Star Wars_ The Han Solo Trilogy 02_ The Hutt Gambit - A. C. Crispin [59]
“It wasn’t far out of my way. Most of the big casinos in that section of Nar Shaddaa are within walking distance of each other. Anyway, when I got there, I saw you on the street, ahead of me. I followed you, intending to catch up and introduce myself—”
“Only to see Boba Fett get the drop on me,” Han guessed.
“Exactly. I don’t much like bounty hunters, so I followed you until I was pretty sure where he was heading. Then I managed to slip around the perimeter of the landing field and get ahead of you. You were walking pretty slowly, you know. I recognized Slave I, so I was able to hide between you and the ship, then get the drop on Fett when he walked past.”
Han nodded. “And I’m real glad you did, pal.” He shook his head. “Listen, don’t tell Chewie about this, okay? He’s sworn something called a life debt to me, ’cause he thinks he owes me, you see. I had a hard time talkin’ him out o fcoming with me last night. He was sure I’d get myself into trouble …”
“Well, you did,” Lando said, chuckling.
“I know I did,” Han admitted ruefully. “But if Chewie ever finds out about it, he’ll never let me out of his sight again. And, hey … there are times when a guy would like some privacy, you know?”
Lando shook his head ruefully. “I get your point. Okay, Han, I’ll keep your secret.” He leaned forward and poured himself another cup of stim-tea. “Is she pretty?”
Han nodded. “I know you’ll appreciate what I mean when I say that she’s almost worth what I went through this morning.”
Lando looked impressed. “Maybe you should introduce me, old buddy.”
Han shook his head. “I don’t think so … old buddy. You strike me as a bit of a ladykiller. You’d probably try to charm her away from me.”
Lando shrugged and sat back, smiling smugly. “You never know.”
Han grinned. “The operative word here is ‘try,’ Lando. So why were you lookin’ for me in the first place? You mentioned needing a pilot?”
“That’s right. I was playing sabacc over on Bespin a week or so ago, and one of the players threw in a marker for his ship. High-stakes game, it was.”
“And you won the ship,” Han guessed.
“That’s right. But I’ve never piloted one. I need to learn—especially now, with a chance that Boba Fett will come looking for me. I’m going to head for greener pastures and fresh sabacc tables for a while, and I thought it would be fun to travel in my own ship. I had to hire a pilot to fly me back here, and it was expensive. So I want you to teach me to fly my ship,”
“Okay,” Han said. “I can do that. When do you want to start?”
Lando shrugged. “My adrenaline level is still pretty high after dealing with Fett. I’m not sleepy at all. How about now?”
Han nodded. “Sure.”
They took a different tube to a different landing platform. Side by side, Han and Lando walked across the windswept surface of the platform, through ranks of parked vessels, until Lando stopped and pointed.
“There it is. The Millennium Falcon.”
Han stared across the permacrete at the modified light stock freighter, Corellian made and engineered, model YT-1300 Transport. He’d seen plenty of them before, and had always liked them—Corellians were good engineers as well as good pilots.
But, as Han stared at this particular ship, something strange happened. Without warning, he fell suddenly, irrevocably, irretrievably in love. This ship called to him, she sang to him a siren song of speed, of maneuverability, of narrow escapes and adventures and successful smuggling runs galore.
That ship is going to be mine, Han thought. Mine. The Millennium Falcon will be mine …
The Corellian suddenly realized he was staring, his mouth agape. Lando was looking at him, his eyes narrowed suspiciously. Hastily Han closed his mouth, and tried his best to purge the sudden yearning, the wanting from his mind. He had to play it cool. If Lando knew how much Han wanted the ship, he’d surely jack the price up …
“So, what do you think of her?” Lando asked.
Han shook his head. “What a hunk of junk!” he exclaimed, mentally begging the Falcon’s pardon. “That game wasn’t nearly as high stakes as you’re tryin’ to make me believe,