[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
huge blob of spit struck Grammel on the back of the neck, just above the high collar. Wiping it away, the
Captain-Supervisor growled viciously back over his shoulder.
"You grinning travesty of a man. Soon, very soon, I promise." He gestured sharply to the troops, and
they disappeared in a body up the corridor.
Hin left the bars, walked back to check on the Princess. She had fainted and Luke was supporting
her with one arm. A grumble and Luke commented knowingly.
"Yes, he's a prince, our jailer, isn't he?"
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
By way of reply, Hin picked up a piece of gravel from the floor. Rolling it between two long fingers,
he pulverized it effortlessly and let the dust trickle back to the ground.
"I hope you can do that to him someday, Hin," Luke agreed, eying the Yuzzem. "Right now, though,
I'm afraid our chances of getting out of here, let alone of getting to the Captain-Supervisor, aren't very
good."
Amoan, and the Princess reached out toward Luke. He caught her hands and she opened her eyes in
surprise. An uncertain glance, then she saw the huge-eyed Hin staring at her curiously.
"I'm sorry, Luke." He helped her to her feet. "The thought of going through an Imperial interrogation
again... I lost control."
"That's understandable. You won't go through another session. I'll see to that."
She smiled at him. Why discourage such confidence with mere facts?
Luke had moved to the single window, was testing the bars with exploratory pulls. "They're just as
solid as they look," he grunted. "No way out here."
"The Yuzzem probably already tried that," she pointed out reasonably.
A small section of stone wall slid aside and she jumped. A reassuring rush to the wall from both
Yuzzem caused Luke to relax. Several bowls and dishes of something steaming were slipped into the cell
on smooth metal trays before the stone panel slid back into place.
Hin and Kee left no doubt as to the contents of the dishes. They grabbed one apiece and started
wolfing down the contents.
"I don't think much of Yuzzem table manners," Luke observed. "I think if we want something to eat,
we'd better hurry or they won't leave us a thing."
Exchanging glances, they studied the contents of the two remaining trays. Luke sniffed of the contents
of one bowl, shrugged, and tried a spoonful.
"Some kind of stew," he decided. "Not bad for prison fare."
"Remember," Leia said, "Grammel's under instructions to keep us healthy. Until the Imperial
Governor's representative arrives."
Luke paused between mouthfuls to venture hopefully, "At least if we do get a chance to escape, we'll
be able to do it on a full stomach."
Luke finished his meal, rose and walked over to the bars forming their cell. He stared down the
corridor at the distant spot on the stone wall where the cell entry control was emplaced. Leia eyed him
quietly.
If only they could cover the recessed photosensitive switch with something, he mused. His gaze
traveled around the cell. The trays on which their food had appeared were smooth, unmalleable metal.
No way to attach them to one another. The result wouldn't be nearly long enough to reach the far-off
switch anyway. And it was, self-evidently, well out of the extended reach of the two Yuzzem.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"We've got to get a hand or something over that switch," he muttered in frustration.
"Or something, Luke boy."
Everyone started at the unexpected voice, especially the excitable Yuzzem. Hin rushed toward the
window but Luke, fortunately, got there before him.
"No...it's a friend, Hin." The Yuzzem gibbered and clacked at him, but finally moved away. Luke
rushed to the opening himself, grabbed the bars and stood on tiptoe to look out. A wrinkled, smiling face
stared brightly back at him.
"Halla!" he almost shouted. "You didn't forget us after all!" He tried to see past her. "What about
Threepio and Artoo Detoo?"
"Your 'droids are fine, boy. As for me, I never forget a partner. Besides, I need you two. So don't go
emotional on me. It's the crystal I'm after." Her grin faded and she stared hard at him. "Did you tell that
maggot Grammel anything about me?"
"No," Luke assured her. There was a cough and he noticed the Princess staring at him. "Well, not
exactly," he corrected himself. "He thinks we were trying to sell the crystal fragment to you."
Halla chuckled. "So that's why I wasn't brought in for questioning. Grammel always did see things
through the wrong end. He's taken the fragment, I guess?"
"I'm sorry." Luke looked downcast. "We couldn't do anything about it."
"Never mind, boy. We'll have the whole crystal soon. Soon's we get you out."
"How?You've got something to blow the wall?"
"Now, that would be a waste of time, boy. What would you do, run away from here?" She paused,
realization striking. "Say, I'll bet you can't see down out of this window, can you?"
"No, only in a straight line," Luke admitted.
"Boy, I'm standing on a ledge about ten centimeters wide, over a forty-meter-deep trench. There's a
barrier on the other side that would detect any energy weapons or explosives anyone tried to carry over
here. Or did you think I was pressing this close to the wall because I like the way your breath smells?"
"Halla, you're crazy! What if you slip?"
"I'll make a small splash, Luke boy. As for the first, since everyone seems so sure I'm crazy, I don't
see any harm in acting like it. Only a crazy old woman would come sliding out on this little bitty ledge
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
