Kuat of Kuat turned and looked over his shoulder at Fenald. His gaze was met with one that looked straight back into his eyes, without making any effort at aversion.
Then the head of security for Kuat Drive Yards gave a single nod. That was all that was necessary, even before he spoke." Now you know," he said.
"Yes-" For a second longer, Kuat regarded the man he had trusted more than any other sentient creature in the galaxy." I suppose I do." Many things were clear now, including why Fenald had been so insistent upon accompanying him to the gathering of Kuat's ruling households. He wanted to be here, Kuat thought bitterly, to make sure he got paid. However much the Knylenns and the others had offered for this treachery. . .
He turned back toward the others assembled in the gathering place. Kodir of Kuhlvult gently touched Kuat's arm." You don't look too good," she said.
For a moment Kuat wondered if she was speaking about herself. During the holographic playback, he had heard a sudden gasp behind himself; he had glanced over his shoulder and had seen Kodir turn pale, eyes widened with surprise, as she had watched those re-created events from the past. He didn't know what had struck her so forcefully, and right now there wasn't time to find out.
"Don't worry about me." Kuat of Kuat slowly nodded." I've got a lot of thinking to do."
Kodir peered closely into his face." Are you sure? Maybe we can get this meeting postponed; there might be enough members of the other households who aren't completely tied in with the Knylenns who'd let you off for reasons of health. You really do look like you've just had a heart attack."
"No-" Kuat brushed her hand away from the sleeve of his robe." It's better if I get it over with now. Besides. . ." He managed to smile at her." I've got a few surprises of my own that Khoss and his bunch know nothing about."
Kuat lifted his gaze toward the leader of the Knylenns, perched aboard the portable life-support system. He had to assume the worst about what the Knylenns were aware of, regarding his own schemes and actions. Whatever they had bribed his head of security with-former security head, Kuat reminded himself-it had obviously been enough to give them effective access to everything that had gone on inside the headquarters of Kuat Drive Yards. If they had known what to look for. . .
There was only one way to find out.
"You must be joking," said Kuat." Is it treachery for me to keep an eye on one of Kuat Drive Yards'
customers? We sell our wares to any creature who has the credits for them-as long as we can do so without incurring the wrath of the Empire. Some of our customers need a good deal of watching; I would have been a fool to have blindly trusted someone like Jabba the Hurt. You should be grateful to me for taking such precautions."
"Precautions, are they?" Khoss of Knylenn's voice took on a sarcastic edge." And what cautious nature of yours led to the saturation bombing of a sector of the planet Tatooine's surface known as the Dune Sea? Don't try to deny that it happened. We know all about it, and that the bombing raid was personally directed by you, from aboard your Kuat Drive Yards flagship."
So they possessed that knowledge as well; Kuat's security head had done a thorough job of selling him out." That's none of your concern," said Kuat stiffly." Some things are necessary, the reasons for which cannot be revealed publicly. As long as Kuat Drive Yards is a profitable concern-and you reap your share of those profits-then all prying into these matters does nothing except hinder my running the corporation."
"Ah!" Khoss leaned forward, above the grizzled head of the Knylenn Elder." You wish to keep secrets from those closest to you, those with the greatest right to know." A sweeping gesture of his arm took in the gathering place and those it held." The representatives of this world's ruling households are like children to you, incapable of understanding all your great schemes and maneuvers. Tell me, Kuat of Kuat-" Khoss spoke with icy scorn." Are we supposed to be flattered by such an attitude on your part?"
This time, Kodir of Kuhlvult spoke up." You can be as flattered or as offended as you choose," she said." But the truth is as Kuat tells it. The ruling households long ago chose to put their trust in his bloodline. We created the Inheritance Exemption specifically so that the Kuat family, from one generation to the next, could continue to manage the corporation from which our wealth comes. Are we now to revoke that trust, for no better reason than that Kuat of Kuat runs it as he sees fit?"
"Our little Kuhlvult cousin has made it clear just whose side she has taken." Khoss directed his withering sneer at her, then spread his hands to the crowd around the base of the life-support system." She was given the chance to join with the rest of the ruling households, those who desire justice and are not swayed by facile arguments about endangering the sources of our wealth. Perhaps she has her reasons for making such a choice. Why should treachery be limited to those of the Kuat bloodline? With the power that he commands, Kuat of Kuat has his ways of tempting the greedy and foolish into being his allies."
The speech from Khoss of Knylenn was met with angry shouts from his assembled supporters. But another voice managed to rise above them.
"Nothing tempts me but the desire to make you eat your own words." Kodir of Kuhlvult looked as if she were ready to climb up onto the life-support system and achieve her wish by force." If there were any substance to them, it would make quite a mouthful for you, I'm sure. But they're nothing but air. Nothing but lies and little hints and rumors, none of which add up to anything real."
"My dear cousin," said Khoss with feigned politeness," it takes wisdom to measure the weight of things as subtle as Kuat's treachery. He's too smart to pursue his twisted ambitions openly, where anyone might see them."
"So you bribe your way into my private quarters." Kuat gestured toward his former head of security." And you set spies onto those who have done you no harm."
"I do what is necessary," replied Khoss." If it were what is required to uproot the evil that has taken root among us, I would embrace the darkest energies that could be found in this universe. But you've already beaten me to that, haven't you?"
"You talk nonsense."
"Do I?" The brows rose high above Khoss's eyes." Is it nonsense to wonder about the meaning of not only Kuat's own espionage, but also an unexplained bombing raid upon the surface of another planet? A planet which rumors have already been swirling about, throughout the galaxy? You might not be aware of the nature of those rumors and tales, but it seems clear enough that this certain planet known as Tatooine had already taken on a great importance in the eyes of both Emperor Palpatine and the most feared instrument of his will, Lord Darth Vader himself. And it is no great feat of espionage to have learned that the Rebel Alliance has gained a new and valuable leader in the form of one Luke Skywalker, whose home planet is this same Tatooine. Are we to believe it a mere coincidence that of all the inhabited worlds in the galaxy, the schemes of Kuat of Kuat should also revolve around Tatooine? Or is it not a greater likelihood that those schemes, regarding which Kuat asks us to trust him, have through his rashness and folly gotten our own world and our inheritance fatally enmeshed with the struggle between the Empire and the Rebellion?" As if on cue, the mutterings and shouts from the Knylenns and their affiliates rose to a higher pitch." We don't even know what purpose is served by all of Kuat's scheming-he doesn't consider us fit to be trusted with these vital secrets; only he should know these things. That is why Kuat has also concealed from us that he has received other messages from Tatooine, concerning the welfare of a certain notorious bounty hunter named Boba Fett. This bounty hunter may have also been a customer of Kuat Drive Yards at one time, but he's rather more than that now." Khoss jabbed a finger toward his adversary standing before the portable life-support system." Is that not true, Kuat?"