[Bounty Hunter Wars] - 01(74)
“I’m … glad you feel that way… .”
“You have to take the long view in this business.” He had given the exact same lecture to Bossk, and had been sneered at, years ago. “You win some, you lose some. The trick is to win more than you lose. Go for the averages.”
“That’s true, I guess.” Zuckuss’s anxiety level now seemed genuinely lowered. “Except for Boba Fett. He always seems to win.”
“Even Boba Fett.” One of Cradossk’s hands made a grand, all-encompassing gesture. “You wouldn’t know it just by his reputation, but he and I go back a long way, and I can tell you that he’s had his share of times when he’s come up empty. Don’t let that general aura of invincibility fool you.”
“Well … it’s hard not to be impressed. The things that are said about him …”
Cradossk leaned forward in the campaign chair and jabbed a claw into Zuckuss’s chest. “I’ve been in the bounty-hunter trade a long time, boy, and I’m telling you now, you’re every bit as tough a barve as the great Boba Fett.”
“I am?”
“Sure
you are.” In a Gamorrean’s eye,
thought Cradossk to himself. He continued with the pitch. “I can tell.
There
are
certain-shall
we
say?-ineffable characteristics of the born bounty hunter. Someone with the appetite and the skills for succeeding in this trade. I can smell ‘em. That’s why I’m the head of the Bounty Hunters Guild, just because of my being such a keen judge of character.” He tapped the side of his snout with one claw. “And my instincts tell me that those are exactly the skills you have.”
“Well.” Zuckuss slowly shook his head in amazement. “I’m … flattered.”
It’s too easy, thought Cradossk. Telling creatures what they wanted to hear, down in however many hearts they carried around inside themselves, was the quickest and surest way to get them ready for sticking the knife in. Their defenses went down like so many security shields with surge-blown power fuses.
“Don’t be.” He had this Zuckuss exactly where he wanted him; time to spring the rest of the trap. “The truth in this matter is important to both of us. Because there’s something I need you to do for me. Something important.”
“Anything,” Zuckuss said quickly. He spread
his gloved hands apart. “I’d be honored-“
“That’s fine.” With his own upraised hand, Cradossk cut off the young bounty hunter. “I understand. Loyalty is another one of those characteristics, so important in our trade, that I discern in you.” He tilted his head to one side, displaying an uneven, insinuating smile. “But we have to choose our loyalties, don’t we?”
“I’m not sure I know what you mean… .”
“You’ve worked with my son Bossk on a couple of jobs. So you’re loyal to him, aren’t you?”
There was no hesitation before Zuckuss spoke. “Of course. Absolutely.”
“Well, get over it.” The partial smile disappeared as Cradossk slouched back in the campaign chair. “Your loyalty is to me. And that’s for a very simple reason. There’s some rough times coming around here-as a matter of fact, they’ve already started. Some creatures aren’t going to come out the other end of those times; there’ll still be a Bounty Hunters Guild, but it’s going to be a lot smaller. You want to be one of those that survive the shakeout, because the alternative is death.” He peered closer at Zuckuss, seeing himself reflected and magnified in the other’s eyes. “Am I making myself clear?”
Zuckuss gave a rapid nod. “Perfectly clear.”
“Good,” said Cradossk. “I like you-that’s why I’m making you this kind of offer.” In truth, it was a Trandoshan characteristic to despise all other life-forms, and he wasn’t making any exception in this case. “You stick with me, and there’s a good chance you’ll make it. I’m not just talking about survival, but really getting somewhere in this organization. Loyalty-to the right creatures, that is-has its rewards.”
“What … what is it you want me to do?”
“First
off,
keep
your vocal apparatus
muted, concerning what we’re talking about right now. The first part of loyalty is being able to keep a secret. Any bounty hunter who can’t keep his mouth shut isn’t long for this galaxy, at least not in any organization that I’m running.”