Kenobi: Star Wars (Star Wars - Legends) by Miller John Jackson

Author:Miller, John Jackson [Miller, John Jackson]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780345549129
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2013-08-27T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

“WE’RE HERE TO SEE ORRIN GAULT,” the shrivel-faced Gossam said, standing in the doorway to the Claim.

“I can’t hear you,” Annileen said. “You’ve deafened us all.” She had let the creature enter only after he agreed to turn off the alleged music; that communication had required two minutes of makeshift sign language.

The Gossam clip-clopped on the synstone floor. His sickly yellow eyes traced the shelves around him, as if taking inventory. He reached for a flask inside his jacket, revealing his blasters for Annileen to see clearly. A swig later, his gray lips smacked loudly. “Orry-Orry-Orry,” he said, as if trying out a new tongue. “Orrin. Orrin Gaa-woooolt. Orrin Gault. Is one of these sounds familiar to you, grubber?”

Orrin was missing, but over the shelves Annileen saw that the door to his office was open. He’d likely gone for his blaster. Behind the counter, Jabe had pulled the pistol from the cashbox. Annileen waved him off. If she didn’t want Jabe hunting Tuskens, she surely didn’t want him killed in a shootout with … what? Whatever these people were.

“I’m Bojo Boopa,” the Gossam said, surveying Annileen. “But you will call me Master Boopa.”

“Not if you don’t want me to laugh.” Annileen looked to her left. Ben was standing casually at a clothing rack, trying to pay the visitors no mind. But she saw his eyes dart between her and Jabe in a way she found reassuring.

The Gamorreans thundered forward, bumping against shelves. Items clattered to the floor.

“Hey!” Annileen stepped up—only to freeze as one of the titans growled. The other balled his fist and punched a display, knocking packages all across the aisle. At the bar, Jabe began to move.

“There’s no need for trouble,” Ben said, interposing his body between the Gamorreans and Annileen.

Boopa leered at him and returned the flask inside his coat in a move that displayed his blasters to the watchful customers. “What are you supposed to be? A hero?”

“Not at all,” Ben said, kneeling. “I’m the janitor.” He began picking up the fallen containers and placing them back on their shelves.

Orrin stepped out from his office in the back. “I’m Orrin Gault,” he said, his earlier smile gone. He approached Boopa, eyeing him coolly. “Can we get you something?”

“Hardly.” The Gossam sniffed disdainfully as his neck craned. Seeing the room Orrin had emerged from, he pointed. “Is that where you do business, Orry?”

“Some of the time.”

“Well, let’s go.” Twirling his cane, Boopa trotted down the aisle toward the office.

Orrin gave a look to Annileen—and half a glance to Ben—before turning to follow. “This’ll be just a minute,” he told them. The door closed.

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