Star Wars_ Episode V_ The Empire Strikes Back - Donald F. Glut [10]
When the animal's corpse had been entirely eviscerated, Han shoved his friend inside the warm, hair-covered skin. 'I know this doesn't smell so good, Luke, but it'll keep you from freezing. I'm sure this Tauntaun wouldn't hesitate if it were the other way around.'
From the body of the snow-lizard, another blast of entrail-stench rose out of the disemboweled cavity. 'Whew!' Han almost gagged. 'It's just as well you're out cold, pal.'
There wasn't much time left to do what had to be done. Han's freezing hands went to the supply pack strapped to the Tauntaun's back and rummaged through the Rebel-issue items until he located the shelter container.
Before unpacking it, he spoke into his comlink. 'Echo Base, do you copy?'
No response.
'This comlink is useless!'
The sky had darkened ominously and the winds blew violently, making even breathing close to impossible. Han fought to open the shelter container and stiffly began to construct the one piece of Rebel equipment that might protect them both - if only for a short while longer.
'If I don't get this shelter up fast,' he grumbled to himself, 'Jabba won't need those bounty hunters.'
= III =
ARTOO DETOO stood just outside the entrance to the secret Rebel ice hangar, dusted with a layer of snow that had settled over his plug-shaped body. His inner timing mechanisms knew he had waited here a long time and his optical sensors told him that the sky was dark.
But the R2 unit was concerned only with his built-in probe-sensors that were still sending signals across the ice fields. His long and earnest sensorsearch for the missing Luke Skywalker and Han Solo had not turned up a thing.
The stout droid began beeping nervously when Threepio approached him, plodding stiffly through the snow.
'Artoo,' the gold-colored robot inclined the upper half of his form at the hip joints, 'there's nothing more you can do. You must come inside.' Threepio straightened to his full height again, simulating a human shiver as the night winds howled past his gleaming hull. 'Artoo, my joints are freezing up. Will you hurry ... please?...' But before he could finish his own sentence, Threepio was hurrying back toward the hangar entrance.
Hoth's sky was then entirely black with night, and Princess Leia Organa stood inside the Rebel base entrance, maintaining a worried vigil. She shivered in the night wind as she tried to see into the Hoth darkness. Waiting near a deeply concerned Major Derlin, her mind was somewhere out on the ice fields.
The giant Wookiee sat nearby, his maned head lifting quickly from his hairy hands as the two droids Threepio and Artoo reentered the hangar.
Threepio was humanly distraught. 'Artoo has not been able to pick up any signals,' he reported, fretting, 'although he feels his range is probably too limited to cause us to give up hope.' Still, very little confidence could be detected in Threepio's artificial voice.
Leia gave the taller droid a nod of acknowledgment, but did not speak. Her thoughts were occupied with the pair of missing heroes. Most disturbing to her was that she found her mind focused on one of the two: a dark-haired Corellian whose words were not always to be taken literally.
As the princess kept watch, Major Derlin turned to acknowledge a Rebel lieutenant reporting in. 'All patrols are now in except Solo and Skywalker, sir.'
The major looked over at Princess Leia. 'Your Highness,' he said, his voice weighty with regret, 'nothing more can be done tonight. The temperature is dropping fast. The shield doors must be closed. I'm sorry.' Derlin waited a moment then addressed the lieutenant. 'Close the doors.'
The Rebel officer turned to carry out Derlin's order and immediately the chamber of ice seemed to drop even more in temperature as the mournful Wookiee howled his grief.
'The speeders should be ready in the morning,' the major said to Leia. 'They'll make the search easier.'
Not really expecting an affirmative reply, Leia asked,