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"Twenty seconds!"

Boba swallowed. His hand slid into his pocket and touched his father's book. He didn't dare take it out, but just feeling it reassured him a little.

For knowledge you must find Jabba. He will not give it; you must take it.

"Time's up!"

Boba let his breath out. When he lifted his head, he saw Jabba gazing at him with those wicked, serpentlike eyes.

"So, young Mandalorian! Have you made your choice?"

Everyone inside the dome crowded in front of the viewscreen -

everyone except for Boba and Jabba the Hutt. The gangster's pale tongue flicked from his mouth. He reached into a large basket overflowing with Ylesian white worms, grabbed a handful of squirming grubs, and shoved them into his mouth. Boba felt sick. From the viewscreen came the roar of the arena's crowd as the signal was given.

The race had started.

"Tell me - now!" roared Jabba. "You said you came to me for knowledge? You must show that you yourself possess it! Who will be the winner?"

Boba stared at the crime lord.

He will not give it; you must take it.

And suddenly, he knew the right answer.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"Well?" demanded Jabba.

Fearlessly, Boba looked at him. "0 wisest of Hutts! The winner will be - whoever you want it to be!"

Inside the dome everything abruptly grew silent, except for the muted viewscreen. From outside, Boba could hear a wave of sound, shouts, and cheers echoing from the arena. There was the muffled explosion of a blaster. On his raised throne, Jabba stared down at Boba Fett. Very slowly he raised his flabby arms. His eyes narrowed. His entire vast body began to shake. His long, fat tail rippled and coiled like a dying slug.

Jabba the Hutt was laughing.

"HO HO!" The entire dome shook as he bellowed and roared. "Well said, young warrior!" He grabbed another fistful of worms and crammed them into his mouth, without ceasing to speak. "A clever answer! And a true one!"

Inside his helmet, Boba sighed with relief. "Thank you, 0 Great and Wise Hutt," he said.

He tipped his head respectfully. It was a good thing Jabba couldn't see his face! "I am overwhelmed." Overwhelmed with disgust, Boba added to himself. "Estral!" boomed Jabba. His flailing arm beckoned to the Etti gamemaster. "Collect their credits!

We're leaving!"

Boba looked around, confused.

"But the race isn't over," he blurted.

Once more Jabba heaved with laughter. "I know who will win. I have more important business to attend to."

He leaned forward, staring intently at Boba. "Young Mandalorian!

You said you were sent by Jango Fett."

Boba nodded. "That's right."

"So you, too, are a bounty hunter?"

Boba's voice was loud and clear. "Yes. I am."

"That is good. I am always in need of bounty hunters - even small ones. You will come with me to my palace. My major-domo, Bib Fortuna, will arrange for you to be outfitted there. Until you have discharged your debt to me, you will be under my command."

"My debt to you?" Boba said. He couldn't keep outrage from his voice. "What do I owe you for?"

Immediately he felt the hot breath of the Drovian guard upon his neck.

"You will die for that," the Drovian grunted.

He drew a curved litch-knife from his belt and held it just inches from Boba's face.

"And," the Drovian added with a twisted smile, "you will die slowly."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Boba had no time to think. He acted.

Without a sound he leaped to one side. The Drovian's knife whistled harmlessly through the air where, a nanosecond before, Boba had been.

"Huh?" gaped the hulking alien.

A small table stood near the viewscreen. Boba grabbed the table and swung it in front of him, fending off the Drovian's blade. Jabba's guests yelled and scattered in all directions. Jabba himself watched, laughing coarsely.

"You will pay for this!" croaked the Drovian.

As the guard bore down on him, Boba