So that was how Ferrier had managed to get here so fast. Another thunderclap shook the Coral Vanda, and another crate tottered too far and crashed to the floor. Han jumped back out of the way and took a closer look at the shadow. This time he was able to pick out the eyes and a glint of white fangs. He’d always thought wraiths were just space legend. Apparently not. “It’s not too late to make a deal,” he told Ferrier.
The other gave him a look of surprise. “This is your deal, Solo,” he said. “Why else do you think you’re in here instead of out where shooting’s about to start? We’re just going to keep you here, nice and safe, until things settle down again.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Calrissian, now-he’s another story.”
Han frowned at him. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that I’m tired of him getting in my way,” Ferrier said softly. “So when the Coral Vanda finally gives up and surfaces, I’m going to make sure he’s right up there in front, trying valiantly to protect poor Captain Hoffner from the evil stormtroopers. With any luck :” He spread his hands and smiled.
“Hoffner’s the guy’s name huh?” Han said, fighting his anger down. Getting mad wasn’t going to help Lando any. “Suppose he’s not on board? The Imperials won’t be happy about that.”
“Oh, he’s aboard,” Ferrier assured him. “Getting a little stircrazy. though. He’s been sort of locked in our suite since about an hour after we sailed.”
“You sure you got the right guy?”
Ferrier shrugged. “If not, the Grand Admiral has only himself to blame. He’s the one who supplied me with the name.”
Another blast rocked the ship. “Well, nice talking to you, Solo, but I’ve got a deal to close,” Ferrier said, regaining his balance and hitting the door release. “See you around.”
“We’ll pay you twice what the Empire’s offering,” Han said, trying one last time.
Ferrier didn’t even bother to answer. Smiling one last time, he slipped out the door and closed it behind him.
Han looked at the shadow that was the wraith. “How about you?” he asked. “You want to be rich?”
The wraith showed its teeth, but made no other reply. There was another thunderclap, and they were jerked hard to the side. The Coral Vanda was a well-built ship, but Han knew it couldn’t stand up to this kind of pounding for long. Sooner or later, it would have to give up and surface:and then the stormtroopers would come.
He had just that long to find a way out of here.
The Chimaera’s turbolaser batteries fired again, and on the bridge holo display a short red line dug briefly into the sea near the tapered black cylinder that marked the Coral Vanda’s position. For an instant the red line was sheathed in the pale green of seawater suddenly flashed into superheated steam; and then the pale green spread outward in all directions, and the Coral Vanda rocked visibly as the shock wave passed it. “They’re stubborn, I’ll give them that,” Pellaeon commented.
“They have a great many wealthy patrons aboard,” Thrawn reminded him. “Many of whom would rather drown than give up their money under threat of force.”
Pellaeon glanced at his readouts. “It won’t be long until they’re at that choice. Main propulsion’s been knocked out, and they’re developing microfractures in their hull seams. Computer projects that if they don’t surface in ten minutes, they won’t be able to.”
“They’re a ship full of gamblers, Captain,” Thrawn said. “They’ll gamble on the strength of their ship while they seek an alternative.”
Pellaeon frowned at the holo display. “What alternative could they possibly have?”
“Observe.” Thrawn touched his board, and a small white circle appeared on the holo in front of the Coral Vanda, extending backward like the path of a crazed worm. “There appears to be a path here beneath this section of the reef that would allow them to evade us, at least temporarily. I believe that’s where they’re heading.”
“They’ll never make it,” Pellaeon decided. “Not the way they’re bouncing around down there. Best to be sure, though. A shot right at the entrance to that maze should do it.”
“Yes,” Thrawn said, his voice meditative. “A pity, though, to have to damage any of these reefs. They’re genuine works of art. Unique, perhaps, in that they were created by living yet nonsentient beings. I should have liked to have studied them more closely.”
He turned to Pellaeon again, gave a short nod. “You may fire when ready.”