Star Wars_ The New Rebellion - Kristine Kathryn Rusch [130]
“He brought me in it, but he left a few Reks beside it.”
“They should be gone by now,” Blue said. “They hate watumba bats as much as Glottalphibs do.”
“Not accurate, Blue,” Lando said. “Glottalphibs love watumba bats. They’re host to half a dozen Glottalphib delicacies. They just hate it when watumba bats notice them.”
Blue laughed. “Good point.”
Chewie was already sloshing his way to the cavern door. He stopped on a wide ledge and stripped out of the suit Wynni had given him, tossing it into the pond with an expressive and extremely vulgar Wookiee curse.
Blue glanced at Wynni. “Think she’ll be all right?”
Chewbacca added another sentiment to the one he’d just expressed.
“Let’s drag her onto the ledge,” Han said. “At least she’ll have a fighting chance when Nandreeson’s henchmen return.”
Chewbacca cursed again, then stomped across the ledge and used a nearby stick to pull Wynni to the water’s edge. He reached down and hauled her out, grunting as he did so.
“Nice of you, Chewie. I thought I would have to nag,” Han said.
Chewbacca growled.
“You know,” Lando said softly, “you once told me never to make a Wookiee angry.”
“Right,” Han said.
“You seem to ignore that advice fairly regularly.”
“He owes me a life debt,” Han said. “It would be dishonorable for him to kill me.”
“I suppose,” Lando said, “but would that stop him from ripping off your arms?”
“It has so far,” Han said, “but let’s not give him any ideas, shall we?”
Chewbacca growled again, then left Wynni’s side. She was still unconscious, but Han could see her pink-covered chest moving up and down. Blue stepped over her gingerly. Despite soaking in filthy water, Blue looked fresh and dignified. Even her wet hair looked planned.
She was clutching her blaster and used her other hand to guide her along the rock wall. “Where’s the Skipper?” she asked.
“Two tunnels up,” Lando said. “I’ll lead the way.”
He looked as if he couldn’t move a muscle. Han had never seen Lando’s skin so gray. But Lando climbed across the rocks as if he hadn’t been exercising at all. Apparently the thought of freedom appealed to him.
“What about the other Glottalphibs?” Han asked.
“I don’t think we have to worry about them,” Lando said.
Han joined him in the cavern door. Dozens of Glottalphibs were sprawled on the rocks and in the pond. Most of their long snouts were open, and the insides picked clean.
“Watumba bats did that?” Han asked. “Why would the Glottalphibs keep them around?”
“Sometimes you have to take risks for a good meal,” Lando said.
The stench of smoke, dead Glottalphib, and rotting greenery was overpowering.
Chewie began to growl.
“I know, I know,” Han said. “It stinks.”
“That’s an understatement,” Blue said. She had her hand over her nose. “I don’t want to be here when these things decay.”
They picked their way across the bodies. The opening into the next cavern was also full of Glottalphib bodies, and five Skippers, all of which were unattended.
Blue smiled. “Reks. You’ve gotta love them. They only think of themselves.”
“Rather like you, huh, Blue?” Han said.
She patted his shoulder. “I do a good deed now and then, Solo. I didn’t have to bring you here.”
He moved her hand away from him. “You could have worked harder to rescue me, Blue. I saved your life.”
“A favor for a favor, Han. I figured we were even at that point.”
Lando and Chewie were looking at the Skippers. “This one is ready to go,” Lando said. “If you know how to hot-wire these things.”
“There’s always an access code,” Blue said. “And with Nandreeson, it should be obvious.”
She pushed them aside, and studied the small voice monitor.
“You don’t think it has voice recognition, do you?” Han asked.
Blue laughed. “All Glottalphibs sound alike.” She tapped the edge. “What are Nandreeson’s favorite things, Lando?”
“Why ask me?” he said. “I hadn’t seen the man for years.”
“I thought you’d know his obsessions,” she said.
“I only knew of one,” Lando said.
“All right.” She leaned against the jamb and said, “Kill Calrissian,” in a remarkable approximation