Star Wars_ Splinter of the Mind's Eye - Alan Dean Foster [40]
“The Yuzzem probably already tried that,” she pointed out reasonably.
A small section of stone wall slid aside and she jumped. A reassuring rush to the wall from both Yuzzem caused Luke to relax. Several bowls and dishes of something steaming were slipped into the cell on smooth metal trays before the stone panel slid back into place.
Hin and Kee left no doubt as to the contents of the dishes. They grabbed one apiece and started wolfing down the contents.
“I don’t think much of Yuzzem table manners,” Luke observed. “I think if we want something to eat, we’d better hurry or they won’t leave us a thing.”
Exchanging glances, they studied the contents of the two remaining trays. Luke sniffed of the contents of one bowl, shrugged, and tried a spoonful.
“Some kind of stew,” he decided. “Not bad for prison fare.”
“Remember,” Leia said, “Grammel’s under instructions to keep us healthy. Until the Imperial Governor’s representative arrives.”
Luke paused between mouthfuls to venture hopefully, “At least if we do get a chance to escape, we’ll be able to do it on a full stomach.”
Luke finished his meal, rose and walked over to the bars forming their cell. He stared down the corridor at the distant spot on the stone wall where the cell entry control was emplaced. Leia eyed him quietly.
If only they could cover the recessed photosensitive switch with something, he mused. His gaze traveled around the cell. The trays on which their food had appeared were smooth, unmalleable metal. No way to attach them to one another. The result wouldn’t be nearly long enough to reach the far-off switch anyway. And it was, self-evidently, well out of the extended reach of the two Yuzzem.
“We’ve got to get a hand or something over that switch,” he muttered in frustration.
“Or something, Luke boy.”
Everyone started at the unexpected voice, especially the excitable Yuzzem. Hin rushed toward the window but Luke, fortunately, got there before him.
“No … it’s a friend, Hin.” The Yuzzem gibbered and clacked at him, but finally moved away. Luke rushed to the opening himself, grabbed the bars and stood on tiptoe to look out. A wrinkled, smiling face stared brightly back at him.
“Halla!” he almost shouted. “You didn’t forget us after all!” He tried to see past her. “What about Threepio and Artoo Detoo?”
“Your ’droids are fine, boy. As for me, I never forget a partner. Besides, I need you two. So don’t go emotional on me. It’s the crystal I’m after.” Her grin faded and she stared hard at him. “Did you tell that maggot Grammel anything about me?”
“No,” Luke assured her. There was a cough and he noticed the Princess staring at him. “Well, not exactly,” he corrected himself. “He thinks we were trying to sell the crystal fragment to you.”
Halla chuckled. “So that’s why I wasn’t brought in for questioning. Grammel always did see things through the wrong end. He’s taken the fragment, I guess?”
“I’m sorry.” Luke looked downcast. “We couldn’t do anything about it.”
“Never mind, boy. We’ll have the whole crystal soon. Soon’s we get you out.”
“How? You’ve got something to blow the wall?”
“Now, that would be a waste of time, boy. What would you do, run away from here?” She paused, realization striking. “Say, I’ll bet you can’t see down out of this window, can you?”
“No, only in a straight line,” Luke admitted.
“Boy, I’m standing on a ledge about ten centimeters wide, over a forty-meter-deep trench. There’s a barrier on the other side that would detect any energy weapons or explosives anyone tried to carry over here. Or did you think I was pressing this close to the wall because I like the way your breath smells?”
“Halla, you’re crazy! What if you slip?”
“I’ll make a small splash, Luke boy. As for the first, since everyone seems so sure I’m crazy, I don’t see any harm in acting like it. Only a crazy old woman would come sliding out on this little bitty ledge here. That means you couldn’t negotiate it. No, boy. The only way out of here is back the way you came.”
A loud, exuberant grunting