Star Wars_ Boba Fett 04_ Hunted - Elizabeth Hand [16]
"I am no one's slave or servant!" Boba said. "I will work for you, for a price - but I will name that price!"
Jabba's laughter stilled. He gazed at Boba. After a moment he nodded. "You are my kind of scum! You will make a good hunter."
The protection of his helmet made Boba feel bold. "Who's to say I'm not one already?"
Jabba smiled slyly. "Soon you will have the chance to prove it. I have a job that needs to be executed. I have already contacted another hunter, but perhaps the assignment should be yours."
Jabba turned and gave a disdainful glance at the Drovian. "Bring him back to the palace," he ordered his guards. "Once we have arrived, put him in the holding pen."
The Drovian roared and fought furiously as the Gamorreans grabbed him and led him away.
Boba watched them go. He had never imagined it would be possible to feel pity for a Drovian. Still, the thought of Jabba's pit beasts made him hope that the gangster might change his mind.
"Estral!" boomed Jabba. "I have commanded Bib Fortuna to ready the sail barge for our departure. We leave immediately. Ensure that this dome is dismantled. And see that our new recruit is not left behind."
"Yes, m'lord," replied the Etti.
He turned and looked at Boba. It was obvious that he was not impressed by what he saw. "The sail barge will be here in a few minutes.
You can park your speeder in the holding area. Food will be served on the main deck after departure."
Boba said, "I have no speeder."
"A bounty hunter without a vehicle?" asked Estral with contempt.
"My ship's being overhauled," Boba added quickly. "It's in Mentis Qinx's docking bay."
Estral fixed him with a cold smile. "Qinx extends much credit to those in need. In exchange he demands huge fees. Many find they are unable to pay, and he keeps their vessels. Jabba the Hutt will own you before you get your ship back."
"We'll see about that," snapped Boba.
But behind the helmet, his face fell. Being a bounty hunter meant having the freedom to live and travel where he wanted to, when he wanted to.
He did not want to have to answer to Jabba the Hutt forever.
He did not want to answer to anyone but himself.
Still, Estral was right. Boba needed credits to pay for the repairs and refueling of Slave I. Jabba had said he needed bounty hunters. He said he had a job that needed to be executed. If Boba did that job, he could demand enough credits - and more - to reclaim his ship. He could set out on his own then, and go anywhere in the galaxy.
He would be free.
Even better.
At long last, he would be a bounty hunter.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Months before, Boba had been on the Republic Troopship Candaserri, a ship so big it was almost like a small planet.
Jabba the Hutt's sail barge was not that big, but it was big enough. Looking at it made Boba feel as though he was gazing at a small city within a city. A world within a world.
It was dark now, but there were enough bright lights around the arena to throw shadows everywhere. After Jabba was escorted from the dome, Boba and the rest went outside. The barge hovered above the ground.
Bib Fortuna, Jabba's majordomo, commanded gangplanks and ladders to be deployed. Slaves and servants ran up and down, readying the barge for departure.
"Hurry!" hissed Fortuna.
Once Jabba was aboard, he would be impatient to leave. It was not a good idea to make him wait!
Boba wandered a few meters away from the barge. He'd sneaked a sip of water to drink inside the dome, and a few dried ninchifs, tiny cavefish no bigger than his fingernail. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had a full meal.
He pushed that thought aside and crouched on the