Star Wars_ Splinter of the Mind's Eye - Alan Dean Foster [73]
“Maybe they thought that after our crawler was destroyed we’d seek shelter underground,” Halla hypothesized. “But I still don’t understand how they knew we’d be in this particular cave.”
“I guess I’m probably the cause of that.” They all turned to face Luke. “Just as I sensed Vader, he no doubt can sense me. He’s had a lot more experience with the Force than I have, so his senses are probably stronger. Don’t forget, he was a pupil of Obi-wan Kenobi.” He glanced back toward the shaft-tunnel leading to the surface of Mimban.
“He’s coming for us.”
It was not possible for a ’droid to faint, but See Threepio managed a convincing imitation. Artoo chided his companion.
“Artoo’s right, Threepio,” said Luke. “Turning yourself off won’t help anyone.”
“I … know that, sir,” the tall ’droid responded, “but a dark lord, coming here. The very thought is enough to make my sensors go to overload.”
Luke smiled grimly. “Mine too, Threepio.”
The two other chiefs joined the third member of the Coway triumvirate, started babbling at it. Their chatter was punctuated by innumerable gestures and much waving of hands. Luke had the impression many of the gestures and a good deal of the talk concerned the three humans standing nearby.
Finally the chiefs turned and stared expectantly at Luke. Baffled, he looked to Halla for an explanation. He didn’t much like the one she gave him.
“They say that since you defeated their champion, you are the greatest warrior present.”
“I was lucky,” Luke told her honestly.
“They don’t understand luck,” Halla replied. “Only results.” Luke shifted from one position to another. The unswerving stares of the three chiefs were making him acutely uncomfortable.
“Well, what do they expect me to do? They’re not thinking of fighting, are they? Axes and spears against power rifles?”
“The differences may be great technologically,” the Princess countered, eying him hard, “but I wouldn’t sell these people short anywhere else. They caught two full-grown Yuzzem without any sophisticated devices. I doubt a group of humans could have done better.
“And they know these passageways and tunnels, Luke! They know where the sinkholes are as opposed to solid ground. The Force isn’t a geological phenomenon.… Maybe we have a chance.”
“The Coway’d be better off negotiating,” Luke mumbled, unconvinced.
“Sorry, Luke boy,” Halla apologized, after a brief exchange with one of the chiefs. “An invasion in force is different from a couple of wanderers showing up. They want to fight. Canu,” she smiled, “will judge.”
“I wish I had your confidence in aboriginal jurisprudence, Halla.”
“Don’t fight it, boy. Old Canu did okay by you, didn’t he?”
“Luke,” the Princess pleaded, “we have no place to run to. You just said so yourself. If Vader knows you’re here, then he probably knows I’m with you. He won’t stop until he …” She hesitated, cleared her throat and went on. “He won’t stop, Luke. Even if he has to follow us to the center of Mimban. You know that.
“We’ve no choice. We have to fight.”
“Maybe we do,” he admitted, “but the Coway don’t.”
“They will whether you do or not, Luke,” Halla assured him. “We’ve already claimed we’re against what the mining consortium here stands for. The chiefs want us to show them we mean it.”
Luke’s thoughts raced crazily through his brain. Occasionally two or three would run into each other, creating further head havoc and making him wish only for a nice, quiet place to hide.
But …
He was tired of running.
Now that he reflected on it, they’d been running, Leia and he, ever since they’d touched the soil of this planet. He grew aware that Halla, Leia and the three Coway leaders were all anxiously awaiting some response from him. The Princess’ expression was unreadable.
Naturally, he made the only decision he could.…
In the frenzy of preparation that ensued, Luke discovered that the Coway were not as helpless as he’d feared. So it was not too surprising to learn that the natives had experienced previous attacks from above before now,