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Heads shook. Is he willing to cover the cost of the spoiled cargo PePe asked. He said he would. Then maybe we take him to Ithor, the Kaleesh went on. If he proves to be a cooperative passenger, we could consider taking him all the way to Muunilinst. Certainly wouldnt hurt to get familiar with that corner of space. I dont know Lah took her lower lip between her teeth. Ill go one step further, Zuto said, leading with his whiskered snout. I mean, this Muun could be a jackpot thats fallen right into our laps. Werent you just saying that no bank would ever grant us a loan against the Woebegone Well, Muunilinst is the bank, and this Muun can provide all the collateral well ever need. Our reward for years of leading clean lives, PePe added. Lah regarded the two of them. Meaning what We hold him for ransom Zuto drew in his tusks and shrugged. We dont have to call it that. Forget it, Lah said. Weve never done thatwell, once, maybebut were not about to do it again. I agree, Maa Kaap said. Wandaus head bobbed. Same. PePe withdrew somewhat. Okay, so I was just thinking out loud. Theres something else, Maa Kaap said. Raising his big hand, he beckoned to 114D. Tell the captain what you were telling us. The droid moved to where the crew members were gathered and swiveled its round head toward Lah. Captain, I merely pointed out that Muuns are not known to travel unaccompanied without ample reasons for doing so. In fact, most Muuns are reluctant to leave Muunilinst for any purpose other than to transact business negotiations. Thats exactly what I was saying about collateral, PePe interrupted. There has to be some financial reason for his being on Baldemnicsome major deal in the works we might be able to get in on. A construction project, maybe. Let FourDee finish, Maa Kaap said. Lah looked at the droid. Go ahead. It has yet to be determined just what the Muun was involved in. Suppose, however, that the nature of his business is going to impact Baldemnic in a negative way. Should word spread that the crew of the Woebegone lent their support to the Muuns illegal departure, then what might become of the ships reputation in the Auril sector You may wish to include the worth of that in your calculations regarding an arrangement for onward passage. Maa Kaap folded his arms across his barrel chest. Is our stowaway going to offer to set each of us up for life, in case our services are no longer wanted in this sector What about what the Muuns can do to us if we dont take him, Zuto said. Theyve got a reach as long as a galactic arm. Wandau laughed without mirth. What are they going to dodowngrade our portfolios Freeze our assets Ruin our credit rating Our only assets are this ship and our reputation for doing what we say were going to do. Mostly, Maa Kaap said quietly. PePe slapped his hands on his thighs. Goes back to what I said about asking for a lot more than what he might see as a fair price. These Banking Clan types hold on to every credit. But weve got ourselves a live Muun, and no matter who he is or what hes pretending to be, I guarantee you hes worth more than ten years of dealing in meattails and octopods. Maa Kaap broke the short silence. Captain Im not swayed by any of this, she said after a moment. I want him off our hands. A look of puzzlement tugged at Zutos features. You think hes dangerous PePe ridiculed the idea. Muuns are cowards, the lot of them. They use credits as weapons. Lah took a long breath. You asked for my gut reaction. Thats what Im giving you. Ive an idea, Maa Kaap said. A kind of compromise. We drop out of hyperspace and comm the authorities on Baldemnic. If this Muuns wanted, for whatever reason, we return him, cargo or no. If not, we decide on a figure for taking him to Ithor, and no farther. He looked at Lah. Are you willing to take that deal to him Captain Lah responded as if her words had just caught up with her thoughts. All right. That sounds reasonable. But she remained seated. Do you, uh, want backup Wandau asked after another long moment had passed. No, no, she said, finally getting to her feet. Im the captain, 114D could almost hear her remind herself. Focusing its photoreceptors, it observed her right hand move discreetly to the blaster holstered on her hip. And with a flick of her thumb, she primed the weapon for fire.

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