The Lady of Shalott

"Somebody get this big hairy walking carpet out of my way." Suddenly shenoticed what Solo was preparing to do. "No, wait! It'll be heard!" Solo ignored her and fired at the hatchway. The burst of energy was rewardedwith a distant roar as an avalanche of weakened wall and beaming all but buried thecreature in the chamber beyond. Magnified by the narrow corridor, the sounds continued to roll and echo for longminutes afterward. Luke shook his head in disgust, realizing that someone like Solowho spoke with the mouth of a gun might not always act sensibly. Until now he hadsort of looked up to the Corellian. But the senseless gesture of firing at the hatchwaybrought them, for the first time in Luke's mind, to the same level. The Princess's actions were more surprising than Solo's however. "Listen," shebegan, staring up at him, "I don't know where you came from, but I'm grateful."Almost as an afterthought she glanced back at Luke, adding, "To both of you." Herattention turned back to Solo. "But from now on you do as I tell you." Solo gaped at her. This time the smug smile wouldn't come. "Look, YourHoliness," he was finally able to stammer, "let's get something straight. I takeorders only from one person—me." "It's a wonder you're still alive," she shot back smoothly. A quick look downthe corridor and she had started determinedly off in the other direction. Solo looked at Luke, started to say something, then hesitated and simply shookhis head slowly. "No reward is worth this. I don't know if there's enough credit inthe universe to pay for putting up with her…Hey, slow down!" Leia had started around a bend in the corridor, and they ran swiftly to catch upwith her.