Han closes the throttle to half. The bateau decelerates so quickly that Sodarra nearly falls over the bow. Before Han turns into the side canal, the stormtroopers’ broadhorn almost overruns them. As soon as he is pointed straight down the narrow passage, Han opens the throttle wide agian.
The canal is crowded. Thirty meters ahead, a wide-beamed barge inches toward the far end of the canal. It is apparently driven by submerged propellers, for it has no hydrogen turbine. A dozen pirogues drift in both directions.
A flatboat carrying a huge, mildew-covered crate approaches from the other end. It is perhaps twenty-five meters from the bow of the barge. A goose-necked pilot peers around his cargo, preparing to guide the flatboat past the barge. He has a scaly face with protruding, slit-pupiled eyes. Han estimates at his present rate of speed there will be no more than half-a-meter’s clearance between the flatboat and the barge – certainly not enough for him to squeeze through!
Han guides the bateau into position to pass the barge. The flatboat pilot whistles an oath and accelerates, determined to beat the human to the bottle-neck.
“Hey!” Han yells. “This is an emergency!”
Energy bursts begin whizzing between the superstructure support legs with alarming regularity. Now that Han can take no evasive maneuvers, the stormtroopers’ aim has improved.
If Han slows down to allow the flatboat past, Click Here
If Han attempts to beat the flatboat past the barge, Click Here