Obi-Wan had ridden a swoop before and was used to the extra maneuverability. He pushed the swoop, making sharp turns and accelerating rapidly. He was glad to see that the vehicle handled well. Qui-Gon also seemed satisfied, and the two of them landed the transports and turned off the engines just as Irini and Lenz appeared in the yard.

"If you find the list with Tahl, what will you do with it?" lrini asked them anxiously.

"The list is not our first concern," Qui-Gon said.

"You must realize how much power resides in that list," Lenz said.

"It cannot fall into the wrong hands."

"Do you promise to come to us first if you have it?" Irini asked.

"I cannot make that promise," Qui-Gon said. "But I will promise that we will keep it safe. The Jedi will volunteer to hold the list as a neutral party until the government appoints a successor to Roan."

Irini nodded reluctantly.

Obi-Wan caught sight of a blur in the sky. "I think the probe droid is returning already."

Qui-Gon looked up, his expression tense with expectation. The probe droid settled on the ground in front of him. He quickly bent to examine the readout.

"Balog has left the city," Qui-Gon said. "He's struck out over open country."

"That's strange," Lenz said. "Why would he leave his base of support?

" "Maybe he knows the Jedi are on his trail," lrini said.

Qui-Gon programmed the droid to continue tracking and sent it off again. Then he programmed the coordinates of Balog's last stop into his shipboard computer. He gave Obi-Wan the coordinates, and Obi-Wan did the same on his swoop.