“Payment for which requires that much more service from your sons.” Leia nodded, grimacing. Permanent debt-the oldest form of covert slavery in the galaxy.
“It also encourages the sending away of our sons,” the maitrakh added bitterly. “Even if the Empire allowed it, we could not now bring all our sons home. We would not have food for them.”
Leia nodded again. It was as neat and tidy a box as she’d ever seen anyone trapped in. She should have expected no less from Vader and the Emperor. “You’ll never be entirely out of their debt,” she told the maitrakh bluntly. “You know that, don’t you? As long as you re useful to them, the Grand Admiral will make sure of that.”
“Yes,” the maitrakh said softly. “It has taken a long time, but I now believe that. If all Noghri believed so, changes could perhaps be made.”
“But the rest of the Noghri still believe the Empire is their friend?”
“Not all believe so. But enough.” She stopped and gestured upward. “Do you see the starlight, Lady Vader?”
Leia looked up at the concave dish that hung four meters off the ground at the intersection of the wall support chains. About a meter and a half across, it was composed of some kind of black or blackened metal and perforated with hundreds of tiny pinholes. With the light from the inside rim of the dish winking through like stars, the whole effect was remarkably like a stylized version of the night sky. “I see it.”
“The Noghri have always loved the stars,” the maitrakh said, her voice distant and reflective. “Once, long ago, we worshiped them. Even after we knew what they were they remained our friends. There were many among us who would have gladly gone with the Lord Vader, even without our debt, for the joy of traveling among them.”
“I understand,” Leia murmured. “Many in the galaxy feel the same way. It’s the common birthright of us all.”
“A birthright which we have now lost.”
“Not lost,” Leia said, dropping her gaze from the star dish.
“Only misplaced.” She looked over at Khabarakh and Chewbacca. “Perhaps if I talked to all the Noghri leaders at once.”
“What would you say to them?” the maitrakh countered.
Leia bit at her lip. What would she say? That the Empire was using them? But the Noghri perceived it as a debt of honor. That the Empire was pacing the cleanup job so as to keep them on the edge of self-sufficiency without ever reaching it? But at the rate the decontamination was going she would be hard-pressed to prove any such lagging, even to herself. That she and the New Republic could give the Noghri back their birthright? But why should they believe her?
“As you see, Lady Vader,” the maitraldi said into the silence. “Perhaps matters will someday change. But until then, your presence here is a danger to us as much as to you. I will honor the pledge of protection made by my thirdson, and not reveal your presence to our lord the Grand Admiral. But you must leave.”
Leia took a deep breath. “Yes,” she said, the word hurting her throat. She’d had such hopes for her diplomatic and Jedi skills here. Hopes that those skills, plus the accident of her lineage, would enable her to sweep the Noghri out from under the Empire’s fist and bring them over to the New Republic.
And now the contest was over, almost before it had even begun. What in space was I thinking about when I came here? she wondered bleakly. “I will leave,” she said aloud, “because I don’t wish to bring trouble to you or your family. But the day will come, maitrakh, when your people will see for themselves what the Empire is doing to them. When that happens, remember that I’ll always be ready to assist you.”
The maitrakh bowed low. “Perhaps that day will come soon, Lady Vader. I await it, as do others.”
Leia nodded, forcing a smile. Over before it had begun : “Then we must make arrangements to-“
She broke off as, across the room, the double doors flew open and one of the child door wardens stumbled inside. “Maitrakh!” he, all but squealed. “Mira’kh soar khee brach’inani vher ahk!”
Khabarakh was on his feet in an instant; out of the corner of her eye, Leia saw Threepio stiffen. “What is it?” she demanded.
“It is the flying craft of our lord the Grand Admiral” the maitrakh said, her face and voice suddenly very tired and very alien.
“And it is coming here.”
Chapter 13
For a single heartbeat Leia stared at the maitrakh, her muscles frozen with shock, her mind skidding against the idea as if walking on ice. No-it couldn’t be. It couldn’t. The Grand Admiral had been here just last night-surely he wouldn’t be coming back again. Not so soon.