The Dangerous Rescue

10

Barely breathing, Obi-Wan walked closer to search the rest of the ship. He braced himself for the sight of Astri’s lifeless body. But how could you brace yourself for something like that?

The air taxi was empty except for the pilot.

“What should we do, Obi-Wan?” Siri asked in a hushed voice. She anxiously scanned the area around them. “Do you think Ona Nobis killed the pilot?”

“I have no doubt of it.”

“What do you think happened to Astri? Do you think…”

“I don’t know,” Obi-Wan said uneasily. “Maybe she’s hiding. Is there anywhere you can think to look?”

“Yes,” Obi-Wan said. He tried to ignore the foreboding that was gathering inside him.

“There is one place. When Astri and I were here, the local tribe led us to the bounty hunter’s hideout.”

He led Siri along the sheer rock wall that circled the canyon. When he got to a sharp turning, he stopped.

“Put your hood up,” he advised. “The wind will get very strong after we turn the corner. Whatever you do, don’t lose sight of me.”

Siri nodded, drawing her hood over her face. He did the same.

They turned the corner into a howling wind. Pellets of sand peppered any exposed skin. Obi-Wan kept one hand on the wall so that he would not get lost. He could only see a meter or two ahead.

He dropped to his knees, motioning to Siri to follow. His fingers trailed along the rock, looking for the opening to the bounty hunter’s hideout.

It was a relief to enter the narrow opening of the cave. He could not stand, but the cool sand under his fingers felt good. He shook out his cloak and brushed the sand from his face and hair.

“The cave opens up just ahead. We’ll be able to stand,” he told Siri in a whisper. He was fairly sure that Ona Nobis wasn’t here, but he was prepared to meet her if she was. This time, he would have Siri by his side.

He crawled along the cool, damp sand, feeling his way in the darkness. He saw the small opening ahead and squeezed through. Immediately the air felt different and he knew he was in a larger open space. The blackness turned gray. He waited a moment, then lit his glow rod.

Astri sat against one wall with Cholly, Weez, and Tup. They were tethered together, their wrists and ankles tightly bound. Gags were stuffed in their mouths. Astri’s eyes went wide.

“Don’t worry, it’s me,” Obi-Wan called, in case they had trouble seeing him.

“Mmmmfff!” Astri struggled against the gag. Cholly beat his feet on the floor of the cave.

“All right, I’m coming,” Obi-Wan said, hurrying toward them. He reached toward Astri’s gag even as she attempted to talk.

“Trap!” Astri exhaled the word as Obi-Wan removed the gag.

“Wh—” Obi-Wan’s question was cut off as he heard a loud rushing noise behind him.

He turned and ran past Siri to the opening. He dropped flat and pushed forward, but it was too late. Sand and rocks were pouring down from overhead, piling up against the cave entrance. There was nothing he could do. Larger rocks spilled down, wedging in against one another tightly. In only moments, the cave opening was sealed and they were buried alive.