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“You and your friend were the only other ones keeping an eye on this table,” she ventured as Han was refilling her goblet.

He stopped pouring. She reached out one forefinger and gently tilted the bottom of the bottle up, filling her goblet nearly to the brim.

“It was obvious, you know,” she went on. “Every time someone approached this table, you and your sidekick looked as if you were going to jump through the foliage. I know; I’m very good at reading expressions.”

Han was looking around for her backup men, support troops, deputies, accomplices, or whatever. Nobody else in the lounge that he could see was paying any particular attention. He had envisioned meeting a slaver’s contact, someone hard and mean enough to stomach and prosper in one of the vilest enterprises there was. This attractive, breezy female had taken him completely off guard.

She sipped the wine. “Mmm, delicious. How are things on Lur, by the way?” She was now watching him vigilantly.

He kept his face blank. “Chilly. But the air’s clearer than it is here.” He batted the air with his hand. “Not as much smoke blowing around, know what I mean?” Sounding as casual as he could, he went on. “You have something for me by the way, don’t you?”

She pursed her lips as if in deep concentration. “Since you bring it up we do have a little business. But the main lounge is a little public, wouldn’t you say?”

“I didn’t pick the place. Where would you suggest, sis, a dark alley? Down a mineshaft somewhere, maybe? Why meet here if not to take care of things?”

“Maybe I just wanted to look you over in the light.” She glanced at an overhead chrono. “But you can take it for granted that you’ve been checked out and approved. After I’ve left, wait ten minutes then follow.” She slid him a folded durasheet with stylus markings on it. “Meet me at this private hangar. Bring proof of delivery and you’ll get your money.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “You can read, can’t you?”

Han took the durasheet. “I’m better at feeling my way. Why all the sneaking around?”

She gave him a sour look. “You mean why didn’t I just come up to you and dump a mound of cash on the table and have you pass your receipt over? Work that out for yourself.”

She slid out of her seat and made her way out of the lounge without a backward glance. Han enjoyed the view in a dispassionate manner; she had a very nice way of moving. His first impulse was to go find Chewbacca, and perhaps even take a chance on arming himself. But if he had to hunt the Wookiee among the guild halls and portmaster’s offices, it could take the rest of the long Bonadan day. Han possessed what he regarded as a certain flair for innovation, though, as well as a confidence in his own ability to cope. None of what the woman had said rang quite true, and her allowing Chewbacca to leave before speaking to Han definitely indicated that she was angling.

Still, minutes ago he had been worrying about where his next meal was coming from, and now he had what might be a chance to get the money he felt was due him. That sort of thing always went a long way toward quieting Han Solo’s misgivings.

In any case, he had no intention of following her instructions precisely. He would cheat enough to give himself an advantage. After all, it was daylight and the spaceport was buzzing with activity.

As soon as she was out of sight, Han rose to go. On impulse he put a little more money into the robo-bartender and got himself another half-bottle, taking two more throwaway goblets from the dispenser. He told himself If she’s on the level she might still be thirsty. I hope this makes up for grabbing her money.

Bonadan Spaceport Southeast II took in a larger square area than many cities, though little of it extended very high above or far beneath the planet’s surface. There were shipbuilding and refitting yards, dock facilities for the barges and bulk freighters, an Espo command center, an Authority Merchant Marine academy, and the portmaster’s headquarters. Added to that were