THE PARADISE SNARE(79)

Moments later the blue sparks of glitterstim fizzed up like fireworks, sending sparkling streamers high into the air.

Han could barely guess how many credits he was watching go up in smoke.

It was a sobering sight.

Ahead of him, he heard a commotion from the Administration Center, and moments later he had to jump off the path and continue through the jungle as a gaggle of yelling guards nearly ran him over.

Slipping in the muck of the forest floor, Han managed to keep to a good pace as he ran the rest of the way. His boots left muddy footprints on the steps of the Administration Center as he pounded up them, then down the corridors toward Teroenza’s treasure room.

There were guards all over now, shouting and yelling questions, but none stopped or questioned Han. He made it to the door of the collection room, looked both ways, and then slipped inside.

Bria and Muuurgh looked up, saw him, then relaxed visibly. “How’s it going?” Han whispered.

“Okay,” Bria replied softly. “We’ve almost finished the A list.”

“Great.”

“What did Vykk do?” Muuurgh asked.

“Vykk blew up the glitterstim factory,” Han said with satisfaction. “A whole bunch of pilgrims are now out of a job.”

“Oh, Vykk! If we get caught?” Bria’s face was chalky.

“We won’t,” Han said. “I’ve got everything under control.”

He reached for a hand-sized sculpture of a torsk from Alzoc III, carved from lapis, and when it proved heavier than he’d realized, yanked hard to pull it toward him.

The sculpture tilted up, to reveal a snarl of wires and transponders.

Somewhere, next door, in Teroenza’s personal apartments, an alarm began to buzz stridently.

Han stared at the sculpture, then at his fellow thieves. “Uh-oh . .

.”





11


Escape Velocity


Bria stared at Han, terrified and furious. “Oh, great! Now what are we going to do?”

Han thought quickly. “We’re getting out of here. The A list is good enough. Bria, you take the knapsack, okay? And here, take this.”

Pulling the spare blaster out of his belt, he handed it to her, showed her how to aim it, and where the trigger was. “We may have to fight our way outta here.”

“Wonderful,” she said bitterly. “Under control, right, Vykk? Nothing to worry about!” Han could only shrug helplessly. This time, it definitely was his fault. “Which way?” Muuurgh, the practical one, wanted to know.

“Through priest’s door or main door?”

Han considered for a second, but was saved from having to make a decision—both doors simultaneously burst open.

Teroenza stood framed in the door to his apartments, snorting with rage.

Zawal and a squad of guards filled the big double doors.

Han grabbed Bria and dived behind the huge white jade fountain, while Muuurgh took refuge behind the room’s central support pillar. “Get them!” shrilled Zawal, moving forward on his repulsorlift sled. Teroenza charged like a mad beast, head down, horn ready.

Han snapped off a shot, saw the blue stun bolt, and cursed as he thumbed the weapon’s intensity up to FUL. The stun beam didn’t even slow Teroenza down. Muuurgh aimed, fired, and brought down a Sullustan guard.

Han squeezed the trigger again, but the blaster bolt ricocheted off Zawal’s sled and struck the support pillar nearest the door, burning it half-through. The pillar sagged, but held.

As Teroenza headed for Muuurgh, the big Togorian leaped out and grabbed the High Priest, clutching him around the neck and by his horn.

Digging his heels into the carpet, Muuurgh braced himself against the High Priest’s forward motion. The t’landa Til’s momentum caused him to “crack the whip” and his massive hindquarters swung around and slammed into the middle pillar with a huge thump!

The floor quivered, and dust sifted downward from the ceiling.

Teroenza’s rear feet skidded, and the High Priest went down. The ground shook again.

Han aimed and snapped off a shot, and a Gamorrean screamed and fell back into the hallway. Bria edged around the fountain, blaster ready, but before she could fire, one of the guards did. She screamed and ducked as a blaster bolt blew out a chunk of the fountain, sending jade fragments flying into the air. Teroenza, struggling back to his feet, let out an anguished howl of protest.

Another blaster bolt sizzled past Han, so close that the Corellian felt it singe his hair. He dropped to the floor, rolled, and snapped off two more shots at the underside of Zawal’s sled. As he’d intended, the blaster bolts hit the housing for the repulsorlift unit. But, instead of sinking to the floor, the sled’s speed and directional controls went wild.