Star Wars_ Darksaber - Kevin J. Anderson [73]
The maze of canals was an underground catacomb with vaulted ceilings and algae-covered support pillars dipping into the shallow water. Things splashed and swam in the twisted channels, lost in the faint mist.
“This fresh water is pumped in directly from the bogs,” Korrda said, as if confiding a great trade secret. “Lumps and all.”
The canals bubbled, and hairy green weed drifted along the top. Leia hugged herself in the clinging robe Korrda had provided for her. “You expect us to swim in this?” she said.
“Oh, no!” Korrda flinched backward in horror, whipping his sinuous spine back and forth. “These canals are for Lord Durga and other Hutts. We could not allow a … human to pollute the water.”
“We certainly wouldn’t want to offend Durga,” Han said with relief.
“Ah, no—we have a species-segregated section for some of our honored visitors. I’m sorry we cannot be fully accommodating; this section, alas, has only pure water, with none of the special additives that give Hutt skin such a pleasurable texture.” Korrda led them to a warm, crystal-clear pool with rough stone steps leading down into it so they could immerse themselves to shoulder level in the bubbling water.
“This will do just fine, thank you,” Leia said, her gratitude genuine.
“As long as we’ve checked it for traps,” Han suggested.
“Oh, indeed, sir. I have been most vigilant throughout this entire mission,” Threepio said. “And I detect no treachery here. I assure you, you may bathe without fear. I’ll remain on guard.”
“Oh good,” Han said sarcastically, “then I can relax.”
Leia slowly lowered herself into the warm, fizzy water and sighed as the liquid heat swirled around her aching joints. “In spite of myself, I might enjoy this,” she said.
“Please relax,” Korrda said. “I must attend to my Lord Durga’s arrival.”
“You go right ahead,” Han said, waving in dismissal. “Threepio will be here to stand guard, and our New Republic escort is just out in the corridor.”
As Korrda slithered away, Han and Leia sank into the pool, listening to the simmering sounds of other creatures moving in the canals reserved for Hutt bathing. The labyrinth was so vast that they could feel alone in their little corner, although numerous Hutt visitors and the reckless Huttlings swam in other sections.
“Should we talk?” Han whispered.
Leia slipped an arm around his waist. “No,” she said. “We have nothing important to discuss at the moment, and there’s no telling whether Durga’s listening in. Let’s just enjoy a moment of relaxation—for a change.”
Leia grew drowsy, though she remained on guard, half-watching the canals filled with sludgy bog water. Gradually she became aware of ripples stirring the hairy green seaweed; something large moved beneath the surface, easing toward them. She sat up straighter, stiffening.
“Oh, dear,” Threepio cried. “I do believe something’s approaching.” He pointed with a golden hand just as a large bulk heaved itself out of the bog water near the canal divider opposite Han and Leia.
The sloping mound, dripping with water and seaweed, blinked two huge copper-red eyes. “Hoo-hoo-hoo,” a Hutt voice boomed. “Welcome, Leia Organa Solo. I am pleased to see you again so soon.”
Leia recoiled, but managed to mask her shock. She sat back in the pool, maintaining her cool diplomatic composure as she recognized the dark birthmark on the Hutt’s wet face. “Lord Durga, welcome home.”
“Your visit comes as such a surprise,” Durga said, heaving himself higher so that the seaweed sloughed off his sloping head and dripped back into the steaming canals. “I did not expect you to come so soon. Does this mean you are anxious now to form an alliance with the Hutt syndicate?”
“Don’t jump to conclusions,” Han said.
“Let me handle this, Han.” Leia squeezed his arm. “Our visit is a gesture of good faith on our part, Lord Durga. I’m sure you know how quickly the New Republic can work, once it has made a decision.” Han snorted beside her, because she had complained so often about how interminably long even simple processes took. Durga wouldn’t know that,