Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order 04_ Agents of Chaos 01_ Hero's Trial - James Luceno [9]
He glanced at his hands and found them balled into fists. While he’d spent the past six months isolated and incapacitated, often in the dark or secreted inside a tapcaf on Coruscant, the Jedi had at least been taking the fight to the enemy, and that was exactly what he needed to do.
He berated himself silently, then took a deep breath and blew it out through pursed lips. Loosening his hands, he slapped his thighs in a gesture of finality and got to his feet. He was starting out for the table when Mallatobuck and several other members of Chewbacca’s family approached him. Malla was cradling a meter-long wooden box.
[Han Solo,] she said, smiling down at him, [we want you to have this.]
Han’s brows knitted. He set the box down on the stool and unlatched its finely wrought metal clasp. Inside, snug in a bed of cushioning material was a beautifully carved bowcaster, its marked and blemished skeleton stock polished to a deep brown gleam. An artfully disguised magnetic accelerator, the weapon propelled explosive quarrels at extremely high speeds. This one was equipped with a sighting scope and a recocking mechanism few human hands would be capable of operating.
“I recognize this,” Han said, nodding. He compressed his lips to trap a moan fighting to escape him. “It’s one of the first I ever saw him make.”
Malla hooted. [Chewbacca fashioned it shortly after we married—while you were here. He fashioned better versions in his time, but this one retains the warmth and power of him.]
Han hefted the weapon. “I feel it.” He turned and hugged Malla, his head barely reaching her chin. “I’ll treasure it.”
Waroo handed Han a carry pouch made of hide. [This also belonged to my father. I know he would have wanted you to have it.]
Han placed the curve-bottomed pouch over his shoulder, knowing full well that it would hang down past his knees. Malla, Waroo, Lowbacca, and the rest boomed their delight in earsplitting yowls. Jaina returned with a plate of food in time to join in the laughter.
“If Chewie could see you now,” she said, grinning for the first time all day.
Han backhanded a tear from his left eye, smiled, and put his arm around his daughter’s waist. “The big lug would bust a gut.”
Jowdrrl, Chewbacca’s chestnut-colored female cousin, growled something to Malla that Han didn’t catch. Seeing Han’s inquisitive expression, Malla explained. [Jowdrrl is wondering when you and your family will be returning to Coruscant.]
Han and Jaina traded shrugs. “I hadn’t thought about it,” Han said. “Tomorrow sometime, I suppose.”
Jowdrrl lowed in elaboration. [I ask only because Dryanta and I need a small measure of time to prepare.]
Han’s features mirrored his bewilderment. “Prepare for what? Are you coming to Coruscant with us?”
Chewbacca’s father, Attichitcuk, yaupped in a meaningful way. [Jowdrrl and Dryanta are arranging the feast for Waroo and Lowbacca’s farewell.]
“Waroo and Lowbacca,” Han said nervously.
[They will be assuming Chewbacca’s life debt.]
Han’s jaw came unhinged. He glanced from one Wookiee to the next in rising dismay. “But—but you can’t. Chewie’s dead. All debts are off.”
Attichitcuk issued a sustained, bass-register growl. [Death may have extinguished my son’s defiant flame, but our debt to you continues until yours is extinguished.]
Her lower lip between her teeth, Jaina placed a comforting hand on her father’s arm, only to have it shrugged off. Han was shaking his head back and forth.
“No, no, I can’t accept this. Chewie saved my life ten times over. He died saving Anakin’s life.” His agitation increased as he spoke. “Besides, I’m the one who owes all of you a life debt.” He cut his eyes to the dark-brown son of Dewlannamapia. “Your mother was kinder to me than my own.