"The New Rebellion (Kristine Rusch)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rusch Kristine Kathryn)

the docking bay, "I will inform Mistress Leia of that being's attitude. If we
were imprisoned over such a trivial thing, imagine what would happen to droids
with less important owners. It's a disgrace. Such a thing should not be
allowed on Coruscant." R2 blurbled.
"I am not thinking about myself," 3PO said. "If I were thinking of
myself, would I have mentioned other droids?"

Leia's long hair flowed down her back. She was brushing it steadily, her
newly healed hands looking perfect in the soft light. The last dip in the
bacta tank had done it. She would be fine.
Han sat on the edge of their bed, wishing she would face him. She had
picked up her brush the moment the conversation had grown serious.
"Look, sweetheart, I'm only asking for a week." "We're in the middle of a
crisis, here, Han." She hadn't missed a stroke. "And you want to go off and
play with the boys." "I don't want to play, Leia. I think Jarril came to me
for a reason." "I'm sure he did. From what you said about the conversation, he
couldn't understand what happened to Han Solo, gadabout adventurer." Han
pushed off the bed. "I think Jarril's visit is connected to all this." "And I
don't." He crouched beside her. She stopped brushing her hair, and placed both
hands in her lap. The scratches were gone from her face, but she still looked
drawn and pale.
He put his hands over hers. Her skin was cold and she was shaking. Time
for honesty. For both of them.
"Leia," he said, "I'm useless here." "Not useless," she said, looking at
his hands protecting hers. "You're never useless, Han." He put his head
against her shoulder, felt the silky smoothness of her hair against his
forehead, smelled her faint perfume. He didn't know how to explain something
she usually understood. He was a man of action. He needed to act.
Then she sighed. "You want to contribute." He nodded.
"And there's nothing you can do on Coruscant." He sat back on his heels.
He was squeezing her hands tightly. The bristles of her brush dug into his
fingertips. "I've already done what I can do, Leia. I've followed Jarril's
trail. He left with the last wave of ships in all the confusion. Then escaped
when the shields went down for Luke to enter. Jarril apparently talked to no
one but me. He didn't even have any friends here except me." "He might have
had nothing to do with the attack." Han nodded. "I know. In that case, the
investigators you've assigned are following all the possible leads." "What if
there's another attack, Han?" "It hasn't come. I've been waiting for days but
it hasn't come." "That's strange, isn't it?" Leia said. "I've been thinking
it's very strange." "So have I." She smiled at him then, the quirky half-smile
she got when she knew she should fight with him, but didn't have the heart to.
"I'll stay if you need me," he said.
She shook her head. "I don't need anyone, you big oaf." "I know that,
Your Worship," he said, grinning. Then he let the grin fade. "But I mean it.
If you need me-" "We're better if we work as a team, Han." He knew that too.
He'd been trying to say that all along.
"My only concern is the children." She slipped a hand out from underneath
his, and put the brush on her dressing table. "What if the next attack is on
them? What if R'yet is right? What if the attack was meant for me or my
family?" "If it was meant for you, it was meant as a warning," Han said.