Star Wars_ Darksaber - Kevin J. Anderson [22]
One of the reptilian retainers hummed into his musical synthesizer again, sending out a loud and soothing tone that made Leia’s teeth throb. It seemed to serve as a summons for the Taurill, though. Cooing and purring, they ran toward the music, as if drawn by invisible leashes. They approached Durga’s sled, dozens and dozens of them emerging from hiding places like a swarm of vermin.
“If that was so easy,” Leia wondered aloud, “why didn’t Durga simply use the musical tones at the very beginning?”
The Gamorreans began counting the Taurill as they came in, but the stupid guards lost track numerous times until Threepio finally stepped in to help. He rapidly pointed to each of the remaining fuzzy creatures. “Ninety-seven, Lord Durga. That is my count for the Taurill.”
The Hutt grumbled. “I came here with ninety-eight, and your man executed one of them—so I believe our tally is intact.” He glared at the nervous honor guard. “Perhaps, Madam President, you would consider reassigning your trigger-happy escort, who is given to such disruptive outbursts during a delicate diplomatic negotiation.”
“I will consider it, Durga,” Leia said. “But perhaps you should consider leaving your unruly pets behind if you plan to conduct ‘delicate diplomatic negotiations.’ And if you simply must bring them, keep them under tighter control when they are in the vicinity of dangerous weapons.”
Durga reared up as if offended, then let out a deep belly laugh. “I like you, Leia Organa Solo. I am glad to have such a strong counterpart who does not cower in fear. I wish to continue these negotiations at some time in the future. Allow me to extend an invitation for you to make a visit to Nal Hutta, at your convenience? I would be happy to receive you there.”
Leia nodded, noncommittal. “I’ll consider it, Durga,” she said. “If my rather busy schedule will permit it.”
Durga bowed on his repulsorsled and bade them all farewell.
The Gamorrcan guards turned the Hutt around and strained against their red velvet leashes, pulling the floating sled back out into the corridor. The worker droids groaned and shuffled as they swung the heavy doors shut.
Leia slumped back in her seat and only then noticed that she was perspiring heavily. Han patted her hand.
“We really should spend more time with the Hutts. They seem like such a pleasant species,” he said. “Now how about we get something to eat?”
YAVIN 4
CHAPTER 7
Callista sat alone in the jungles as night gathered on Yavin 4. Near the horizon, a lambent glow from the setting gas giant streaked the sky; Massassi trees rose tall, spreading their many-branched silhouettes against the deepening purple. Stars poked out, lights twinkling through a cloak of blackness.
She had not gone far from the Great Temple where Luke Skywalker had founded his Jedi academy. The stair-cased pyramid had endured for thousands of years, and stood now like a jagged black cutout surrounded by dusk.
Callista sat with her long legs crossed in front of a campfire she had built from dry brush, concentrating, allowing no distractions. Her malt blond hair was mussed and windblown, but her gray eyes were fixed on the flames. The warmth spread out in waves, gentle but insistent, driving back the damp coolness that settled over the lowlands.
She stared into the flames and pushed, but she felt nothing, not even a flicker of her former abilities. Feathery tongues of fire licked at the logs, lending the bark a soft orange glow. Tiny sparks drifted into the air in corkscrew patterns, like incandescent starfighters crashing to oblivion. Callista grimaced and tried harder to touch the flames with her mind, to nudge the embers.
But nothing happened. She sensed no communion with the fire.
Luke’s other Jedi trainees could make the flames dance, pulling them out like flexible sheets to make faces, images, twisting them into braids. It was a simple Jedi exercise. Callista