Star Wars_ The Han Solo Trilogy 03_ Rebel Dawn - A. C. Crispin [137]
Han’s mouth dropped open, and he glanced back over his shoulder to see other smugglers glaring at him. Oh, blast! he thought. They think I was in on this from the beginning!
What was he to do now? Give up his own share in the Treasure Room, to side with the smugglers? Most of them wouldn’t lift a finger to help him out, if their positions were reversed, Han knew that. Besides … he didn’t know any of them that well.
Except Lando …
Han shook his head and looked at Bria. “Honey, why didn’t you tell me what you were planning?”
“Because you would never have gone along with it,” she said.
“But Lando is my friend.” Han shrugged. “The rest of ’em … I barely know. But Lando …”
“Come on,” she said. “Your share of the Treasure Room is yours to do with as you please. If you feel bad, give Lando his share later.”
Han thought that over, and then sighed. I’ll make it up to you, Lando, he thought. The Corellian shrugged mentally as he walked away with Bria, leaving the smugglers behind. I don’t like this … but what else can I do?
He reflected that it was a good thing that Chewie wasn’t here. The Wookiee had an overactive conscience.…
When Han and Bria reached the Admin Building, they found Chewie waiting for them, and the Falcon on the apron. Chewie demanded to know where Lando was, and Han hesitated. “He’s going back with Arly,” he said, after a second.
Fortunately, Chewie was too taken up with the Treasure Room to notice Han’s discomfiture.
Han had picked up a small thermal detonator from the Rebel arsenal, and it was the work of a moment to blow the door.
He stepped inside, and stood there in shock. Most of the shelves were already stripped bare. “Wha—”
“Teroenza must’ve been getting ready to clear out!” Bria exclaimed, pointing. “Look, it’s already boxed up for us!”
The big rear cargo door of the Treasure Room stood ajar, as though some of the treasure had already been loaded—but Han didn’t see a ship out there. He figured that Teroenza had summoned a ship, only to fall prey to the assassins yesterday. “All right!” he shouted, and swung Bria around. “Thank you, Teroenza!”
He gave her a short but passionate kiss, then turned back to regard the boxes of booty. “Okay, we’ll need a repulsor-lift dolly,” he said. “There’s one aboard the Falcon. Chewie, you—”
“Don’t move, Solo,” came a voice from the past. Han froze as Teroenza crawled out from where he’d been concealed behind the white jade fountain. The High Priest had a blaster rifle in his hand, and his eyes held a mad glitter that told Han there was no way to talk his way out of this one.
“Hands raised,” the Priest directed. Han, Chewie and Bria all put their hands up. Han glanced at the others, trying frantically to think of a way to get out of this. But Teroenza had the drop on them but good.…
“I shall enjoy this, Bria Tharen and Han Solo,” Teroenza said. “I have summoned a pilot, and he is coming to collect me from Colony Four. I shall be free of this wretched world … and I shall have my treasure. I shall miss my mate, but, on the whole, not a bad bargain. Perhaps Desilijic can use my services.…”
“Hey,” Han said, “Jabba’s a friend of mine. You kill me, he won’t take it kindly.”
Teroenza laughed wheezily. “Hutts do not have friends,” he said. “Farewell, Solo.”
Pointing the blaster at Han, Teroenza’s small, stubby finger began to tighten on the trigger.
Han shut his eyes. He heard the sound of the blaster’s whine—
—and he felt nothing. No pain. No searing heat.
After a prolonged moment, Han heard the sound of a body fall with a loud thud.
He shot Bria instead of me! he thought, and opened his eyes.
But the body on the floor belonged to Teroenza. There was a huge, gaping hole where the Priest’s bulbous left