[Galaxy Of Fear] - 07(15)

CHAPTER 8


Zak spun around and found himself face-to-face with the pale, oily visage of Bib Fortuna. Fortuna’s sharp teeth bit into his lower lip as he glared at Zak.

“I got lost,” Zak explained. “I accidentally stumbled into one of the prison cells and it took me a while to get out.”

Fortuna spied the two open doors. “Where is the other prisoner?” he demanded.

“Prisoner?” Zak said. “What prisoner?”

Another growl escaped from between the alien’s teeth. “Never mind. This place is restricted. Do not come here again or you will become a permanent resident.”

Zak didn’t argue. Fortuna showed him the way out, and Zak hurried back to the upper levels. He rushed into Hoole’s quarters, where he found the Shi’ido poring over the B’omarr manuscripts.

“Very interesting,” Hoole said, more to himself than to Zak. “These B’omarr monks have developed some fascinating practices.” He pointed to some of the markings on the scroll. To Zak, they looked like a bunch of scribbles.

“See here,” Hoole explained. “Sometimes the B’omarr used tricks to convince their students that they had mind control power. One of the tricks involved lume rocks.”

“Lume rocks, right,” Zak said, still catching his breath. “But Uncle Hoole-“

“They’re quite clever,” Hoole continued. “They appear to give off light and heat, but they don’t actually burn the skin. The B’omarr monks tell the students to hold them, and the students think they’re using their minds to resist the heat.”

That got Zak’s attention. He recalled the test Grimpen had given Tash. ” ‘Hot coals,’ my afterburners,” he grumbled.

“What was that?” Hoole asked.

More loudly, Zak asked, “You mean these monks are actually fakes?”

“Not exactly,” Hoole explained. “These tricks are used to

build confidence in the students. The monks believe that if the students think they can do certain things long enough, eventually they can. In addition, the monks are the only beings that have achieved the ability to do brain transference, and-“

“Uncle Hoole, listen,” Zak interrupted. “Something really strange is going on. First I was chased into the dungeons by a brain spider. And I met someone there who I’m sure was innocent so I freed him and-“

“Wait a moment,” Hoole demanded. He gave Zak a look that made the young Arranda’s heart skip a beat. “You went into Jabba’s dungeon? You lived a prisoner? That was extremely unwise.”

“There’s more,” Zak continued. “I overhead Jabba the Hutt talking to someone named Karkas. That’s the criminal the Imperials are after! It sounded like they were working together.”

Hoole nodded. “Very well, Zak. Thank you for the information. Now, please, do not wander away from our rooms again.” He turned back to his scrolls.

Zak’s jaw dropped. “Uncle Hoole! Aren’t you going to do anything?”

Hoole looked up. “What should I do?”

Zak was dumbstruck. Was this really his uncle? Hoole was usually the first to act when he saw something bad happening. “I don’t know,” Zak replied, “call the Imperials, confront Jabba. Karkas is wanted in two dozen star systems!”

Hoole sighed. “Zak, Jabba is a gangster. I am sure that you are right-Jabba is up to something. But there is no way I can stop it. Not while we are under his roof. I do not agree with his methods, but considering Jabba’s power, there is very little we can do about it at the moment. You are being a little naive.”

“Naive?” Zak tried to get his mouth around the new word.

“It means young and innocent,” Hoole explained.

“Young again,” Zak groaned. “You’re starting to sound like Tash.”

“Speaking of whom,” the Shi’ido said, “where is your sister? You two are usually inseparable.”

Zak grimaced. “She made friends with one of the B’omarr monks. I guess she’d rather be with him than with me.” Zak was hoping his uncle would hear the frustration in his voice, but Hoole was too preoccupied.

“Considering what you have just told me, I think it might be best if you and Tash stay here for a while. Please go down to the B’omarr tunnels and find her. And Zak-” he said with a knowing look, “stay out of Jabba the Hutt’s business.”

Zak grumbled to himself as he left Hoole’s room. First his sister abandoned him, then his uncle called him naive, and now he’d become an errand boy.

Zak walked down the hall nervously. At any moment he expected someone to jump out at him. But nothing happened. He passed two or three beings who either ignored him or nodded in his direction. Bib Fortuna drifted across his path, hardly noticing the young human.