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“All?” he said. “But I’ll wager you do not know this!” His voice dropped lower, taking-on a confidential tone. “I checked on this Skywalker. I believe he truly is a Jedi Knight.”

Though intrigued by this, I didn’t show it. “So what?”

“There is more. I used my contacts to check the Imperial wanted lists. All our prisoners are on it, even the two droids! And they are considered most dangerous.”

“Dangerous to the Empire.”

“I think to us, too. These people destroyed the Death Star! This Skywalker fought Darth Vader and survived! Why would they come here and so easily be caught—unless it is on purpose.”

“What purpose?”

“To destroy Jabba. I believe … Wait!”

He had spotted that wretched little vermin Salacious Crumb creeping close around, and he took a kick at the being. Crumb gave a high-pitched cackle and scampered away.

“Filthy scum,” Tessek said with disgust. “I am certain it spies on me! Anyway, I believe there is an Alliance plot afoot. Their forces no doubt wait now to destroy us when we are most vulnerable.”

“You really think they set this all up just to get the Hutt?” I asked. It seemed hard to believe.

“I do. And I want you to warn Jabba of it. He will listen to you. You are his most trusted ally. Maybe his only friend. You must tell him.”

Noting that Crumb was still watching us keenly from the safety of an overhead fixture, Tessek broke off here and wheeled away. He left me staring after him in deep thought.

His story was pretty farfetched, and I was sure he was up to a few tricks himself. Still, there was something about that black-dressed man I’d seen. Something powerful. I decided I had to see this Skywalker myself, close up. Before I’d talk to Jabba, I’d talk to our “Jedi Knight.”

In the lower corridor to the dungeon, I ran into Ree-Yees, quarter-rate scam artist, sometime killer, and all-around plug-ugly. The three-eyed Gran was stinking drunk, as usual, and it didn’t make him any friendlier. I wondered what he was doing creeping around down there at this hour, and he sure didn’t seem glad to see me.

“Whadarya doin’ down ’ere?” he demanded, sticking his drooling goat-face up near mine.

I shoved him and he staggered away a few steps. “Going to see the prisoners,” I told him, moving past. “I’m doing it for your pal Tessek too.”

He went after me, grabbing my arm to jerk me around.

“Whadyamean, my ‘pal’?” He slurred his words. “Whadaya know about us?”

“Why?” I fired back. “What should I know?”

“Don’ gimme that!” he cried in drunken rage. “You know! I’ll make you talk, you—”

He started to pull a blaster. My hand shot up open-palmed into his chest and I shoved him back against the wall hard. In his condition he could only struggle helplessly, my big hand pinning him tight.

“Now you’ll do the talking,” I said in my hardest voice. “I’m tired of this sneaking around. What’s Tessek up to?”

“Go … to …” he gasped out through constricted lungs.

I leaned harder. “Tell me or get squashed right now!”

His chest cage creaked with the pressure. He gasped, his three eyes starting to bug out.

“Okay! Okay!” he said in panic. “Tessek’s got a … plan! Deal with the … Empire! Gonna … raid!”

His breath gave out and he sagged forward. I pulled my hand back and let him slip unconscious to the floor.

So, there was a plot! And the Empire was in on it. Well, Jabba would have to be warned about that. But first, I had to satisfy my itch to see this supposed Jedi.

I reached the dungeon, signaled the guard there to move away, and slid open the barred window in the cell door. Beyond I could see the three prisoners huddled together in a far corner. The captured Wookiee was cradling the still recovering form of Han Solo while a blond human dressed in black stood by.

But the one in black turned right away and came over to the door, peering out through the little opening at me.

“You’re the one called Skywalker,” I said.

He nodded. “And you … you are a friend of Jabba’s,” he said in a voice as calm as if he were on vacation here.

“The name’s Ephant Mon. I’m one of his … associates.”

He shook his head. “You