[Boba Fett] - 3(11)

Boba started to reply. But the words stuck in his throat. From the corner of his eye he had seen another flash of red and white, darting across the far side of the crowded level.

This time, there was no doubt that it was Aurra Sing.





CHAPTER NINE


The Bimm’s face creased with concern. “What is it?” he asked.

Boba said nothing. He started to move very slowly back, going into a half-crouch. Nuri turned and let his gaze flick across the crowds moving everywhere around them. After, a moment he drew his breath in sharply

“You have made an impressive enemy, young man,” said in his fluting voice. On the far side of the great space, Aurra Sing’s Muscular figure could be glimpsed. She was standing near the turbolifts, scanning the area with her keen eyes. Nuri glanced at Boba then took a step back to stand beside him. “A bounty hunter! And not just any bounty hunter, but the legendary Aurra Sing!”

Boba looked down at the Bimm. He was surprised to see that the little alien did not look frightened. Instead, he looked impressed.

That made Boba feel a bit better. “Yes,” he said.

“I, uh - I had some business with her. You see, I’m a bounty hunter, too. Or will be, when - “

The Bimm raised one small, furred hand. “You need say no more. My business is your welfare. But I suggest we discuss that elsewhere!”

Quickly, the Bimm grasped Boba’s arm. “This way,” Nuri said. He pointed to a small, dark passage a short distance away.

Boba glanced back over his shoulder. Aurra Sing was gone. A security droid now stood where she had been.

“Oh, no!” Boba said under his breath. He felt a stab of panic. Aurra could be anywhere, behind anyone….

He had been careless. And his carelessness could cost him his fortune - or his life.

“Quickly!” whispered Nuri. “Come - “

Boba hesitated. He didn’t know anything about this small, pointy-eared alien. Nuri looked harmless enough, but -

But Boba had no choice. If he remained here, he’d be playing hide-and- seek with Aurra Sing, with a bunch of clone troopers for an audience.

“Okay,” said Boba. He followed Nuri toward the dark passage. “I’m coming.”

Unlike the other tunnels, this one was narrow and dim. It had a low ceiling and rounded walls.

There was no blinking sign overhead to identify it. A small panel was set into one wall beside the entrance. The panel had a lot of buttons on it. Nuri pressed the buttons in a pattern Boba tried to follow. An instant later the wall slid open to reveal a second, hidden passage.

“This way,” said Nuri. He ducked into the passage, with Boba at his heels.

The door closed behind them. Boba straightened, blinking. They were in a small, circular room. Instead of the eerie green light that colored everything on Level Two, the light in here was soft and yellow. Soothing, like Nuri’s voice.

“Where are we?” asked Boba.

The Bimm stared up at him. His bright black eyes narrowed. “I will answer your questions in a moment, my young friend,” he said in a low voice. “But first, you will have to answer mine.”

Boba swallowed. His hand moved protectively toward his pocket. The Bimm’s gaze followed it. Boba fingered the card in his pocket, but did not take it out.

He didn’t have to. Nuri had already guessed what it was. He looked up at Boba. A smile filled the alien’s broad face.

“Ah! I see!” said Nuri. “You have a filocard. You have come here to convert currency - or to get currency that you have stored in one of the banks here. May I see your card?”

Boba shook his head. His fingers tightened around the card in his pocket. He felt sweat beading on his forehead. What was the alien really after?

He glared at Nuri. He was still bigger than the alien. Stronger, too.

But then Boba remembered where he was: in a strange tunnel, on a strange planet. Even if he did escape from the Bimm, where would he go?

As though reading his mind, Nuri raised his hands. His expression was mild. “You misunderstand, young sir! I am no thief! I am here to provide a service, that is all. I can help you get your credits!”

The Bimm looked pointedly at Boba’s pocket. A shining corner of the card stuck out. It glinted in the dim room.

“That is what I do,” Nuri continued. “I help visitors. For a fee, of course.”

Boba hesitated. If the alien tried to steal his card, Boba could knock him down. He could force the alien to do what he wanted.

Isn’t that what bounty hunters did? Capture people?

Yet Nuri did not look dangerous. He looked friendly. He looked like he really did want to help Boba. To - how had the Bimm put it? - to provide a service.

Could Boba trust him?

Boba remembered the dream he had about his father. The Dream.