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“I’m the gunner, Your Excellency,” Han said. “Chewie is a pretty fair shot, I admit, but I’m better.”

“Ah!” Jabba sounded delighted. “Finally, a human who does not deluge us with his silly notion of ‘modesty.’ ”

“Glad you approve,” Han said dryly.

“Kessel,” Jiliac said thoughtfully. “Our sources say you have been to Kessel.”

Han nodded. “Yes, Your Excellency. And I did the Run in nearly record time, my first time through.”

“Excellent!” boomed Jabba, who had a voice nearly as deep as his far larger uncle. He chuckled, a low “ho-ho-ho” sound. “Then you are willing to tackle the Kessel Run while hauling cargo for us?”

“Depends on the cargo, Your Excellency,” Han said.

“We have no way to determine, at this time, what the cargo will be,” Jiliac said. “Obviously, you will leave Kessel carrying a cargo of spice, probably glitterstim, for Kessel is where that spice is mined. But as to what you will be carrying when you land on Kessel, that is bound to vary a great deal. Food, luxuries, a shipment of slaves, or—”

“No slaves,” Han interrupted curtly. He had to make this clear. If they dumped him over it, he’d keep on looking for work. “I’ll haul most anything for you, Your Excellency. But not slaves.”

Both Hutts stared at Han, obviously taken aback by his temerity. Finally Jabba spoke.

“Why not, Captain Solo?”

“Personal reasons, Your Excellency,” Han said. “I’ve seen slavery up close—and I didn’t like it.”

“Oho!” Jabba chuckled again. “Our brave captain has scruples … morals, even, perhaps!”

Han refused to be baited. He just stood his ground.

Jiliac made a curt gesture to Han to stay where he was, then he and the younger Hutt wriggled toward each other. Watching them move, Han couldn’t decide whether they reminded him more of a snake or a slug. They undulated along, using muscular contractions to move.

The two Hutts put their heads together and conferred. After a couple of minutes, they broke apart and turned back to Han and Chewie. “Very well, Captain Solo,” Jiliac boomed, “we will not assign you to transport slaves.”

“Thank you, Your Excellency,” Han said, feeling a wash of relief.

“Slaving is not a large part of our business,” Jabba said, with a touch of scorn in his voice. “We leave most of that trade to the Besadii kajidic that operates out of Ylesia.”

“Have you ever heard of Ylesia, Captain Solo?” Jiliac asked.

Han tensed, but kept it from showing. “Yes, I’ve heard of it, Your Excellency.”

“Our main shipment these days is ryll, Captain,” Jabba said. “We have just discovered a new source to trade with on Ryloth, the Twi’lek world. Have you been there?”

“Yes, Your Excellency, I have. I know the spacelanes in that area.”

“Good,” Jabba said. He studied Han closely with his huge, rarely blinking eyes. “Tell me, Captain, have you ever piloted a space yacht?”

Han had to stifle an ironic grin. The reason all these bounty hunters were after him was that in addition to swiping the cream of Teroenza’s treasure, he’d stolen Zavval and Teroenza’s personal space yacht.

“Yes, Your Excellency,” Han said. “I have.”

Jabba regarded Han thoughtfully. “I shall keep that in mind.”

Jiliac made a dismissive gesture. “We shall be in touch, Captain. At the moment, you have our leave to depart.”

Han bowed to the Hutts, and as he did so, he surreptitiously gave his Wookiee friend a poke. Chewbacca growled softly, but he, too, bobbed his upper body forward.

Han left the audience, feeling sweat trickling down between his shoulder blades. Slowly, carefully, he let out a deep sigh of relief.

This had better be worth it …

During the next three months, Han worked for Roa on and off, but he also flew many missions for the Hutts. He developed a reputation for being able to coax top speeds out of even inferior vessels, and for being willing to do whatever it took to get his smuggled cargo through to its destination.

He flew the Kessel Run so many times he lost count.

There were times when the Hutts didn’t need him for days or weeks at a time, and he took assignments from Mako, Roa, or other employers. But Jiliac