hung back, keeping Drenna just in sight.
At last Drenna turned toward one of the silver bridges that connected the floating city to the mainland. She hurried over the bridge and disappeared down a road that curved around a dense thicket of trees. They quickly followed.
Trees lined the road that verged the shore. The branches were heavy with green fronds that bent the limbs down to the ground, their feathery leaves lying like lace on the sandy road. Deep green shadows flickered, and every now and then a glimpse of the turquoise sea appeared like a startling vision through the thick curtain of leaves.
Qui-Gon tapped into the Force to help him track Drenna. He had to be alert to the smallest sounds ahead, to the disturbance in the air he could feel as she passed through it.
Senali was a small world, and most of the population traveled by sea or on foot. The Jedi did not see many speeders or other craft that moved through air. Small transports occasionally buzzed by, carrying goods and food.