THE PARADISE SNARE(95)

“I quite understand,” the Duros said. “Since you are taking public transport, I gather you are here to sell, not buy, a ship.”

“You’re right, Traveler,” Han said. “It’s in prime condition, too. A lovely little pleasure yacht. Just needs a little refitting to be perfect for some rich Corellian family who wants to take the kids on the perfect vacation.”

“Yacht?” Bria thought Toryl’s voice sharpened on the word, but couldn’t be sure. “I will look and quote you a price, Traveler d’Tana.”

Han led the way to where the Talisman rested. The Duros’s normally mournful-appearing features lengthened even farther when he saw the Ylesian vessel. “Let me show you around,” Han said, pointing at the ramp.

The Duros shook his bald blue head. “No need,” he said. “I can offer you five thousand. Firm.”

Han gaped at the alien, completely shaken out of his normal confident demeanor. “Huh?” he said blankly. “What? That’s crazy! Five thousand for a ship like this? That’s scrap price!”

The Duros bowed slightly in Han’s direction. “Indeed it is, Traveler Draygo.” He bowed in Bria’s direction. “And Traveler Tharen.” Waving a hand at the Talisman, Truthful Toryl said sadly, “I agree that it is a shame to reduce such a beautiful vessel to scrap. But that is all I could do with her. The Hutts are searching for this vessel …

searching intensively. As they are searching for the resourceful pilot Vykk Draygo, who stole her.”

Han turned away, and Bria saw his lips move in a scathing curse, but when he turned back to face Truthful Toryl, his composure was in place again.

“I see,” he said. “Five thousand … firm.”

“Yes. I might be persuaded to raise that price slightly if you and your companion would tell me your stories …” Toryl added hopefully.

“Sorry, pal, no can do,” Han said. He shrugged. “Okay, five thousand it is. Cash.”

“Cash it is,” Truthful Toryl said.

Later that same day, “Janil Andrus” and his wife, “Drea Andrus,” boarded an intersystem shuttle bound for Corellia. Bria had worried about posing as husband and wife, but Han had assured her that the Hutt SECURITY ALERT bulletins listed them as being single. Privately, he was worried about whether the Hutts would try to trace them, since they knew Bria’s last name, but he was also aware that the Hutts wouldn’t want a scene or their scam on Ylesia revealed to the public. He had to hope that would keep them from openly trying to have them arrested.

Han wasn’t figuring on staying on Corellia long …

The pair arrived on their homeworld early in the evening and caught a transcontinental shuttle to the southern continent, where the Tharen home was located. When they arrived at the station, which Bria said was within walking distance of her home, they were tired and grubby, with no way to change clothes. Their only luggage was the backpack that held Teroenza’s treasures.

“So …” Han said, shifting from one foot to the other and looking out of the station window into a soft, foggy drizzle, “now what? Find a place to hole up until morning? Or should we call ‘em and warn ‘em?”

“I think I had better call,” Bria said, sounding uncertain herself.

“Wait here.” She headed off to borrow the station master’s comlink. A few minutes later she was back.

Han saw how drawn and tired she looked and put an arm around her. “So . .

. how’d it go?”

She smiled wanly. “My mother nearly fainted, then she started screaming at me.” She sighed. “I know she loves me, but the ways she shows it make me want to scream sometimes. She wants the best for me—as long as it’s her idea of what’s best!”

Han nodded, thinking for the first time in his life that perhaps he’d been lucky, in a way, never having to deal with parents. “So do we start walking?”

She shook her head. “No. My father is coming for us in the speeder.

He’ll be here any minute.”

Even as she spoke, an expensive speeder pulled up outside of the station.

A handsome, distinguished-looking man with gray hair and a heavyset build was at the controls.

As Han and Bria approached the vehicle, the man leaped out of the speeder and, laughing and crying at the same time, embraced his daughter.

Long moments later he turned to shake hands with Han. “I’m pleased to meet you,” he said. “I understand from Bria that you saved her from ˇ . . well, from terrible things. All I can say is … thank you.

Thank you, er . .

.”