“Great. So try to understand this,” Zak continued. He told her about Beidlo’s strange behavior.
Tash shrugged. Her face took on a distant look. “It sounds as if everything worked itself out, Zak. I have more important things to think about.”
“More important!” Zak sputtered. “What’s more important than making sure we’re all safe? I suppose now you’re going to hang from the ceiling by your big toe?”
Tash’s face turned red, but she made a great effort to remain calm. She forced her face to look relaxed and walked out of the room.
################################
“You handled that very well,” said Grimpen. She had returned to his chamber.
“Thanks,” Tash said. She liked listening to his voice. Grimpen seemed to know her very well. He always found the good in her. “But I can’t stay here long. Uncle Hoole told us not to go too far from our quarters.”
“I understand,” Grimpen said sympathetically. He was sitting cross-legged in his small meditation room. “But I’m glad you told me about Zak. Tash, this may be hard to hear, but I think you’re wise enough to understand. Sometimes, as we become more enlightened, our friends become jealous. They try to hold us back.” He looked deeply into her eyes. “I think Zak is holding you back.”
Tash nodded sadly. “Maybe he is.”
“Giving up old friendships is one test of enlightenment,” Grimpen explained. “But there is another test that awaits you. It’s a test of courage…”
An hour later, Tash Arranda stood at the edge of a vast pit in the middle of the desert. The sands of Tatooine stretched out in all directions.
What am I doing here? she thought.
Then she pushed the thought away. She knew why she was there. Grimpen had explained it to her: “In order to become truly enlightened, we have to face our fears. All the great monks of the past have gone through a test of courage, and you too must take this step if you are to become enlightened. You must walk in a full circle around the edge of the Great Pit of Carkoon.”
Deep in the sand of the Great Pit of Carkoon was where the Sarlacc lived.
The Great Pit of Carkoon wasn’t far from Jabba’s palace. The sandy pit led down to a wide hole-but it was no ordinary cave or tunnel. The pit was also the mouth of the Sarlacc. The Sarlacc’s maw was always open, waiting to devour anyone or anything that came within reach of the tentacles that protruded from its mouth. Row after row of sharp, needlelike teeth stuck out from the sides of the Sarlacc’s mouth. Moving around the teeth, the tentacles waited like wriggling tongues, probing for any foolish travelers who came too close.
“There’s nothing to it,” Tash whispered to herself “I can do this cruising on sublight engines.”
Casually-but carefully Tash began to walk around the edge of the pit. Once or twice, her footsteps sent a tiny avalanche of sand trickling down the sloping side of the pit and into the Sarlacc’s mouth. In response, a thick tentacle would lash out, searching for food, then slither back into the Sarlacc’s giant mouth.
Tash was halfway around the circuit and growing very proud of herself. This was a breeze. She could hardly believe Grimpen had made such a big deal of this test. She could hardly believe it was a test at all.
At that moment, a voice nearly shouted in her ear. “Tash, what are you doing?”
It was Zak. He must have followed her. He had snuck up on her during her walk.
These thoughts passed quickly through Tash’s mind. Only when she finished thinking them did she realize that she had slipped and fallen to one knee at the edge of the pit.
And only after that did she finally understand that she hadn’t slipped.
The Sarlacc’s tentacle was wrapped around her leg.
CHAPTER 11
The Sarlacc’s tentacle was firmly wound around Tash’s ankle. One strong pull dragged her a few meters down the side of the pit. Her hands clutched for something to hold on to, but all she grabbed was sand.
“Help!” she cried, her eyes going wide with fear.
Zak lunged forward and grabbed her outstretched hand. He tried to brace himself in the sand, but it was like trying to stand on top of water. His feet just sank into the soft yellow grains.
The Sarlacc pulled again. Tash slid another meter down into the pit, this time dragging Zak with her.
“Do something!” Tash yelled.
“Can you shake free?” he asked.
Tash tried to pull her leg up, but it wouldn’t budge. “The Sarlacc’s too strong!”
More tentacles started to wriggle upward. The Sarlacc pulled again, dragging Tash closer to its mouth and pulling Zak as well. As he slid down the sandy slope, Zak felt something scratch his stomach. At first he ignored it… he had to hold on to Tash! But when the Sarlacc pulled again, the scratch became unbearable. As quickly as he could, Zak reached down to brush the sharp object away. His hand touched something in his pocket. Grabbing it, he pulled the object into view.