Head of Christ

These days that can be a real trick. It'll cost you a little extra." He did somemental figuring. "All in all, about ten thousand. In advance." He added with asmile, "And no questions asked." Luke gaped at the pilot. "Ten thousand! We could almost buy our own shipfor that." Solo shrugged. "Maybe you could and maybe you couldn't. In any case,could you fly it?" "You bet I could," Luke shot back, rising. "I'm not such a bad pilot myself. Idon't—" again the firm hand on his arm. "We haven't that much with us," Kenobiexplained. "But we could pay you two thousand now, plus another fifteen when wereach Alderaan." Solo leaned forward uncertainly. "fifteen…You can really get your hands onthat kind of money?" "I promise it—from the government on Alderaan itself. At the worst, you'llhave earned an honest fee: two thousand." But Solo seemed not to hear the last. "Seventeen thousand…All right, I'llchance it. You've got yourselves a ship. As for avoiding Imperial entanglements,you'd better twist out of here or even the Millennium Falcon won't be any help toyou." He nodded toward the cantina entrance, and added quickly, "Docking bayninety-four, first thing in the morning." Four Imperial troopers, their eyes darting rapidly from table to booth to bar, hadentered the cantina. There was muttering from among the crowd, but whenever theeyes of one of the heavily armed troopers went hunting for the mutterers, the wordsdied with sullen speed.