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Lando continued his conversation with Doole, shouting into the rushing wind that rose through the stack. “A lot can change around here by the time the air runs out. What matters is what you accomplish during your own lifetime.”

Doole’s hissing laugh was swallowed by background noise. He reached up to lay a hand on Lando’s shoulder. “We think alike, Mr. Tymmo. Who cares what happens after we’re space dust? I’d rather squeeze Kessel dry while I’ve got it in my fist.”

“You seem to have such an enormous operation. Why are you still running it solo?” Lando asked.

Doole flinched at the term “solo,” and Luke knew Lando had chosen his word carefully; both of them caught the Rybet’s reaction. “What do you mean?” Doole asked.

“Well, when the Imperial confiscation of spice ended, I would have thought you’d open all your markets, get a thousand representatives to spread the product. Jabba the Hutt is dead. Why didn’t you link up with the unified smugglers under Talon Karrde and Mara Jade? That must have hurt your profits.”

Doole pointed one gummy-ended finger at Lando. “Our profits are growing enormously, now that we get all the glitterstim, rather than just what we can steal from under Imperial noses. And after being so long under the yoke of the Empire, I didn’t want to get into the same position with the New Republic. Everybody knows that Jade and Karrde are just puppets.”

Seeing Lando’s skepticism, Doole waved his hands. “Oh, but we are considering it, of course. In fact, I’ve already spoken with a minister from the New Republic, opening up a line of communication that may eventually lead to an alliance.”

“Sounds like good news,” Lando said in a noncommittal voice.

Doole led them back along the catwalk to the access doorway, where Artoo waited. Shutting the heavy door behind them, Doole paused a moment for their ears to adjust to the sudden silence. “As you can see, a great deal is changing around here. You, my friend, have chosen a good time to join in.”

“If I decide to invest,” Lando said firmly.

“Yes, yes, if you decide to invest. The truth is, this could be even more important, Mr. Tymmo. Since the death of Skynxnex, I’ll be needing a new, er, assistant for running the spice mines.”

Lando fluffed the cape behind him in a self-important gesture. “If I’m investing half a million credits, Doole, I’d expect to be more of a partner than an assistant.”

Doole practically kowtowed. “Of course. Trivial details can be worked out. I’ll also need a new shift boss. Maybe your companion here would be interested in the work?” He looked at Luke, squinting with his egg-white eye.

Luke met the Rybet’s mechanical eye and stared into the focus-changing lenses, trying to pry some secrets from Doole’s brain. Luke said, “I’ll have to think about it.”

Doole ignored him, focusing his attention back on Lando. “Now then, you’ve seen practically everything. Is there anything else I can show you?”

Lando looked to Luke, who pondered a moment. Thoughts of the jagged moon and its security base kept troubling him. If Han was not on Kessel itself, perhaps he was imprisoned on the moonbase.

“Aren’t you worried about attack from remnants of the Empire?” Luke asked. “Or consolidation forces from the New Republic?”

Doole brushed aside the comment. “We have our own defenses. Don’t worry.”

But Luke persisted, trying to sound like a cautious business associate. “If we’re going to invest, we should see these alleged defenses. We know about the energy shield left by the Imperial Correction Facility. But do you have a fleet of any sort?”

Doole began to sputter, but Lando took charge. “Moruth, if there’s something you don’t want us to see …”

“No, no, it’s no trouble at all. I’ll just have to arrange a shuttle up to the moonbase. I don’t want you to think we have anything to hide!”

Doole bustled off to arrange for the shuttle, leaving Luke and Lando to exchange skeptical glances.

Lando did not like the idea of leaving the Lady Luck behind on the landing pad of the Imperial Correction Facility, but Doole continued to play the