THE HUTT GAMBI(74)

Han reached the Moff’s residence, a luxurious penthouse in one of the city’s most elegant buildings. After going through multiple security checks, he handed his credentials to the majordomo, an elderly human male, and then sat down in the antechamber. Only a strong effort of will kept him from fidgeting.

After waiting for nearly forty-five minutes, the majordomo appeared.

“My master can give you only a few minutes,” he said. “He is departing this evening for Velga Prime.”

Nice, Han thought. Velga Prime was the most opulent gambling planetoid in the known galaxy.

He followed the majordomo down a succession of carpeted hallways.

Automatically, Han memorized the way, just in case things went sour and he had to make a quick escape.

Finally, the majordomo ushered him into an office bigger than Han’s apartment back on Nar Shaddaa. “Master Jobekk Jonn, of Nal Hutta, Your Excellency,” the old man intoned.

Moff Sam Shild was a tall, pale, ascetic-seeming man with oiled black hair and a thin, pointy mustache. Slender to the point of emaciation, he had pale, cold-looking hands with elongated fingers.

He wore no jewelry except a black krayt dragon pearl in one earlobe.

His suit was the same opalescent black as the jewel.

He gestured brusquely to a seat. “I’m afraid I must be brief, Jonn. I realize that the Hutts have been … generous to my administration in he past, but the Emperor has made his wishes clear. My hands are tied.”

“Let’s not be hasty, Your Excellency,” Han said, watching his diction and grammar. Unconsciously, he slipped back into his speech patterns from when he’d been an Imperial officer. “I believe you will find the Hutt offerings and message I’ve brought to be of interest. May I?”

Shild nodded shortly. Han carefully placed the package on the table.

“Please open it,” he said.

“Very well,” the Moff said. Carefully he opened the package, and from the way his eyes lit up, Han could tell that the Hutt Lords knew his tastes well.

A small silver pipe, encrusted with semiprecious gems. A miniaturized holo-projector so small it would fit into a human palm. A necklace made of gold and platinum wire, encrusted with golden corusca gems.

“For your lady, sir,” Han said smoothly.

“Yes, she will like this …” muttered the Moff. A line appeared between his brows as he quickly scanned the holocube’s message, which he trigged to display by means of his retinal pattern.

“Look here, Jonn,” he said when he’d finished reading it, “I wish that I could offer Nal Hutta more assurances, but as I told you before, I have no choice. The Emperor has called upon all Imperial worlds to tighten down on smuggling, gunrunning, and other illegal activities.

My sector contains Hutt space, and unfortunately the Hutt reputation for dishonesty is so well known that I cannot possibly cover for them.

I will, however, promise Nal Hutta no armed reprisals if they cooperate.”

“Cooperate in what way?”

“Do their best to become loyal, law-abiding citizens of the Empire.”

That’ll be the day, Han thought. “What about Nar Shaddaa?” he asked, unable to help himself. Fear for himself and his friends made his mouth dry.

“I shall have to make an example of Nar Shaddaa,” Shild said. “By the time I am finished with the Smuggler’s Moon, it will no longer support the smuggling industry. Its inhabitants will be lucky if it can still support sentient life.”

Han tried to conceal his shock. What are we going to do?

Shild shook his head. “And now, I’m afraid, I must depart. I regret that you had to travel so far for only a short interview, but I did warn your Hutt masters that I would be unable to … bend …

over this issue.”

Shild stood up, and automatically Han did also.

“Sam?” came a voice from behind the door leading into the next room.

Caught in the act of turning, Han froze. That voice!

“My dear, I am in here,” called Shild. “I was just about to show the diplomatic envoy from Nal Hutta out.”

The door opened, and a woman stood there, smiling. “Sam, darling,” she said, “we must hurry. The shuttle is waiting on the rooftop. Will you be much longer?”

Han turned his head, and their eyes met—for the first time in six years.

Bria Tharen. This time, there was no mistake. Bria stood there, dressed in a flowing silken gown that made her seem just as much of an ornament as anything else in Shild’s palatial home. The low-cut gown was turquoise, the color of her eyes. She was stunningly beautiful.

As she stared back at Han, she blinked, and went a little pale. Her smile did not waver, though.