[Boba Fett] - 4(31)

She turned and called the children to her. “All of you, listen. You know where Bley-san’s cantina is?”

The children nodded. “Great,” said Ygabba. She smiled at them encouragingly, then stooped. “I want all of you to go there. Ask for Bley-san. She owes me a favor. Tell her I sent you. She will help you find your parents or relatives. She will help you get home.”

Ygabba straightened. “Bley-san is a good woman,” she said. “You can trust her. Now go! Remember, you’re free now!”

Laughing in delight, the children swarmed around Ygabba. They hugged her and called out their good-byes.

“Wait a minute,” said Ygabba. She held up a hand and turned. She looked at Boba. Then she looked at the children. She asked, “Aren’t you all forgetting something?”

The children turned. They looked at Boba. They raised their hands - empty palms now, except for dirt and soot. They smiled.

“Thank you, Boba Fett!” they shouted. Then, giggling, they turned and ran to find Bley-san’s cantina

Boba watched them go. He felt something he had never felt before.

Happiness. But also pride.

“Well,” he said when the children were out of sight. “We’d better leave, too.”

Ygabba cocked a thumb at him.

“Come here,” she said. She began to hurry down the alley.

Boba followed her. As they rounded a curve, she stopped.

“Check it out,” she said.

In front of them hovered a sleek cruiser. “Wow,” breathed Boba. “That’s beautiful! Who’s is it?”

“Mine,” said Ygabba. At Boba’s surprised look, she shrugged. “Well, it was Master Libkath’s. But I figure he owes it to me.”

Boba didn’t argue. He watched as Ygabba walked over and punched an access code into a panel. Immediately, the top popped open. Ygabba swung herself inside. She motioned for Boba to join her. The cover snapped shut. The cruiser began to rise. Boba lowered his helmet. He put Gilramos’s hat on his lap.

“Do you know how to fly this thing?” asked Ygabba.

Boba smiled. He took the controls. The cruiser leaped through the air

“Next stop, Jabba’s fortress!” he cried.





CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN


It was night when they finally arrived at the palace of Jabba the Hutt. They docked the cruiser, then headed for the main gate.

Armed sentries guarded the huge iron door. But when Boba displayed Gilramos’s hat, they looked impressed.

“You may pass,” a sentry said. He looked at Boba, then cocked his thumb. “But not her.”

“She’s with me,” snapped Boba. “Or do you want to discuss this matter with Jabba?”

The guard grumbled. But he let them go.

“They seem to know you,” said Ygabba. She looked at Boba admiringly.

“Yeah, I get around,” he said.

They approached Jabba’s throne room. Noises of merriment greeted them.

“Sounds like a feast in progress,” said Boba. They went inside.

To judge by the mess, the feast was nearly over. Empty plates covered a long table. Guests reclined in chairs, or milled around, talking. On his throne sat Jabba. He greedily ate handfuls of worms. Now and then he would take a long drink from a bubbling tube. Then he belched noisily and laughed.

“Looks like we missed dinner,” said Boba.

“No,” said Ygabba. She pointed. “Look there.”

At the end of the table closest to Jabba, there were still numerous plates. Each held a brightly colored cake. Several were topped by waving eyestalks. Boba glanced at them, then at Jabba.

“0 Mightiest of Hutts!” he cried. He strode toward the throne. “I have done as you wished.”

Jabba stared down at him as though he were another wriggling worm. Then he saw the ornate hat that Boba held toward him.

“Give me that,” rumbled Jabba.

Boba handed him the hat. Jabba took it. He held it up to the light. He examined it thoroughly. He sniffed it.

“It stinks of treachery!” he boomed. “It stinks of Gilramos Libkath!”

Beside Jabba, Bib Fortuna whispered, “But can we be sure he is dead?”

Jabba looked at him disdainfully. “No Neimoidian would ever part with his hat!”

He leaned over and dropped it into a smoking pot. Immediately, flames leaped up. In moments, the hat was gone. Only ash remained.

“You have done well!” Jabba cried. Then his eyes narrowed. “But what of Durge?”

Boba shook his head. “Do you see him here, 0 Great Jabba?” he asked loudly. “He has failed. And I - I have triumphed!”

Jabba looked at him. He nodded. He raised his arms to his guests. “All of you, listen! This young warrior has succeeded where others have failed! Great rewards shall come to you, you - ” He stared down at Boba. “What is your name, Mandalorian?”