• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

That is what his father had taught him. If you contain your own fear, it becomes power.

And power makes you strong.

Boba drew a deep breath. He felt his heart pounding, but now it did not frighten him. He looked at the arch.

From inside, he could hear music. He could hear voices. He could hear shrill cries and deep, powerful laughter. He could hear a voice dry and merciless as a desert storm.

Jabba.

And Durge.

"Time to go to work," said Boba.

He walked inside.

The throne room was large. Flickering flames rose and fell inside tall lamps. Shadowy figures danced and leaped. Someone trilled on a flute. Boba could smell smoke.

And roasting food. Near Jabba's throne a spit turned. On it was a huge demon squid, its tentacles nicely browned. Boba lost his appetite.

"Bounty hunter!" Jabba shouted, a mountainous figure in the center of the room. "Approach!"

Boba stepped forward. "Your Huge Huttness," he said. He bowed. "I have come to receive your orders."

Boba looked up. On his throne, Jabba reclined. He watched Boba through slitted eyes. Around him, the dancers and singers stopped. They stared at Boba, too. Their eyes were round with fear.

And with anticipation.

"Did I ask you to speak?" roared Jabba. He leaned forward, his shadow falling across Boba. "N-no," faltered Boba. "But - "

From Jabba's shadow another figure emerged. Huge and muscular, his silver body-armor shining.

It was Durge.

"Shall I destroy him now?" he cried. He raised his arm and pointed a blaster at Boba. On his chest the Mandalorian skull seemed to burn.

Boba tensed. From the corner of his eye he could see Jabba's guards, dozens of them. The doors were blocked.

He looked down. He could see a long groove in the floor.

A trapdoor. Jabba kept pit beasts for his depraved entertainment.

And to punish those he was unhappy with. There would be no exit that way, either.

Boba glanced up. Beams crisscrossed the ceiling. Feline shooks were chained there, their tusks dripping. Their evil red eyes watched Boba hungrily.

Durge took a step toward Boba. "It will be my pleasure to kill you," he said, aiming his blaster.

"Your pleasure, perhaps!" boomed Jabba. "But not mine."

He gestured impatiently at Durge. The great bounty hunter continued to stare at Boba. Inside his battle helmet his eyes flickered crimson.

Finally, he lowered his blaster. "If not now," he said, "then later."

"I have a task," continued Jabba the Hutt. "Someone has interfered with my smuggling trade.

Someone has refused to work with me. That someone must be killed."

"I will see to it!" said Boba. His voice echoed loudly through the throne room.

"So you say." Jabba leaned back on his throne. He extended his flabby hand. Immediately, a servant filled it with wriggling worms.

Jabba chewed the worms thoughtfully. He pointed at Boba. He said,

"Mandalorian, you have no weapons!"

The bloated crime lord began to laugh. From everywhere in the room more laughter rang out.

Only Durge was silent. He continued to stare at Boba hatefully.

Boba shook his head. Think fast!

"That is so, 0 Exalted Jabba," he said quickly. "I have waited to receive my arms from you, and you alone. Because you are the greatest among your kind. And I will be the greatest among bounty hunters!"

Jabba smiled. "A good answer!"

Boba turned and stared fearlessly up at Durge. "And a true one!"

The bounty hunter reached for his blaster. "You will suffer great pain for that. I think it's time we saw what's under your mask!"

With a roar, Durge lunged for him.

CHAPTER TWENTY

"Hoh hoh!" Jabba shook with delight. "Durge and an unarmed warrior!"

Boba wasted no time. Before Durge could catch him, Boba dove between his legs.

Jabba laughed, crying, "He is fast!"

"Not fast enough!" yelled Durge.

A flaming burst of red and orange shot from his weapon. Boba rolled. In an instant he was on his feet again. He looked around.

A few meters away was