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expression.
"Energy mining!" she explained breathlessly to Luke. "They're using some big generators here." A
thoughtful pause, then, "That might account for the atmospheric disturbance which forced us down. I
knew I'd read about that effect somewhere. A ship has to be specially insulated to drop down through an
area where an energy drill is working. By-products, including excess charges, are shunted away
skyward.
"But the fallout materials-if this world supports a native race, it's illegal, that kind of mining."
"Since when," observed Luke bitterly, "did legalities ever matter to the Empire?"
"You're right, of course."
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"We can't stand here forever," he went on. "First thing we have to do is obtain some substantial food.
Those concentrates can keep you alive for only so long without some protein to work with. And," he
added, glancing at her muddy exterior, "we've got to get cleaned up. We can't attract any attention. Since
Yavin and the Death Star we're both well known to Imperial enforcement officials, we'd be taken on
sight."
He studied her pilot's suit, then his own. "We can't go strolling around town in these. I think we'd
better work on stealing a change of clothing."
"Steal?" the Princess objected, drawingherself up."From a possibly honest shopkeeper? If you think
for a minute that a former Princess of the royal house of Alderaan, a Senator, is going to resort to-"
"I'll steal them," Luke said curtly. He leaned around the metal corner. The mist-shrouded street was
momentarily deserted and he beckoned for her to follow.
They hugged the walls of the buildings, trying to pass quickly before any lit windows or open doors,
slipping furtively from shadow to shadow. Luke hastily examined each storefront in passing. Finally he
halted, indicated the sign above a doorway.
"Miner's supplies," he whispered. "This is the one we want." While the Princess watched the
walkways, he tried to peer through one dark window. "Maybe it's a holiday," he guessed hopefully.
"More likely the only establishments open this time of night sell nothing but intoxicants," the Princess
pointed out prosaically. "What now?" She looked uncomfortable.
By way of reply Luke led her around back. The rear entrance he'd hoped for was there. But it was
secured, as he'd feared. To complicate matters there was a broad open lane behind the buildings, from
which the jungle and bog had been shunted away. If anyone happened to come walking past, they'd have
nowhere to hide.
"Wonderful," the Princess observed as Luke tried the locked portal. "How do we get in?" She was
indicating the seamless metal door which, no doubt, was locked and controlled from the inside. The back
of the building was devoid of windows, possibly to foil intentions such as theirs.
Luke removed the lightsaber from his waist, very slowly adjusted the controls set in the handle.
"What are you going to do, Luke?"
"I don't know how big this town is, but a noisy break-in would attract too much attention. So I'm
trying not to be noisy."
Watching with interest, the Princess took a couple of steps back, looking nervously up and down the
alleyway. Any second she expected to see a squad of angry troopers racing around a corner toward her,
alerted by some hidden alarm they had unknowingly triggered.
Only jungle sounds reached her; however, as Luke activated his saber. Instead of the meter-plus
shaft of white energy, the pommel put forth a short, needle-thin spoke. With concentration worthy of a
master craftsman, Luke stepped forward and moved the energy beam along the slight space visible
between door and frame. A third of the way down the door a distinct click sounded and the door slid
obediently aside. Readjusting his saber, Luke flicked it off and replaced it at his waist.
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"Go ahead," she told him. "The 'droids and I will keep watch."
He nodded, vanished inside.
Luke's principal objective was conveniently located close to the back of the store. He spent several
minutes scrounging through the racks before he found what he wanted. Taking the well-used clothing, he
hurried to the back entrance and tossed the booty to the Princess. Then he stepped just outside the door,
reached back in and touched the Close stud. He pulled his arm clear as the door slid shut behind him.
With luck it might be several weeks before the storekeeper discovered his loss.
Well pleased with himself, Luke stepped down to the ground and began unsnapping his flight suit. He
was partly undressed when he paused and noticed the Princess standing and staring at him.
"Come on. We have to hurry."
She put hands on seal-curve hips, cocked her head to one side and stared meaningfully at him.
"Oh," he murmured, half-smiling. He turned away and continued undressing. Feeling that nothing had
changed behind him, he sneaked aglance, saw the Princess still eying him uncomfortably. "What's wrong,
Princess?"
She sounded embarrassed. "Luke, I like you, and we've known each other for awhile, but I'm not
sure I can trust you... now."
He grinned. "You know it won't make any difference if the stormtroopers find us here in our flight
suits." He gestured. "You can change in the bush."
Turning away from her, he continued changing his own attire. She looked back at the nearby jungle.
Tiny yellow points of light, the eyes of unknown creatures, winked on and off in the bushes. Strange,
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