SW0223 Lando Calrissian 03 Starcave of Thonboka, The by L Neil Smith

Author:L Neil Smith [Smith, L Neil]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“Think nothing of it,Senwannus'gourkahipaff , your Eldership; they're not the first underlings to get carried away with borrowed authority. What can we do for you?”

“We are,” Fey replied, “given to understand that you have brought nutrients to replace those being destroyed by others of your kind outside theStarCave . Is this correct?”

Landonodded, a gesture he wasn't sure theOswaft could see or understand. They'd left the Falcon parked outside - although now he wondered why he'd bothered as there was plenty of room for her in the Cave-and jetted in to meet the Elders. “That's right, sir. Not very much, but it's only a beginning. And besides, I think I've figured out a way to get the Navy off your back.”

“But why should you bother yourself” Fey asked. “And why should you oppose the actions and interests of your own kind in this matter? I'm afraid we do not understand you,Captainmaster and until we do, we cannot accept this gift you offer.” The Elders were at least a kilometer across, Fey being slightly smaller than Sen. Lando felt silly negotiating with them - it was rather like carrying on a conversation with a large apartment building. But from earlier conversations withLehesu , he was prepared for their attitude and these very questions.

“Well, aside from the fact that Vuffi Raa and I have grown rather fond of youngLehesu , here, we consider it a sort of a game.” Lando wished, as he hung in space beside the huge ray-like creature, that there was some provision for smoking a cigar in a spacesuit. He felt better making business talk if he could smoke.

“A game?Please explain what you mean.”

“Sure, Sen. I understand that you folks like mental puzzles. Well, my folks do, too. Only we've found a way to make them more interesting and challenging: we turn them into games. That's where somebody else tries to solve the puzzle first, or better, or opposes your solution of it while he tries to work out his own.”

“Fascinating,”Sen mused, almost to himself. He turned to Fey. “Have you ever conceived of such a thing?”

No answer came from the Elder. To a being so ancient, a new concept came as something of a shock.

“Right,” Lando said, jetting closer to the pair of aliens. “And just to make it more fascinating, we try to play for something a little better than the sheer joy of solving the puzzle.”

“Such as what?” both Elders said at once.

“Well, permit me to demonstrate, friends. Now take the game of sabacc. Am I missing something obvious here,” Lando offered conversationally as he took another “card” and the others considered their hands, “or are you people completely resigned to dying?”

A pale pink tinge suffused throughLehesu at Lando's boldness toward the Elders, but he kept his peace, trusting the gambler.Sen and Fey both performed the equivalent of looking up from their cards.

Lando's helmet indicators said he was being brushed lightly by twin radar beams. He knew the beings were far from stupid. Their transparent bodies

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.