Scoundrel’s Luck – 37

The Gamorrean bodyguards step close to Han, their battle-axes held ready. Four more of the porcine creatures enters the room. Chewbacca roars and raises his bowcaster to fire.

Han holds out a restraining hand. “We’ll pay.”

Cabet Lom smiles, but he does not wave the guards away. “The money first, Solo.”

Eyeing the Twi’lek with undisguised disdain, Han counts out 2,500 credits. “Call me if you need cargo moved the fast way,” Han says. “I’ll give you a real deal.”

Cabet Lom takes the money and laughs. “I’m sure you would, Solo. Now, your information.

“Two days ago, an anthropoid female bought my fastest ship, along with provisions for a four week run. She returned later – a dozen hours before you approahced my secretary for an appointment – and asked that I deliver a small packet to you. This my Droid accomplished.”

“Two days ago?” Han echoes. That’s when we arrived. What did she look like?”

“Difficult to say -“

“Talk Lom!” Han says, fingering his blaster handle. The Gamorreans squeal, excited by the possibility of combat.

“Yes, kill me before I finish, Solo,” Cabet Lom says, smiling patronizingly. How will that help you? I withhold nothing. She wore optical sun-shields which prevented me from seeing her eyes. I believe she also wore artificial red hair, for it was piled high atop her head and hung far down her back. It is possible that, if she had clipped her whiskers, the woman might have been a Togorian posing as a human, or a human posting as an antropoid.”

Chewbacca rumbles a question.

“Who knows?” Han answers. “I don’t know any Togorian smugglers.”

“Or it is even possible,” Cabet Lom pauses to stroke his skull-tentacles, “that she was a Twi’lek hiding her features beneath a great wig. I cannot say; as you know, in our business, questions are unwelcome.”

“What does her ship look like?” Han asks.

“She could have renamed it anything,” Cabet Lom answers. “But it has distinctive lines. Think of a pear-fruit; quite narrow in the fore, and quite broad in the base. And now, I have told you all I know. There is no need to doubt my word in this matter. For this much money, I would not lie – even to you, Solo.”

Briefly, the Corellian considers trying to recover his money, but the situation is too precarious. And he did get information – now if he can use it well enough to be worth the price. He and Chewie leave without further comment.

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