Star Wars_ X-Wing 03_ The Krytos Trap - Michael A. Stackpole [112]
“Nothing personal, Horn, but you’re my way out of here.”
Derricote? “How did you get past the gate? You couldn’t have squeezed through.”
The shovel remained at the top of the arc for an overhead blow. “I have money hidden away, in numbered accounts. I bribed a guard for the combination to the gate lock, same as I bribe them for ingredients for my nectar.”
Appeal to his vanity. Buy yourself time to be able to move. “Very clever, General.”
“And too clever to let you recover. Good-bye …”
The shovel began to fall. Corran rolled to the left and felt the shovel bounce off his right shoulder. He expected another blow, but instead heard Derricote gurgle and the shovel clatter to the ground. Gravel hissed as the Imp’s bulk twisted around into Corran’s line of sight. He heard someone grunt, then the sound of a falling body, but Derricote’s silhouette remained upright.
Reaching back with his right hand, Corran grabbed the shovel’s shaft, twisted his grip, and whipped the metal end around. He caught the Imp in the back of his legs, upending him. Gravel sprayed Corran as Derricote hit the ground. Rolling up onto his knees, Corran smashed the shovel down on the man’s stomach, and when Derricote’s hands dropped to cover his belly, Corran caught him with a blow to the head.
Derricote went limp.
“Is he dead?”
Corran looked over to where the voice had come from. “Jan?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
The older man came close enough that Corran could hear the wet rustle of his tunic. “I noticed Derricote wasn’t around—he’s too big not to see. Urlor told me you were off. I assumed he was informing on you, so I came to stop you. When I saw him standing over you, I had to do something.”
Corran reached out to check Derricote for a carotid pulse and found the braided cord Jan used to tie his hair back wrapped around the man’s neck. He handed it back to Jan, then checked Derricote’s pulse. “Weak and thready. I must have broken his skull.”
“Leave him. They’ll think he fell trying to escape. We can get back before they notice.”
Corran shook his head. “Can’t do it. If they find him here, they’ll know we know Lusankya’s secret. We’ll never get out.” He grabbed the upper part of Jan’s right arm. “Come with me. We can drag the body off and deposit it somewhere. They’ll never find it until we’re long gone.”
The older man laughed lightly. “Oh, they will notice my departure more quickly than anyone else’s. I can’t go for that reason.”
“And because they’ll kill the others.”
“Yes.”
“I’m going to come back for you, you know. Whenever I get clear, I’m going to have Wedge bring the squadron in and we’ll get you out.”
“I know that, son. I’m counting on it.” Jan clapped him on the shoulders. “I might never have known your grandfather, but I’m certain he’d be proud of you. I am. May the Force be with you.”
“And you, sir.”
“I’ll clear away signs of the struggle. If you drag Derricote with you, I’ll give you a head start and then I’ll report he’s missing. They’ll be searching for him, but they’ll not be looking in the places where you could hide. We’ll cover for you as long as possible, but anything more than twelve hours is optimistic.”
“I copy, Jan.” Corran got up and began to drag Derricote’s body by one arm toward the gravel loader. Jan grabbed the Imp’s other arm and helped. Together they hefted him up on the safety railing. Corran checked Derricote’s neck for a pulse. “Nothing. He’s gone.”
“Someday, perhaps, no one else will need to die in service to the Empire.”
“Agreed.” They upended the man and let him fall. Though Corran couldn’t see Derricote hit, he did hear a crunch.
“Again, Corran, may the Force be with you.”
“Thanks. Until we meet again.” Corran shook Jan’s hand, then climbed the railing and slowly lowered himself into