Kenobi: Star Wars by John Jackson Miller

Author:John Jackson Miller
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey Spectra
Published: 2013-08-26T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

“KING OF THE JUNDLAND!”

Orrin just nodded and waved as the family of four cruised past, cheering him as they departed the oasis. There was no use being modest, now. The vigilantes had won a historic battle the day before, and word had spread across the region. Orrin would see that it reached the Devaronians in Mos Eisley, too. They’d know he’d avenged their partner without delay, and there might yet be hope for the hotel contract.

Even after the late-night celebration, Orrin had risen early in anticipation of starting his good day as soon as possible. So far, it had exceeded his hopes. Everyone around knew this was the day of the week he kept his office hours in the Claim, and many had visited him. The plaudits from his neighbors were nice, but—more important—people he’d intended to make calls on were arriving to subscribe to the Fund’s protection services.

Success sells.

He hadn’t let anything get him down today. Not when Ulbreck had arrived at the Claim after breakfast, armed with a new batch of stories with which to bore the clientele. Orrin would wait to pitch him again on the Settlers’ Call after the man had run out of people to torture.

Nor had his expensive meeting with Gloamer the mechanic bothered him. It was funny that, while most of the damage the Tuskens had done to the Claim had already been repaired, the most lasting harm had been caused when his spoiled daughter put Annileen’s X-31 into the stone wall. Repairs would park Annileen’s landspeeder for weeks. Orrin would happily loan her a vehicle from his work fleet. But he’d let Veeka—whose Sportster was in even worse shape—find her own rides for a while. Maybe slowing down would be good for her.

No, the only thing that had tested his smile was Old Number One. His technicians were finding what he had realized, earlier. The vaporator mechanism had survived—tough things, these Pretormins—but Dannar’s precious settings had been lost. The first test vial had produced what Orrin judged an absolutely pedestrian cocktail of two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen. Later tests yielded no better results … and sickened his heart.

But sorrow would wait today. Every visitor had brought him something: business, congratulations—even a sugar cake. And now, as he saw another figure approaching on foot from the southwest, he wondered what good tidings this person brought.

Orrin squinted. Well, I’ll be, he thought. He stood tall and waved. “Hey, Kenobi! Ben Kenobi!”

For a moment, the hooded man appeared to disappear back behind the dune. But when Orrin charged up the rise, he found Ben kneeling to adjust his boot. “I thought that was you,” Orrin said.

Ben stood. As Orrin shook his hand vigorously, Ben said, “I’m sorry. I thought I heard you say—”

“Ben Kenobi—that’s your name, isn’t it?”

Ben looked down, around, and back to Orrin. “Yes, but—”

“But what?” Orrin smiled.

“I was just curious how you heard it.”

“Oh!” Orrin laughed loudly and slapped Ben on the back. “You’ll find out when you go inside.

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