Star Wars - Side Trip - Part 2 by Michael A. Stackpole

Author:Michael A. Stackpole [Stackpole, Michael A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 1997-02-28T06:45:04+00:00

“How much were you going to offer me to kill him?” Kast whispered.

“Not enough.”

They followed their guides through the foyer and a huge set of double doors into Thyne’s office. Here the clash of artworks had a new element added to it: a war between style of furnishings. Thyne’s desk had been carved from deep brown vweliu tree wood and was in itself a work of art. Surrounding it were other pressed-form duraplast and fiberplast chairs and tables—the sort of things that could be left out in a glen because weather would not hurt them. A few stainless steel tables topped with transparisteel sheets completed the decor and a riot of lamps—no two matching—provided illumination for it all.

Corran looked over at Hal and caught a brave nod from him despite the twin lines of blood dripping down from his nose. Haber Trell looked in worse shape, with a rapidly swelling eye and an inert vibroblade stuck into the seat of his chair between his thighs. The Tunroth’s yellow flesh had greyed up a bit, and a dollop of bluish blood trickled from one nostril, but Rathe otherwise looked alert.

Zekka Thyne smiled at Kast and Corran found the expression nothing short of obscene. “Ah, Jodo Kast, finally we meet. Normally I do not retain an individual I have not met, but your reputation precedes you. I decided the credits were well spent.” Thyne’s scarlet gaze sharpened. “Don’t disappoint me.”

“I have no intention of doing so.” With a swift, smooth motion, Kast drew a blaster in his right hand and jammed the muzzle against Corran’s left temple. “Haber Trell and the Tunroth are assassins who were hired by Borbor Crisk to eliminate you. Their partners are even now arranging for Crisk to fill a couple hundred sleight boxes with the price for your head.”

“That’s not true!” Haber Trell snarled angrily. “He’s lying.”

Thyne silenced him with a backhanded slap. “So who are these other two?”

Kast grunted what almost seemed to be a laugh. “They hired these two locals to help them get around and as camouflage. With these two in tow, who would think they are galaxy-class assassins?”

Corran started to raise a hand to massage his head, but Kast kept the gun pressed hard against his skull. Corran wasn’t certain which hurt more: his head or his pride at having been fooled by Kast. He played me very well, just like he played the rest of us. Better I was in my father’s place because Kast never would have fooled him.

Corran glanced sidelong at Kast, then nodded toward Thyne. “You know, you really can’t trust the word of a bounty hunter.”

“True, but I am more willing to trust him than some assassin’s local fetch-and-carry.”

Kast reached over and relieved Corran of his blaster, then lowered his own gun. “My story is fairly easy to check out. You should dispatch some of your people to the Mynock’s Haven. It is the cantina where Trell’s partners are meeting within the hour with Crisk to finalize the payoff details.

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