Read Online Tales from Mos Eisley Cantina by Kevin J. Anderson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kevin J. Anderson
Tags: Star Wars
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hunting one of his most notorious debtors—that pirate Han Solo. Solo claims he lost a load of spice when he got boarded by Imps. But Jabba thinks Solo sold the spice and kept the money. This is a collection job— Jabba wants that money.”
“I ain’t messin’ with Solo,” said Dyyz. “He’s got too many ways of gettin’ revenge … even after he’s dead.”
“I can handle him,” said Greedo. “He’s just a smalltime Corellian spicerunner who thinks he’s big stuff. He stole a rancor-skin jacket off me. I’ll take Solo.”
Warhog Goa looked at Greedo for a moment and then slapped him on the back. “Okay, kid. That’s what I like to hear! This’ll be a good assignment to cut your baby teeth on, ’cause Solo’s on Tatooine! We saw him today in the cantina, remember? I’ll even be able to give ya some backup. If he’s got the money on him, you’ll get it easy.”
Dyyz snorted. “Great—you help the kid. I don’t want no thin’ to do with it … Now what about us? You gonna set up a couple of deals for us, or you gonna waste the whole trip on the kid?”
“Right. I got that covered.” Goa exchanged a few more words with Jabba, and then Fortuna handed the bounty hunters three scrolls, the official contracts assigning them exclusive “hunting rights” for the periodof two Tatooine months. The Solo scroll was for a much shorter period, due to the fact that Jabba was anxious to clean up a debt that had remained uncollected far too long.
On a signal from Fortuna, the three bounty hunters bowed ceremoniously and moved back to make room for the next team of job applicants—an unsavory human named Dace Bonearm and his IG-model assassin droid.
Greedo found himself separated from Goa and Dyyz, as they were swallowed up in the crowded audience chamber. Greedo made his way to an open spot in a corner, next to the bar. Without being asked, the Aqualish bartender slid a brimming glass his way. Greedo felt proud of himself as he leaned back against the wall and sipped the syrupy Tatooine Sunburn.
Across the room he could see Dyyz, standing next to a hunter named Dengar that Greedo remembered from Nar Shaddaa. They were both examining their scrolls and comparing notes.
Warhog Goa was deep in conversation with one of the Rodians. Greedo felt a twinge of jealousy, seeing his mentor talking to another Rodian bounty hunter.
I’m a bounty hunter , he thought. I’m going to stalk my prey and I’m going to collect the reward and I’m going to start building a rep. I’m going to be the toughest Rodian bounty hunter that ever was .
I wonder what that Rodian and Goa are talking about? He saw Goa look toward him and then the Rodian’s eyes met his, and Greedo realized they were talking about him. At first he felt uneasy being noticed by the strange Rodian. Then Goa waved and the Rodian held up his hand, suckers out, in a gesture of brotherhood.
Greedo beamed with pride. Okay, they’re talkin’ about me — Greedo the Bounty Hunter .
10. Solo
“RRUUARRRNN!” The Wookiee slammed a shaggy fist down on the Millennium Falcon ’s shield generator and pushed back his welding mask.
“Take it easy , Chewie. I wanna get off this dirtball as much as you do. But without deflectors we’re easy game for spicejackers and nosy Imps.”
“Hwuarrn? Nnrruahhnm?”
“Right. Jabba’s throwing the biggest bounty-hunting bash in the sector—and you just know our names are gettin’ bandied around over dessert. That’s another reason to blow this joint. But like I say, if the ship had been undercover during the sandstorm, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
Han Solo finished vacuuming sand out of the alluvial dampers and wiped his brow on his sleeve. Why does a free and unfettered guy like me always end up on wasted planets like this, when he could be basking in the oceanside breezes of any gambling resort in the universe?
Because I’m not very good at sabacc , he thought. Lucky sometimes, yeah. But not that
“I ain’t messin’ with Solo,” said Dyyz. “He’s got too many ways of gettin’ revenge … even after he’s dead.”
“I can handle him,” said Greedo. “He’s just a smalltime Corellian spicerunner who thinks he’s big stuff. He stole a rancor-skin jacket off me. I’ll take Solo.”
Warhog Goa looked at Greedo for a moment and then slapped him on the back. “Okay, kid. That’s what I like to hear! This’ll be a good assignment to cut your baby teeth on, ’cause Solo’s on Tatooine! We saw him today in the cantina, remember? I’ll even be able to give ya some backup. If he’s got the money on him, you’ll get it easy.”
Dyyz snorted. “Great—you help the kid. I don’t want no thin’ to do with it … Now what about us? You gonna set up a couple of deals for us, or you gonna waste the whole trip on the kid?”
“Right. I got that covered.” Goa exchanged a few more words with Jabba, and then Fortuna handed the bounty hunters three scrolls, the official contracts assigning them exclusive “hunting rights” for the periodof two Tatooine months. The Solo scroll was for a much shorter period, due to the fact that Jabba was anxious to clean up a debt that had remained uncollected far too long.
On a signal from Fortuna, the three bounty hunters bowed ceremoniously and moved back to make room for the next team of job applicants—an unsavory human named Dace Bonearm and his IG-model assassin droid.
Greedo found himself separated from Goa and Dyyz, as they were swallowed up in the crowded audience chamber. Greedo made his way to an open spot in a corner, next to the bar. Without being asked, the Aqualish bartender slid a brimming glass his way. Greedo felt proud of himself as he leaned back against the wall and sipped the syrupy Tatooine Sunburn.
Across the room he could see Dyyz, standing next to a hunter named Dengar that Greedo remembered from Nar Shaddaa. They were both examining their scrolls and comparing notes.
Warhog Goa was deep in conversation with one of the Rodians. Greedo felt a twinge of jealousy, seeing his mentor talking to another Rodian bounty hunter.
I’m a bounty hunter , he thought. I’m going to stalk my prey and I’m going to collect the reward and I’m going to start building a rep. I’m going to be the toughest Rodian bounty hunter that ever was .
I wonder what that Rodian and Goa are talking about? He saw Goa look toward him and then the Rodian’s eyes met his, and Greedo realized they were talking about him. At first he felt uneasy being noticed by the strange Rodian. Then Goa waved and the Rodian held up his hand, suckers out, in a gesture of brotherhood.
Greedo beamed with pride. Okay, they’re talkin’ about me — Greedo the Bounty Hunter .
10. Solo
“RRUUARRRNN!” The Wookiee slammed a shaggy fist down on the Millennium Falcon ’s shield generator and pushed back his welding mask.
“Take it easy , Chewie. I wanna get off this dirtball as much as you do. But without deflectors we’re easy game for spicejackers and nosy Imps.”
“Hwuarrn? Nnrruahhnm?”
“Right. Jabba’s throwing the biggest bounty-hunting bash in the sector—and you just know our names are gettin’ bandied around over dessert. That’s another reason to blow this joint. But like I say, if the ship had been undercover during the sandstorm, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
Han Solo finished vacuuming sand out of the alluvial dampers and wiped his brow on his sleeve. Why does a free and unfettered guy like me always end up on wasted planets like this, when he could be basking in the oceanside breezes of any gambling resort in the universe?
Because I’m not very good at sabacc , he thought. Lucky sometimes, yeah. But not that
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