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“Besides, boy, you know what kind of damage a Force master could do with the entire crystal in his hands. Can you take a chance on the Empire finding it first?” She looked almost apologetic. “Sorry, but I had to do something to shove you both past the no-return point. Couldn’t risk having my first really secure helpers back out on me, could I?”

“She’s right, Leia,” Luke told his companion. “We can’t take the chance of having the crystal fall into Imperial hands.”

“You’re right, Luke …”

“Besides, Leia, we have no choice. We need Halla to help us get off-planet, and she won’t do that until we find the crystal anyway.” He eyed her hopefully. “All right?”

“My, my, what’s this? A miner asking permission from his servant girl?” Neither of them could meet her shrewd gaze. “Take it easy, children. I won’t give you away, whoever you are.” She glanced around. “This isn’t the most private place to do business. Now, if you’re finished with your supper, we’d do well to talk elsewhere.”

Luke nodded. “It’s about time we reassured Artoo and Threepio.”

“Just a minute.” Halla put out a restraining hand. “I thought there were only the two of you.”

Luke grinned. “Two ’droids I acquired … inherited, you might say.”

“Oh, that’s all right, then. Never could afford a personal ’droid myself.”

While paying their bill, Luke sneaked a glance in the direction of the Imperial civil servant. The man evidenced no further interest in them, didn’t even look in their direction. The servant-girl story had apparently convinced him.

Once outside with the double metal door panels shut behind them, Leia kicked Luke sharply in the shins. He went staggering, tumbled off the narrow walkway into the mud-filled trench which separated walkway from more solid street. When he recovered his senses, he gazed at her in surprise.

“Now you look more like a miner,” she grinned at him. “That’s for slapping me inside. No hard feelings?”

Luke shook some of the mud from his hands, wiped at his chest, then smiled up at her. “No hard feelings, Leia.” He reached up, extended a hand. The Princess leaned forward, her left hand gripping a supporting post, her right extended to help Luke.

Her caution didn’t matter. Luke yanked hard, and she plunged messily into the trench beside him. He sat there, grinning, as she turned around, looked down at herself in distress.

“Look at me! Look what you’ve done to me!”

“Made you look a little more like a servant girl,” he replied easily. “Can’t be too careful here, you know.”

“Well, in that case …” Luke ducked the first handful of gook she heaved in his direction, caught part of the second and grappled with her.

Halla was watching, amused, until several large men came out of the tavern behind her. They paused, their attention also drawn by the wrestling match in the mud. They were all just drunk enough to be dangerous and the longer they watched, the quieter they became.

Much too quiet to suit Halla …

IV

“FOR our souls and health,” she muttered hastily to the two combatants, “stop it, you two!”

Encased in mud, neither Luke nor the Princess heard Halla’s anxiously whispered warning.

One of the men leaned to his right, spat something out between his beard and commented, “Servant’s not supposed to fight back, boys.”

“Doesn’t seem proper somehow,” his companion agreed.

“Besides,” the first man added, “fightin’ in public’s against the town decrees, ain’t it?”

“That’s right,” another man concurred. “Maybe we can straighten ’em out before the night troop takes ’em in. Be doin’ ’em a good turn.” He called down to Luke. “Hang in there, young fella. We won’t let her hurt you.”

Grinning and chuckling among themselves, the five stepped down off the walkway. Finding herself providently ignored by all concerned, Halla slipped back into the shadows.

“Is there anything we can do, madam?” a voice said into her ear. She jumped. Threepio jumped.

“You’ve no right scaring me like that, you refugee from a scrap shop!”

“I apologize, but my master and the lady …”

“Oh. Are