Luke felt of the bruise where the big creature had stuck him. "I..." he started to

say, but old Ben cut him off. As if nothing had happened, he indicated the great

hairy mass which was shouldering its way through the crowd toward them.

"This is Chewbacca," he explained when the anthropoid had joined them at the

bar. "He's first mate on a ship that might suit our needs. He'll take us to her

captain-owner now."

"This way," the Wookie grunted-at least, it sounded something like that to Luke.

In any case, the huge creature's follow-me gesture was unmistakable. They started

to wend their way deeper into the bar, the Wookie parting the crowd like a gravel

storm cutting canyonettes.

Out in front of the cantina, Threepio paced nervously next to the landspeeder.

Apparently unconcerned, Artoo Detoo was engaged in animated electronic

conversation with a bright red R-2 unit be longing to another of the cantina's patrons.

"What could be taking them so long? They went to hire one ship-not a fleet."

Abruptly Threepio paused, beckoning silently for Artoo to be quiet. Two

Imperial troopers had appeared on the scene. They were met by an unkempt human

who had emerged almost simultaneously from the depths of the cantina.

"I do not like the looks of this," the tall 'droid murmured.

Luke had appropriated someone else's drink from a waiter's tray as they made

their way to the rear of the cantina. He gulped at it with the giddy air of one who

feels himself under diving protection. That safe he was not, but in the company of

Kenobi and the giant Wookie he began to feel confident that no one in the bar would

assault him with so much as a dirty look.

In a rear booth they encountered a sharp-featured young man perhaps five years

older than Luke, perhaps a dozen-it was difficult to tell. He displayed the openness

of the utterly confident-or the insanely reckless. At their approach the man sent the

humanoid wench who had been wriggling on his lap on her way with a whispered

something which left a wide, if inhuman, grin on her face.

The Wookie Chewbacca rumbled something at the man, and he nodded in

response, glancing up at the newcomers pleasantly.

"You're pretty handy with that saber, old man. Not often does one see that kind

of swordplay in this part of the Empire anymore." He downed a prodigious portion

of whatever filled his mug. "I'm Han Solo, captain of the Millennium Falcon."

Suddenly he became all business. "Chewie tells me you're looking for passage to

the Alderaan system?"

"That's right, son. If it's on a fast ship," Kenobi told him. Solo didn't bridle

at the "son."

"Fast ship? You mean you've never heard of the Millennium Falcon?"

Kenobi appeared amused. "Should I?"

"It's the ship that made the Kessel run in less than twelve standard timeparts!"

Solo told him indignantly. "I've outrun Imperial starships and Corellian cruisers. I

think she's fast enough for you, old man." His outrage subsided rapidly. "What's

your cargo?"

"Only passengers. Myself, the boy, and two 'droids-no questions asked."

"No questions." Solo regarded his mug, finally looked up. "Is it local trouble?"

"Let's just say we'd like to avoid any Imperial entanglements," Kenobi replied

easily.

"These days that can be a real trick. It'll cost you a little extra." He did some

mental figuring. "All in all, about ten thousand. In advance." He added with a

smile, "And no questions asked."

Luke gaped at the pilot. "Ten thousand! We could almost buy our own ship

for that."

Solo shrugged. "Maybe you could and maybe you couldn't. In any case,

could you fly it?"

"You bet I could," Luke shot back, rising. "I'm not such a bad pilot myself. I

don't-"

again the firm hand on his arm. "We haven't that much with us," Kenobi

explained. "But we could pay you two thousand now, plus another fifteen when we

reach Alderaan."

Solo leaned forward uncertainly. "fifteen...You can really get your hands on

that kind of money?"

"I promise it-from the government on Alderaan itself. At the worst, you'll

have earned an honest fee: two thousand."

But Solo seemed not to hear the last. "Seventeen thousand...All right, I'll

chance it. You've got yourselves a ship. As for avoiding Imperial entanglements,

you'd better twist out of here or even the Millennium Falcon won't be any help to

you." He nodded toward the cantina entrance, and added quickly, "Docking bay

ninety-four, first thing in the morning."

Four Imperial troopers, their eyes darting rapidly from table to booth to bar, had

entered the cantina. There was muttering from among the crowd, but whenever the

eyes of one of the heavily armed troopers went hunting for the mutterers, the words

died with sullen speed.

Moving to the bar, the officer in charge asked the bartender a couple of brief

questions. The big man hesitated a moment, then pointed toward a place near the

back of the room. As he did so, his eyes widened slightly. Those of the officer

were unreadable.

The booth he was pointing to was empty.
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