Star Wars®: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back™ by by Ryder Windham created by George Lucas

Author:by Ryder Windham, created by George Lucas [by Ryder Windham, created by George Lucas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic
Published: 2004-03-19T05:00:00+00:00

Yoda was riding in a pack strapped to Luke’s back. Already sweating in his sleeveless tunic, Luke grabbed hold of a thick vine that stretched down from a high tree to the Dagobah swamp. He pulled himself up, hand over hand, carrying Yoda with him. Winged creatures flew through the humid air, but Luke ignored them.

At a designated branch, Luke turned, grabbed another vine, and swung away from the tree, down to the ground. He landed on solid soil, flipped his body forward over a broad root, and began to run through the swamp. As Luke raced in and out of the heavy ground fog, Yoda spoke to the back of Luke’s head, urging him on.

“Run!” Yoda said as he clung to Luke’s shoulders. “Yes. A Jedi’s strength flows from the Force. But beware of the dark side. Anger … fear … aggression. The dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did Obi-Wan’s apprentice.”

Luke came to an abrupt stop and said, “Vader.” Breathing hard, he turned his head slightly to address Yoda and asked, “Is the dark side stronger?”

Yoda answered, “No … no … no. Quicker, easier, more seductive.”

“But how am I to know the good side from the bad?”

“You will know,” Yoda assured his new pupil, his voice a soothing rasp in Luke’s ear. “When you are calm, at peace. Passive. A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.”

“But tell me why I can’t —”

“No, no, there is no why,” Yoda interrupted. “Nothing more will I teach you today. Clear your mind of questions. Mmm. Mmmmmmm.”

Luke closed his eyes to meditate.

R2-D2 beeped in the distance as Luke lowered Yoda to the ground. While the aged Jedi settled himself on a wide root, Luke stepped over to a tree branch, where he’d placed his shirt and weapon belt.

As Luke pulled on his shirt, he sensed something strange and deadly in the air. He turned to see a huge, dead, black tree, its trunk surrounded by a few feet of water. Giant, twisted roots formed a dark and sinister-looking cave on one side. Luke stared at the tree and a chill ran down his spine.

“There’s something not right here,” he said. “I feel cold, death.”

“That place …” Yoda said from his seat, “is strong with the dark side of the Force. A domain of evil it is. In you must go.”

Luke thought, He actually wants me to go in? But he also somehow knew the journey was necessary. It seemed the place was silently calling to him, beckoning. Hesitant, Luke asked, “What’s in there?”

Yoda said, “Only what you take with you.”

Luke looked warily between the tree and Yoda, then started to strap on his weapon belt.

Seeing this, Yoda said, “Your weapons … you will not need them.”

Luke gave the tree a long look, then shook his head and strapped on his belt.

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