'What would you say to them?' the maitrakh countered. Leia bit at her lip. What would she say? That the Empire was using them? But the Noghri perceived it as a debt of honor. That the Empire was pacing the cleanup job so as to keep them on the edge of self-sufficiency without ever reaching it? But at the rate the decontamination was going she would be hard-pressed to prove any such lagging, even to herself. That she and the New Republic could give the Noghri back their birthright? But why should they believe her?
'As you see, Lady Vader,' the maitraldi said into the silence.
'Perhaps matters will someday change. But until then, your presence here is a danger to us as much as to you. I will honor the pledge of protection made by my thirdson, and not reveal your presence to our lord the Grand Admiral. But you must leave.'
Leia took a deep breath. 'Yes,' she said, the word hurting her throat. She'd had such hopes for her diplomatic and Jedi skills here. Hopes that those skills, plus the accident of her lineage, would enable her to sweep the Noghri out from under the Empire's fist and bring them over to the New Republic.
And now the contest was over, almost before it had even begun. What in space was I thinking about when I came here? she wondered bleakly. 'I will leave,' she said aloud, 'because I don't wish to bring trouble to you or your family. But the day will come, maitrakh, when your people will see for themselves what the Empire is doing to them. When that happens, remember that I'll always be ready to assist you.'
The maitrakh bowed low. 'Perhaps that day will come soon, Lady Vader. I await it, as do others.'
Leia nodded, forcing a smile. Over before it had begun ... 'Then we must make arrangements to-'
She broke off as, across the room, the double doors flew open and one of the child door wardens stumbled inside. 'Maitrakh!' he, all but squealed.
'Mira'kh soar khee brach'inani vher ahk!'
Khabarakh was on his feet in an instant; out of the corner of her eye, Leia saw Threepio stiffen. 'What is it?' she demanded.
'It is the flying craft of our lord the Grand Admiral' the maitrakh said, her face and voice suddenly very tired and very alien.
'And it is coming here.'
CHAPTER
13
For a single heartbeat Leia stared at the maitrakh, her muscles frozen with shock, her mind skidding against the idea as if walking on ice. No-it couldn't be. It couldn't. The Grand Admiral had been here just last night-surely he wouldn't be coming back again. Not so soon. And then, in the distance, she heard the faint sound of approaching repulsorlifts, and the paralysis vanished. 'We've got to get out of here,' she said. 'Chewie-?'
'There is no time,' Khabarakh called, sprinting to them with Chewbacca right on his heels. 'The shuttle must already be in sight beneath the clouds.'
Leia looked quickly around the room, silently cursing her moment of indecision. No windows; no other doors; no cover except the small booth that faced the wall genealogy chart from across the dukha.
No way out.
'Are you certain he's coming here?' Leia asked Khabarakh, realizing as she spoke that the question was a waste of breath. 'Here to the dukha, I mean?'
'Where else would he come?' Khabarakh countered darkly, his eyes on the maitrakh. 'Perhaps he was not fooled, as we thought.' Leia looked around the dukha again. If the shuttle landed by the double doors, there would be a few seconds before the Imperials entered when the rear of the building would be out of their view. If she used those seconds to cut them an escape hole with her lightsaber...
Chewbacca's growled suggestion echoed her own train of thought. 'Yes, but cutting a hole isn't the problem,' she pointed out. 'It's how to seal it up afterward.'
The Wookiee growled again, jabbing a massive hand toward the booth.
'Well, it'll hide the hole from the inside, anyway, Leia agreed doubtfully. 'I suppose that's better than nothing.' She looked at the maitrakh, suddenly aware that slicing away part of their ancient clan dukha might well qualify as sacrilege. 'Maitrakh-'
'If it must be done, then be it so,' the Noghri cut her off harshly. She was still in shock her self but even as Leia watched she visibly drew herself together again. 'You must not be found here.' Leia bit at the inside of her lip.
