Star Wars_ The Han Solo Adventures - Brian Daley [208]
And they were armed. In addition to Han’s side arm and Chewbacca’s bowcaster, they also had the weapons captured from J’uoch’s forces. Badure carried the stun-gun he had already used and a brace of long-barreled power pistols. Hasti had a compact disrupter, a dart-shooter loaded with toxic missiles, and a blaster, but the latter was nearly exhausted because Han had used it to recharge his own. Skynx declined to bear arms, which his species never used, and Bollux’s basic programming, the ’droid said, prohibited him from using them as well.
Ascending the foothills, they kept the ridge lines between themselves and the region behind, though Han doubted anyone was taking time to try to spot them. The collapse of Kasarax’s racket was probably occupying everyone’s attention. Gusting winds tore across the open hills, pressing at the resilient moss and stirring the travelers’ hair, clothing, and fur. The country was stark and vacant. Lacking a second comlink, they decided not to put out a point-walker, but rather to rely on the wide field of surveillance they could maintain.
Chewbacca took the lead, treading the blue moss lightly for all his size, testing the air with black nostrils flaring. His blue eyes moved constantly, his hunter’s senses keenly attuned. A dozen paces behind trudged Bollux. The labor ’droid had opened his chest plastron a crack at the computer’s demand, and Max was taking in the view.
Next came Badure and Hasti side by side. Skynx followed after, carrying only his musical instruments because none of the packs fit him and he couldn’t have borne much weight anyway. Undulating along, he kept pace without difficulty.
Han brought up the rear, frequently casting glances behind, making, minute adjustments in the balance and shoulder-strap padding of the makeshift pack he had thrown together. He lined up prominent terrain features and did his best to keep track of their direction and course, since that was the only way they would have of orienting themselves to the surveying map. From time to time he thought about the treasure, but the open countryside and the brisk wind made him happier than he would have admitted. In a way, they reminded him of the freedom of space travel.
The group moved on throughout the morning with deliberate speed, Han stopping frequently to scan his blaster’s scope for some sign of pursuit. But as Dellalt’s blue-white primary climbed the sky and none appeared, they slowed a bit, saving strength for the long journey.
Skynx dropped back to talk to Han. The Ruurian had a rapid metabolism and so had recovered from his bout with the flask. Han, who had been walking backward for a few paces while he checked the rear, pivoted around in step. It occurred to him that Skynx must be thoroughly disillusioned with human-style adventuring.
“Hey, Skynx, break out that hip-pocket orchestra of yours. We’re out in the open anyway, like a bug on a canopy. A little music won’t make things any chancier.”
The Ruurian complied eagerly. Using his lowermost four sets of limbs for locomotion without decreasing speed, he took up the tympanic pulsers, bellows-horn, and flute. He began a human-tempo marching tune, one for marching overland rather than for a parade.
The small pulsers held a catchy beat, the bellows-horn tootled, and the flute skirled. Han resisted the quickened pace, but enjoyed the music.
Badure squared his shoulders and fell into energetic stride, sucking in his overhanging stomach and humming with the music. Hasti smiled at Skynx and strode along more quickly.
Chewbacca tried to stay in step, although Wookiees don’t generally take to regimentation. The process was awkward for him. He achieved a kind of animated swagger, though not even remotely in time. Bollux, however, fell right into step, mechanical legs pumping precisely, arms swinging, chin held high.
They trod blue moss; cold wind made the landscape