Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order 05_ Agents of Chaos 02_ Jedi Eclipse - James Luceno [53]
The Ryn contingent had been directed to structure 58, which was empty when they entered, save for a grouping of rickety tables and chairs and a human female whose eyes bugged out of her head on seeing them. She glanced at the display of a datapad she wore around her neck, quickly composed herself, and asked everyone to be seated.
The fact that Melisma and the others opted to sit on the floor undermined the woman’s aplomb, which was obviously as flimsy as the furniture, and once again she looked to the datapad for advice of some sort.
“You’ve been asked to report here,” she began in Basic, “because an opportunity has arisen that could provide you with transport to Esseles, as well as employment once you arrive.”
In pure surprise, Melisma turned to Gaph, whose optimism made a sudden comeback.
“The job is somewhat peculiar, but as it is the only job offer targeted specifically for your species, I’m certain you’ll want to consider it.”
She cleared her throat in a meaningful way. “Essentially you would be residing in a kind of living museum, where diverse folks coexist, displaying to the intellectually inquisitive or the merely curious the various and sundry elements unique to their species.”
No one spoke for a long moment; then Gaph asked, “What, exactly, would we be required to do?”
“Why, simply to be yourselves,” the woman said in an unintentionally high-pitched voice.
His former grin abandoned, Gaph glanced at Melisma, then looked back at the woman. “You’re suggesting that it would be just like being here—except that we’d have thousands of visitors gawking at us day and night.”
“Observing,” the woman clarified. “Not gawking.”
Melisma shook her head in dismay. “I’m sorry, but we’ll have to decline the offer,” she said, speaking for everyone.
The woman spent a moment gnawing at her lower lip, then moved to the door to ascertain that no one was about. When she swung around to the Ryn her eyes twinkled in a way they hadn’t earlier, and her tone of voice was conspiratorial.
“I shouldn’t really be telling you this, but Salliche Ag is prepared to furnish you with employment right here on Ruan.” She paused to allow her words time to sink in. “I’m certain that some of you have had past experience on agricultural worlds, and that you would adapt easily to both the work and the environment. In return, Salliche Ag would expect you only to sign a contract stating that you will remain onworld for at least the next three standard years.”
“What does the work pay?” Gaph asked with elaborate enthusiasm.
“Salliche Ag will furnish everything you need in the way of shelter and food, and deduct the costs from your wages. The rest is, of course, yours to do with as you please—although the company discourages its employees from actually accepting credits, for fear they might be spent … frivolously or gambled away. The last thing Salliche Ag wants is employees who have overspent and have no recourse but to work off the debts they incurred.”
Gaph slapped his thigh in fabricated delight. “What a sweet deal!”
When everyone had stopped laughing, Melisma said, “We’re not interested.”
The woman folded her arms across her chest. “Won’t you at least consider the offer? I’m sure you don’t want to remain in this camp any longer than you have to.”
The scarcely veiled threat was still ringing in Melisma’s ears when the Ryn filed out of the building some moments later. She didn’t know whether to be angry, anxious, or both. Fortune-telling had been earning the Ryn enough credits to purchase decent foodstuffs, but business was already beginning to fall off. Without credits the camp would