Jiliac turned the mask around in her tiny hands, and at first Durga thought she did not recognize its signifi-cance. The Besadii leader spared a glance to Guri, and, as they had agreed upon, the woman turned and headed for the exit. She would wait there for him, and make sure he was not disturbed. Durga turned his attention back to Jiliac, ready to enlighten her as to exactly what her gift meant, then he saw her entire huge body begin to tremble.

She glared at Durga. "A death-mask from Lan-goona!" Jiliac bellowed. "And you call this a fitting gift?"

With a powerful swing of her small arm, Jiliac tossed the piece of art into the air, then used her tail to bat it clear across the audience chamber. Striking the wall, it shattered, raining down in pieces.

"I call it entirely fitting, Jiliac," Durga gave no ground. He recited the formal words. "Today I, Durga Besadii Tai, discovered that you killed Aruk, my parent. I challenge you under the Old Law. Prepare to die."

Jiliac bellowed in rage and swung herself off her sled. "You are the one who will die, upstart!" she growled, and sent her flexible tail swooping up and around.

Durga dodged, but not quickly enough. The tail slapped his back, bruising him, almost knocking his wind out. With all his strength, Durga launched himself toward Jiliac, b.u.t.ting her as hard as he could with his chest.

Jiliac was nearly twice Durga's size. She was a middle-aged Hurt who was reaching the corpulent stage. Durga had one advantage-his youth gave him speed. But if she caught him with her full weight, even once, the battle would be over, and he knew it.

Bellowing like two prehistoric leviathans, the two Hutts slammed at each other, sometimes. .h.i.tting, often missing. They hurled themselves against each other's chests, wrestling with their undersized arms, as they sent their tails slamming into everything nearby.

Dorzo had long ago taken to his heels and gotten well out of range.

Kill... kill... KILLKILLKILL!! Durga's mind shrieked at him. He was consumed with rage. Jiliac slammed him with her tail, nearly sending him rolling over, then launched herself at him with a roar. Durga barely managed to wriggle out of the way before he could be Crushed beneath her ma.s.sive midsection.

The younger Hutt dealt her a hard slap across the side of her head that sent her reeling. She came back at him with a tail-slap that missed, making the entire room shake.

At first, Jiliac howled curses and threats, but within a few minutes, she began panting too heavily, and saved her breath for battle. The Desilijic~ sedentary lifestyle was catching up with her....

If I can just outleast her... Durga thought, and real-ized that was a very big if....

Han Solo had been going over shipping manifests for the mines on Kessel with Jabba when he, Chewie and Jabba all heard a loud thud, followed by a bellow, then another series of thuds and m.u.f.fled crashing sounds. Human, Wookiee and Hutt looked at each other, star-tied. "What% that?" Han wondered.

"My aunt must be having one of her temper tan-trums," Jabba said.

Nearly a decade ago Han had witnessed one of Jiliac% notorious tantrums, so he had no trouble believ-ing that. He started to go back to work, when two bel-lows reached his ears. One right 'after another-in two different voices.

Jabba reared up in alarm. "Come on!"

Han and Chexvie jogged beside the Hutt as Jabba led them toward the sounds. He was amazed at how quickly Hutts could move when motivated.

When they reached Jiliac's audience chamber, a beautiful young blond woman was standing in the doorway. Hah looked over her shoulder, and saw Jiliac locked in mortal combat with a much smaller Hurt. The newcomer had a disfiguring birthmark that spread over his eye and down his face. The two creatures were bel-lowing and straining as they b.u.t.ted their ma.s.sive chests together.

As Hah, Chewie and Jabba approached, the woman shook her head and put up a hand to halt their progress. "No," she said. "Do not interfere. Durga has challenged Clan Leader to Clan Leader, under the Old Law."

To Han's surprise, Jabba did not bat the woman out of his way and go to his aunt~ aid. Instead he inclined his head in the Hutt equivalent of a bow. "You must be Guri," he said.

"Yes, Your Excellency," she replied.

Just then a group of guards came stampeding up the corridor, force-pikes ready. Jabba whirled to block their way. The Gamorreans blinked at him in dull surprise. "My aunt is having one of her temper fits," he said. "You are not needed."

The leader of the guards looked doubtful, but Jabba did not move, and he could not see for himself what was going on. He hesitated, his porcine snout quivering with the urge to fight.

"I said, you are dismissed!" Jabba bellowed, waving his arms at the guards. They turned, grunting and snort-ing, and went trotting back down the hall.

Han glanced into the audience chamber and saw Jiliac bring her tail down with stunning force. The smaller Hutt barely managed to dodge out of the way in time. The Corellian looked at Jabba. "You don't want to stop it?:' Chewbacca echoed Hang question.

Jabba blinked at them, his bulbous eyes full of cun-ning. "Durga is the leader of Besadii clan," he said. "Whichever of them wins, I win."

"But..." Hah stammered, "I... I thought you were fond of your aunt."

Jabba looked at him as though he were a r.e.t.a.r.ded Gamorrean child. "I am, Han," he said, gently. "But this is business."

Hah nodded and glanced at Chewie. He shrugged.

"Sure. Business."

"And, Hah?"

"Yes, Jabba?"

The Hutt leader waved Han away. "This is no place for a human, lad. Wait for me at my palace. I will join you later."

No place for a human? Hah wanted to say, but what about her? He glanced at the beautiful woman, and their eyes met. Han stared at her for a long second, and realized that there was something not right about this woman Jabba called Guri. She was perfect, but, 'after looking into her eyes, Han realized that all his instincts were telling him to give her a wide berth. He would no more have put his arms around her than he would have cuddled a deadly viper.

"Uh, yeah," he said. "Later, Jabba. C'mon, Chewie."

Turning, Hah and the Wookiee hurried away without looking back.

Durga was getting desperate. Despite his best efforts to wear Jiliac down, exhaust her, the older Hutt was still fighting with grim purpose. She was much stronger and heavier than he was, and if just one of her blows landed full-on, Durga knew he'd be little more than a grease spot on the floor.

They rammed each other for the umpteenth time, their chests crashing together with such force that Durga cried out. He was bruised over every centimeter of his body-he felt like a piece of dough, pounded and rolled out to make fiatbread.

The long fight had taken them clear around the huge chamber, as the smashed furnishings and the holes in the walls testified. Durga suddenly realized they were approaching Jiliacg sled. She must have realized it, too, for suddenly she disengaged, and, wheeling around, she glided toward the repulsor sled at her fastest speed, wheezing and sobbing for breath.

Durga was right behind her, overhauling her. It was obvious to him that Jiliae intended to mount the sled, then use it as a battering ram against him. If she got atop it, he was finished!

He caught up to Jiliac, heading for the controls, only to gasp and dodge as the Desilijic leader swept her tail in a hard are under the sled, aiming for his face.

Durga reacted without conscious thought. Rolling forward onto his chest, bracing himself on his hands, he flipped his tail up over the top of his head. Aiming care-fully, he aimed the tip-end of his tail on the way down, sending it slamming into the "Power On" b.u.t.ton on the sled, depressing it.

The repulsor sled fell like a stone, straight down onto Jiliae's tail, pinning it firmly.

Jiliac screeched with pain, struggling to yank her tail free. As he rolled back upright, Durga realized that she wasn't going to manage that. Wriggling backward, he positioned himself, then brought his tail down on Jiliac's head with all his strength.

The Desilijic leader screamed.

Durga slammed into her head again. And again... It took five hard blows to drive Jiliac into uncon-sciousness. Die! he thought, walloping sodden flesh. "Die!" he bellowed. "DIE!"

He wasn't sure when she died, actually. At some point Durga became aware he was pounding mindlessly on what was now a b.l.o.o.d.y, crushed ruin of flesh and brain matter. Jiliac's eyes were smashed holes, and her slimy tongue lolled from her mouth.

Durga forced himself to halt, to look around. At the entrance to the room, Guri stood beside Jabba. Some-how Xizor% a.s.sa.s.sin had prevented the guards-and Jabba-from entering. Whatever the young woman was, she was more than she seemed, Durga decided, his mind dull with exhaustion.

Moving as though he were nine hundred years old, Durga managed to haul himself onto Jiliac% sled and ac-tivate it. He was too tired to even wriggle across the room. He barely had the strength and mental where-withal to guide the sled.

He glided across the audience chamber, leaving the dead Jiliac sprawled in his wake.

When Durga reached the entrance, he paused to confront Jabba. The Besadii figured that at the best of times, he might be evenly matched with Jabba. At the moment... there was no way.

Guri stepped forward to bow slightly, respectfully. "Congratulations on the successful outcome of your challenge, Your Excellency."

Durga turned to regard the woman. "Guri. You are Prince Xizor~ a.s.sa.s.sin, correct?"

"I serve the Prince in whatever capacity I may," she said, composedly.

"Could you kill a Hutt?" Durga asked.

"Most certainly," she replied.

"Then... kill Jabba," Durga said.

Guri shook her head slightly. "No, Your Excellency. My orders were to help you effect your revenge against Jiliac. That is accomplished. We will leave now."

Durga made an abortive move toward Jabba, only to have Xizor's a.s.sistant step between them, her unspoken message very clear. "We will leave now," she repeated.

Jabba moved aside to let them pa.s.s as Guri swung herself up nimbly onto Jiliac's repulsor sled. Hearing the pound of running feet, Durga saw guards running toward them, but Jabba stopped them in their tracks with a raised hand.

"I dismissed you earlier!" he said. "Now leave!"

The guards obeyed with 'alacrity.

Jabba looked at Guri. "I did not want to lose them.

They are an effective defense against most invaders."

Guri nodded, and sent the sled gliding away. Durga glared balefully at Jabba, but the last of his strength was gone. He could only slump atop the sled, too exhausted even to savor his victory....

Jabba slowly approached his aunt's ma.s.sive corpse. He could scarcely believe she was dead, and he knew he would miss her. But, as he'd told Han Solo, this was business. For the good of Desilijic as well as his own ....

The sight of the ruined, shapeless head actually had the power to turn his stomach. Jabba knew he wouldn't be hungry for a while.

He considered for a moment, wondering what should be his first actions, now that he was the undis-puted leader of Desilijic. He'd likely be summoned to appear before the Hutt Grand Council, but once they'd heard that this was a Clan Leader Challenge under the Old Law, there would be little they could say.

And, if asked, Jabba would tell them Jiliac had in-deed caused Aruk to be poisoned ....

Without warning, Jiliac moved.

Startled, Jabba jerked upright, incredulous. She~ coming back to life/ She'll be angry/ No! His hearts thudded wildly in shock. What could be happening? There was no doubt his aunt was dead, no doubt at all- The ma.s.sive corpse moved again, and then Jiliac's baby slithered out of her abdominal pouch. Jabba re-laxed. I should have realized, he thought, embarra.s.sed by his momentary superst.i.tious fear.

The little grub-like creature scooted forward, waving its little stubs, gurgling mindlessly.

Jabba stared at it malevolently. He knew he would be confirmed leader of Desilijic no matter what, but why leave any loose ends?

Slowly, purposefully, he slithered toward his aunt's helpless offspring ....

The day after Durga defeated Jiliac, the Besadii leader was so stiff and sore that he could barely move. However, he managed to conceal his pain when Teroenza called him, telling him that Kibbick's body had been shipped home, per Durga's orders.

"Your Excellency," the High Priest said, "I need more guards, and therefore I have taken the liberty of hiring some, at my own expense. It is my hope that Be-sadii will reimburse me, but I must have additional pro-tection. These Rebel raids cannot be countenanced."

"I understand," Durga said. "I will attempt to get more guards."

"Thank you, Your Excellency."

When he cut the connection, Durga turned to Guri, who had just been taking her leave of him. "He is get-ting ready to make his move," Durga said. "He is preparing to make his break with Besadii."

Guri nodded. "I beheve you are correct, Lord Durga."

"Since the Ylesian troops may well be loyal to Teroenza," Durga said, "I need some way to keep the High Priest in line until I can replace him. Thus I have a request for your master, Prince Xizor." "Yes, Lord Durga?"

"I ask you to convey to him my request that he grant me some military aid. If he would send troops to Ylesia, that would ease the transition-allow me to get rid of Teroenza, while keeping the Sacredots and Pilgrims content. I know that the prince has extensive resources and several mercenary units at his command. With an effective, modern fighting force on the planet, there is no way that Teroenza's guards would dare mount an armed challenge." He faced her squarely, despite the pain of his bruised body. "Will you ask him for me, Guri? Explain the situation?"

"I will," Guri said. "However, His Highness rarely dispatches troops except to protect his own interests."

"I know that," Durga said dolefully. He didn't like what he was about to say, but better this than to lose everything. "In return for his support, tell your prince that I will offer him a percentage of this year's Ylesian profits."

Guri nodded. "I will convey your proposition, Lord Durga. You will be hearing from His Highness." She bowed slightly. "And now . . . I take my leave of you, Your Excellency."

Durga nodded as well as he could with his aching, stiff neck. "Farewell, Guri."

"Farewell, Lord Durga."

Bria Tharen was working in her office aboard her Marauder corvette, Retribution, when Jace Paol ap-peared on the holocomm. "Commander, we have an in-coming message for you, your private code, on a verdi secure channel."

"HQ?" she said.

"No, Commander. This is a civ transmission."

She raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Really?" Not many outsiders had her private code. A few of the Intel-ligence operatives-Barid Mesoriaam and others of his ilk-but they would hardly contact her this directly. "Well... patch it through to me here, please."

Moments later, a small image formed atop her comm unit.

Bria stared in surprise. A Hutt? The only Hutt who had her private code was Jabba, so this must be he... though Hutts looked alike to her, especially in a fuzzy holo-message. She spoke to the image. "Jabba? Is that you, Your Excellency?"

"It is I, Commander Tharen," the Hutt replied.

"Yes... well... to what do I owe the pleasure of this call, Your Excellency?"

The Hutt leader inclined his head slightly. "Com-mander Tharen, I ask that you come to Nal Hutta im-mediately. I am now the leader of Clan Desilijic, since my aunt's unfortunate demise. We must talk."

Bria caught her breath. It had been only a month since her interview with Desilijic. And now Jiliac was dead?

She decided she didn't want to know. Bowing her head respectfully, she said, "I will come immediately, Your Excellency. I take it you wish to re-open our nego-tiation regarding the Ylesian enterprise?"

"Yes," said Jabba. "I have begun placing operatives on Ylesia to take care of the t'landa Til. I am ready to proceed with the Ylesian raid. It is time to put an end to Besadii~ economic tyranny."