Star Wars - Episode I Adventures 005 - The Ghostling Children
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Blue bolts streaked through the night sky and ricocheted harmlessly from the heavy armor on the sandcrawler. The sandcrawler lumbered away.
The noise and confusion provided a distraction for Anakin and his friends to make their escape.
They landed at the base of the fortress, and looked up. Smoke was rising from Gardulla’s palace in a dozen places. Anakin doubted that anyone would be looking for him out here.
They headed into the desert, and soon split up. Anakin, Pala, and Dorn rode to town on their sand skimmers.
All the way home, Anakin thought about what he had risked to save the Ghostling children.
If anyone ever found out what Anakin and his friends had done — boom. That would be the end of them all.
He hadn’t accomplished everything he wanted, but he’d done some good. The Ghostling children weren’t free yet, but at least they were hidden. They didn’t have the transmitters planted in them. And maybe, if they were all lucky, the Ghostling children would all be able to go home.
He tried to imagine the tears of joy that would be shed if they made it home. Think of it, to be home in the arms of your own mother and father after such a terrible ordeal.
And most amazing of all, to be free!
That was something that Anakin couldn’t imagine. It was something that he wished for everyone — for the Ghostling children, and for Pala, who would be sold off planet tomorrow.
The children separated once they reached Mos Espa. Anakin and Dorn each gave Pala a hug. They said good-bye.
Anakin promised to come see Pala before she flew off with Lord Tantos.
By the time Anakin reached his own bed, it was almost time to get up.
His eyes felt gritty, and he laid down on the bed for a long time, so tired that he couldn’t move.
Soon, he thought. Soon I’ll get up.
At this point, readers who chose to follow the adventure in the Star Wars Adventures Game Book can return to The Ghostling Children.
Sebulba the Dug stood before Gardulla just after sunrise the next morning. They were in the Hutt’s reception hall, with dozens of guards around. Gardulla appeared to be angry. She was lying upon a vast purple throne, smoking a huge pipe full of glitterstim spice.
“So, O Great One,” Sebulba said in Huttese. “I have delivered the Ghostling children, and now I must bring up the indelicate matter of... payment.”
“Ho, ho, ha!” Gardulla the Hutt laughed, a deep booming sound. “Now I see your trick. I should have known!”
“Trick, O Incredible One?” Sebulba asked in his most servile manner. “What trick?"
“The slaves are gone,” Gardulla said. “They escaped in the night. At first I wondered who might have stolen them. Who would be so foolish as to steal slaves from the Mighty Gardulla?”
“Stolen? The slaves are gone?” Sebulba snarled in disbelief. “Impossible! I had Gondry watch them!”
“Hah!” Gardulla bellowed. “You practically admit it. You had your own man ‘guard’ the children. I’m sure it made it so much easier to steal them. But I see through your plan. You hoped to get me to pay for them now, then pay again later. What treachery! I’m going to kill you!”
“Kill me?” Sebulba said, hoping it was a bluff. “If you did, who would you bet on at the next Podrace? Admit it, my old friend: I’m worth more to you alive than dead.”
Gardulla’s eyes opened wide as she considered Sebulba’s point. “What treachery,” the Hutt mused. “What... admirable treachery.” The Hutt roared in laughter. “But your plan didn’t work.”
Gardulla wriggled down from her throne, till she stood before the scrawny Dug. She pointed a beefy finger at Sebulba and raised herself to her full height. “Nice try, Podracer. But if you want payment, you’ll have to deliver the children.”
Sebulba was furious. His mind was racing.
Where could the children be? Gondry had said that Gardulla sent her own men to relieve him of duty — an unlikely story. But... could it be that someone had aided the Ghostling children in their escape?
Sebulba gazed evenly at the Hutt.
Finding the children would be hard for most people. But Sebulba had Djas Puhr to hunt for him. With Djas Puhr’s keen nose and night vision, few slaves had ever eluded him for long.
“I will get the children back,” Sebulba vowed. “And soon!”
NEXT ADVENTURE:
THE HUNT FOR ANAKIN SKYWALKER
11.6.18.15.14.5-1