But there wasn’t much point in saying anything about it, he decided.
As he stood there hesitating, watching the labor droids begin loading limp Pilgrims into the shuttles, Bria turned away and saw him.
Han waved, and she ran toward him. He grabbed her, hugged her fiercely, so relieved that they’d both made it through alive.
“Jarik?” she asked.
Han shook his head. “No,” he said. “He didn’t make it.”
“Oh, Han… I’m so sorry!”
Wrapping his arms around Bria, Han held her close, kissed her, and felt her kiss him back. They stood wrapped together in the midst of chaos.
Finally, she pulled away, and said, “It’s time to head for the Admin Building. We’ve got to see to the Treasure Room.”
Han nodded. “Chewie’s got the Falcon up there by now, ready to load her up,” he said, looking around. The sun was up by now, and the scene before him was organized chaos with Rebel troops everywhere. Bria tugged at him, but Han didn’t move. “Where’s Lando?” he asked. “He was here a few minutes ago. Did he go to pick up his share of the spice?”
“Come on!” she urged.
Han looked over at the warehouse, figuring that Lando would probably be right there, waiting to get his share. He spotted him, and took a step toward the warehouse, only to have Bria pull him back. “No! Come on, we have to go!”
Han’s eyes narrowed. “There’s something funny going on in there,” he said.
He could see Lando, and Arly Bron and Kaj Nedmak and about six other smuggler captains standing there, near the open doorway of the warehouse.
Just … standing there. Not moving. Han looked at Lando, and Lando looked back, but the gambler didn’t move.
“Come on!”
Han started toward the warehouse, then stopped in surprise and dismay.
Now he could see what was resting beside the door, covering the smugglers. A heavy repeating blaster on its tripod, with a Rebel soldier standing behind it. And posted at intervals, three additional Rebel guards—all with their weapons trained on the smugglers.
“What in blazes is going on?” Han demanded, swinging around to confront Bria. “What are you doing?”
She bit her lip. “I hoped you wouldn’t find out,” she said. “It would have been easier. Han, I got my orders last night. There’s something really big going on, and we need every credit we can scrape up.
Everyone is going to have to make sacrifices. The smuggler captains are being held hostage for a little while. Their crews are being allowed to pick up the unprocessed spice … but we have to take the prime stuff. We need it, Han. I’m sorry, but I don’t have any choice.”
Han’s mouth dropped open, and he glanced back over his shoulder to see other smugglers glaring at him. Oh, blast! he thought. They think I was in on this from the beginning!
What was he to do now? Give up his own share in the Treasure Room, to side with the smugglers? Most of them wouldn’t lift a finger to help him out, if their positions were reversed, Han knew that. Besides ˇ .
. he didn’t know any of them that well.
Except Lando …
Han shook his head and looked at Bria. “Honey, why didn’t you tell me what you were planning?”
“Because you would never have gone along with it,” she said.
“But Lando is my friend.” Han shrugged. “The rest of ‘em … I barely know. But Lando …”
“Come on,” she said. “Your share of the Treasure Room is yours to do with as you please. If you feel bad, give Lando his share later.”
Han thought that over, and then sighed. I’ll make it up to you, Lando, he thought. The Corellian shrugged mentally as he walked away with Bria, leaving the smugglers behind. I don’t like this … but what else can I do?
He reflected that it was a good thing that Chewie wasn’t here. The Wookiee had an overactive conscience ….
When Han and Bria reached the Admin Building, they found Chewie waiting for them, and the Falcon on the apron. Chewie demanded to know where Lando was, and Han hesitated. “He’s going back with Arly,” he said, after a second.
Fortunately, Chewie was too taken up with the Treasure Room to notice Han’s discomfiture.
Han had picked up a small thermal detonator from the Rebel arsenal, and it was the work of a moment to blow the door.
He stepped inside, and stood there in shock. Most of the shelves were already stripped bare. “Wha—” “Teroenza must’ve been getting ready to clear out!” Bria exclaimed, pointing. “Look, it’s already boxed up for us!”
The big rear cargo door of the Treasure Room stood ajar, as though some of the treasure had already been loaded—but Han didn’t see a ship out there.