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Splinter Of The Mind's Eye by Alan Dean Foster
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Luke's surprise was genuine. "You mean, those pitiful wretches who beg for
drinks?"
Unexpectedly, the man laughed. "Good, you've got a sense of humor. You'll need
it. Greenies, building this?
You must spend all your time in the mines. Not me."
The trooper swelled with self-importance. "I'm always trying to improve
myself. As you know," he began, "there are several semi-intelligent races on
this world, besides the greenies. Some are more degenerate than the others.
Whatever race built these places," and he gestured with his rifle at the stone
roof arching overhead, "has long since died out. At least, insofar as the
Imperial survey has been able to determine." They turned another corner and
Luke marveled at the size of the structure.
"This one's been converted to house the mine offices and Imperial headquarters
for Mimban." He shook his head. "You miners, you don't know much of anything
except your own work."
"That's true," Luke admitted, feeling no remorse at damning all miners. They
hadn't been particularly hospitable to him since he'd landed in their company.
"We're from another town," he added for good measure.
The trooper's brief venture into camaraderie vanished and he replied coldly,
"That may or may not be.
You chronic brawlers lie a lot. Just because the Empire tolerates a limited
amount of disorder here as a safety valve for you people is no reason to abuse
the privilege. You make it tough on all your fellows."
He pointed ahead, to the trooper who was hefting the satchel of confiscated
weapons.
"When killing devices are involved, it becomes more than a question of worker
discipline. Charges will be brought. Too bad for you. I hope you get what you
deserve."
"Thanks," said Luke drily.
One of the miners grumbled, "Not our fault. Saberman and the woman led us on."
"Shut up, you," ordered the sergeant. "You'll have your own chance to tell
your side of it to Captain-
Supervisor Grammel."
That caused both Luke and Leia to start violently. Grammel was the man Halla
had warned them about.
"Perhaps he'll be generous," the sergeant went on philosophically. "Good
workers are difficult to get here. He may leave you most of your fingers."
"I wish we'd asked Halla more about this Grammel," Luke murmured.
"Yes, Halla." The Princess sounded discouraged. "She didn't break her back
trying to save us, did she?"
"What could she do," Luke countered, "against Imperials?"
"You're right, I guess. But I would've thought she'd try something." Leia
shrugged. "I suppose I can't blame her for saving herself."
"At least Threepio and Artoo got away," Luke added softly.
"Hey, any more chatter back there and I'll take off some digits myself," the
sergeant warned.
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Splinter Of The Mind's Eye by Alan Dean Foster
"How would you like to bury yourself under four feet of mud for about an
hour?" the Princess snapped.
"I wouldn't," admitted the sergeant calmly. "How would you like your pretty
tongue burnt out with a low-power blaster?"
Leia subsided. They were in enough trouble. She'd gain nothing by provoking
them more. She concentrated her stare on the middle of the sergeant's back,
trying to drive him insane. The sergeant showed no hint of being affected.
Probably solid bone under the helmet, she mused.
They turned a last corner and entered a large chamber. After the spartan gray
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stone inside and out, the sybaritic furnishings here came as a shock. Real and
artificial fur was used lavishly. Many of the creature comforts Luke would
have associated with a far more developed world than Mimban were present. They
were not flaunted, however, which indicated that the inhabitant of this
chamber regarded them as his natural accoutrements.
Across the chamber a single man sat behind an un-imposing, functional desk.
"Bring them over, sergeant." His bored voice was broken and gravelly. Luke
thought he must have suffered some damage to his vocal cords.
At a gesture from the sergeant, the seven prisoners including one with a limp
and a crudely bandaged leg were herded across the room to stand close by the
desk.
The most impressive thing about Grammel, Luke thought, was the reaction to him
by the miners. All of their bluster and swagger had disappeared. They stood
staring at the floor, the walls, each other anywhere but at the man behind the
desk. Feet shuffled uneasily.
Without seeming to stare, Luke tried to see the personage who inspired such
respectful subservience from hardened men like the five miners. Grammel had
his head buried in his hands as he studied some paper. Finally he rubbed his
eyes, folded his hands and leaned his elbows on the desk as he surveyed them.
Grammel added no color to his surroundings. His face was egg-shell pale, and
the image of the
Imperial officer was tarnished further when he stood to reveal a modest paunch
curving gently from beneath his sternum like a frozen waterfall of suet, to
crash and tumble somewhere below the waistline in a jumble of uniform.
The silver and gray uniform itself was spotless and neat, however, as if in an
attempt to camouflage the belly beneath. Above the tight, high collar the neck
jumped out to a square jaw bordered by a drooping mustache. The line of that
facial hair matched well the dour expression the Captain-
Supervisor wore habitually, Luke guessed. Tiny, penetrating eyes peered out
from beneath brows like a granite ridge, overtopped by uneasy black and gray
hair.
This was a face that rarely laughed, Luke decided, and then for the wrong
reasons.
Grammel began examining each of the uneasy group in turn. Luke borrowed a hint
from the miners and tried to concentrate solely on a stain on the furred
floor.
"So these are the disturbers, who break the peace to fight with killing
weapons," he observed disapprovingly. Once more that voice grated on Luke's
ears, like a piece of rusty machinery long
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Splinter Of The Mind's Eye by Alan Dean Foster overdue for lubrication. Full
of grimy squeaks and groans, it suited Grammel perfectly.
Stepping forward smartly, the sergeant reported, "Yes, Captain-Supervisor.
Permission to take the two wounded to the infirmary." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]