Whirling the weighted end of the cord in increasing circles, he let it arc across

the gorge. It stuck an outcropping of cylindrical conduits on the other side and fell

downward. With forced patience he pulled the loose line back in, then recoiled it for

another try.

Once again the weighted end orbited in ever greater circles, and again he flung it

across the gap. He could feel the rising heat behind him as he let it go, heat from the

melting metal doorway.

This time the heavy end looped around an outcropping of pipes above, wrapped

itself several times around, and slipped, battery end down, into a crack between them.

Leaning backward, he tugged and pulled on the cable, pulling on it at the same time as

he tried to rest all his weight on it. The cable showed no sign of parting.

Wrapping the other end of the line several times around his waist and right arm,

he reached out and pulled the Princess close to him with the other. The hatch door

behind them was now a molten white, and liquid metal was running steadily from its

borders.

Something warm and pleasant touched Luke's lips, shock at the Princess, his

mouth still tingling from the kiss.

"Just for luck," she murmured with a slight, almost embarrassed smile as she put

her arms around him. "We're going to need it."

Gripping the thin cable as tightly as possible with his left hand, Luke put his

right over it, took a deep breath, and jumped out into air. If he had miscalculated the

degree of arc in their swing, they would miss the open hatch and slam into the metal

wall to either side or below it. If that happened he doubted he could maintain his

grip on the rope.

The heart-halting transit was accomplished in less time than that thought. In a

moment Luke was on the other side, scrambling on his knees to make sure they didn't

fall back into the pit. Leia released her hold on him with admirable timing. She

rolled forward and into the open hatchway, climbing gracefully to her feet as Luke

fought to untangle himself from the cable.

A distant whine became a loud hen a groan as the hatch door on the other side

gave way. It collapsed inward and tumbled into the depths. If it touched bottom,

Luke didn't hear it.

A few bolts struck the wall nearby. Luke turned his own weapon on the

unsuccessful troopers and returned the fire even as Leia was pulling him into the

passageway behind.

Once clear of the door he hit the activating switch. It shut tightly behind them.

They would have several minutes, at least, without having to worry about being shot

in the back. On the other hand, Luke didn't have the slightest idea where they were,

and he found himself wondering what had happened to Han and Chewbacca.

Solo and his Wookie partner had succeeded in shaking a portion of their pusuers.

But it seemed that whenever they slipped free of several soldiers, more appeared to

take their place. No question about it: the word was out on them.

Ahead, a series of shield doors was beginning to close.

"Hurry, Chewie!" Solo urged.

Chewbacca grunted once, breathing like an overused engine. Despite his

immense strength, the Wookie was not built for long-distance sprinting. Only his

enormous stride had enabled him to keep pace with the lithe Corellian. Chewbacca

left a couple of hairs in one of the doors, but both slipped inside just before the five

layers slammed shut.

"That ought to hold them for a while," Solo crowed with delight. The Wookie

growled something at him, but his partner fairly fluoresced with confidence.

"Of course I can find the ship from here—Corellians can't get lost." There

came another growl, slightly accusing this time. Solo shrugged. "Tocneppil

doesn't count; he wasn't a Corellian. Besides, I was drunk."

Ben Kenobi ducked into the shadows of a narrow passageway, seeming to

become part of the metal itself as a large cluster of troopers hurried past him.

Pausing to make certain they had all passed, he checked the corridor ahead before

starting down it. But he failed to see the dark silhouette, which eclipsed the light far

behind him.

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