Chapter 15

The voice was shrill with incredulity. For a confused moment Shmi tried to collect her scattered thoughts, swept by a sick feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach even before she remembered the reason for it. No one here should know her name! She scrambled to pull up the hood she had thoughtlessly let dangle down her back, and turned away from the voice, but she knew it was already too late.

"It is you, Shmi!"

Despairing now of avoiding whoever had recognized her, Shmi turned back and made a shushing gesture, but her hand froze in mid-motion at the sight of the familiar spiky red hair and thickly freckled face of the woman who had halted as she passed, and now stood staring, oblivious of the impatient pedestrians who crowded close, angered by the two women who blocked the way. "Darna?"

"What are you doing in Mos Eisley, Shmi? Did Jabba sell you, too? Or…" Darna's eyes narrowed in calculation, and Shmi felt a chill of fear as they widened again, and Darna's mouth began slowly to stretch into a grin of delighted malice. "That's what all the fuss was about the other week. They were looking for you!" Her hand shot out and seized Shmi by the wrist before she could draw back. "You ran off, didn't you? And now I've found you. Do you know how big the reward is for escaped slaves?"

"No!" Shmi fought to free her hand, but Darna's grip was strong. Shmi saw Darna start to draw breath to shout for the authorities. In desperation she threw herself at the other woman and managed to get behind her and slap her free hand across her mouth. People were starting to stare, and she knew a single scream from Darna would bring them running to her aid.

Darna bit down, hard, on Shmi's hand and twisted savagely from her grip. Shmi staggered, and almost lost her balance and fell. As Darna prepared again to call for help, Shmi blurted out the only thing she could think of that might have any chance of stopping her. "You can come with us!"

Darna cut off her shout, and glared at Shmi. "What did you say?"

"You can come with us, offworld. I'll tell you everything. Just, please, don't turn me in."

Darna eyed Shmi warily, and then glanced around at the curious spectators. She grabbed Shmi by the wrist and hauled her into a narrow alleyway opening. The sudden shade after the glare of the suns blinded Shmi. She blinked to clear her eyes, the stench of garbage strong around them.

"Us?" hissed Darna. "Who else is with you?"

Too late Shmi realized her mistake. "No… nobody. It's just me."

"You're lying. You said 'us.' Tell me who's with you, or I'm turning you in right now." Darna's grip tightened painfully on Shmi's wrist.

Terrified, Shmi still found the courage to defy her. "Go ahead. Then you'll lose your chance for freedom. You'll probably never get another."

Darna hesitated. For a moment her face betrayed her feelings, and Shmi read there a fierce, greedy hunger. But Darna brushed it away with a flippant toss of her head. "No. But they'll execute you. Who's got more to lose?" They stood glaring at each. Shmi's heart pounded loud in her ears, but she refused to turn away.

Finally Darna threw Shmi's arm down in disgust. "It's not as if I don't know who it is. You'd only ever be this stupid over Kern." Shmi tried to keep her expression blank, but she could not control the surge of fear that drained the blood from her face. "All right. I accept. I'll come with you."

What had she gotten them into? Shmi could only stammer stupidly, "You'll… come?"

"That was your offer, wasn't it? I don't turn you in, and you take me with you. It's a deal. You're going to be my ticket out of here. Just tell me where and when I should meet you."

Shmi's head swam dizzily. She didn't trust Darna, but she couldn't think what else she could do. And Darna would have a strong self-interest in keeping the secret. She felt strongly she should not tell, that it would be betraying Kern and Granny Tikva and Frelvak and all that they had worked for, yet if she refused Darna would turn her over to the authorities without a thought, and tell everything Shmi had revealed already. No ships would be allowed to leave Mos Eisley, and every house would be searched until Kern and those who sheltered him were found. All would be lost. Only a thin thread of hope remained. So despite the dread thick in her throat, she blurted out, "Tomorrow morning, just after sunsrise. Docking Bay 96."

No sooner had the words cleared her lips then she realized what she could have done. Lie. Why didn't I lie? But it was too late now. She bit her lip and gazed at Darna, willing her to cooperate.

Darna cocked her head and studied Shmi appraisingly. Slowly she nodded. "I'll be there." She smiled playfully, and poked Shmi in the side. "Who would have thought? You, and me, and Kern, all running away together? It should be fun. I'll see you tomorrow." She waved a cheerful good-bye, and vanished back out into the bright sunlight of the street.

Shmi stared after her, horrified. She pulled her hood up over her head and slipped out of the alley, keeping her head down, and hurried as fast as she could without running and drawing attention to herself, back to Granny Tikva's.

She was almost sobbing when Granny Tikva opened the door. The old woman didn't ask any questions, but swept her inside and bundled her quickly down to the secret room, where she fell into Kern's arms. Shmi poured out the story to the two of them.

"I didn't know what else to do!" she wailed, near hysteria. "What if she tells anyway, what if we're caught? I've ruined our only chance, it's all my fault, I was stupid and careless…"

"Hush, hush," Kern murmured, as she collapsed in tears against him. He continued to comfort her as her sobs ran their course and at length quieted. He stroked her hair, and she was finally able to compose herself and pull away a little. "It was bad luck, is all. There's nothing you could have done differently that would have made any difference."

Shmi didn't believe him, but she was willing to let herself be reassured. "What are we going to do?"

"I don't know." Kern turned to Granny Tikva. "Is there any chance Captain Daveen can move to a different docking bay, or leave early? Or we could just lay low here and let him leave without us, and wait for the next one of your contacts to make port."

"Maybe, maybe." Granny Tikva cocked her head to one side, considering. "This woman – Darna – is a slave, no?"

"Yes." Shmi breathed deeply, trying to calm herself.

"And she seeks freedom. It is my duty to aid all those who travel the Road. If she seeks to escape, we cannot simply abandon her."

Shmi jumped up. "But you don't understand! She's cruel, and deceitful, and she hates me. She'd do anything to hurt me. There's no way we can trust her."

Granny Tikva regarded her steadily. "But is there a chance she is serious about escaping with you?"

"I suppose…" Shmi swallowed. She looked sideways at Kern, and bit her lip. "I think… She only decided to come after she found out Kern was with me. She's tried to use you against me before. I think she may…" Shmi blushed and looked down, unable to meet Kern's eyes. "…want to take you away from me."

Kern burst out laughing, startling Shmi, but reassuring her. "I'd like to see the loofie-hen try! Don't worry, love; if that's her plan she's put her money on the wrong pod. But we can let her think she's got a chance, if it keeps her quiet until we're safely on Naboo."

Shmi shook her head. Neither of them knew Darna like she did. But she let herself be convinced that there was a chance the other woman was sincere.

Later Frelvak joined them, and they discussed at endless length all their options. But there was no way Captain Daveen could change his schedule without raising far too much suspicion. And it would be at least six months to a year before another ship willing to smuggle them out could reach Tatooine. Shmi knew that every day they stayed put Granny Tikva and Frelvak in more danger. They had no choice but to go through with the plan.

That night she and Kern cuddled together in the tiny room which had become their home. Shmi told Kern all about her meeting with his mother, and passed on Lani's message of love and blessing. They speculated for a while what Naboo might hold for them. Their warmth of their companionship, and later, the heat of his touch made Shmi forget for a while the looming feeling of dread that hung over her. Their love was fierce and sweet, unshadowed by any fear.

But at length it was over, and she could not help but remember again. She turned from him, trying to hide the tears that crept into her eyes, but he reached to brush them away.

"I'm so sorry, Kern."

"You have nothing to be sorry for. Nothing that's happened is your fault. Everything is going to be fine. Tomorrow we leave our old life and start a new one. A real, free life."

She pressed herself close to him. "I want to believe you."

"You can. I love you, Shmi. I'll always love you. I'll do anything in my power to protect you." He was silent for a long time. The soft fog of sleep had just started to envelope Shmi when he spoke again, low and intense. "But if anything should happen to me, promise me you won't do anything foolish. You have to take care of yourself and the little one. That's all that matters to me."

Shmi nodded, unable to speak, her head pressed tightly to his chest. His arms tightened around her, then relaxed. Gradually his breathing changed to the deep, slow rhythm of sleep. Eventually Shmi, too, slept.

The next morning Granny Tikva and Frelvak led them, hooded and cloaked, through the pre-dawn streets to the warehouse district. They slipped in through a wide, tall door, where a vast wagon, piled high with crates and boxes, stood harnessed to two rontos. The driver of the wagon showed them where they could change into the clothes of warehouse workers. Once they were ready to go, Shmi embraced Frelvak and Granny Tikva. "Thank you so much, for everything. You two are so brave, with the work you do. Anything we can ever do to help you…"

"I won't forget that, dearie. Once you're established, you contact us and I'll put you on the list to help out those who follow." She had already entrusted Shmi and Kern with the names of people on Naboo they could turn to for help, other escaped slaves and people who opposed slavery. Shmi nodded, though she knew how unlikely it was there would be many who could follow.

After a final flurry of farewells, Shmi and Kern climbed aboard the wagon, taking their places beside the driver on his long bench seat, and the driver cracked his whip. The rontos leaned into the harness and the wagon creaked into motion, rolling ponderously along behind the plodding beasts. Once at Docking Bay 96, the plan called for them to assist in transferring the cargo into the ship's hold, then slip unnoticed into hiding places aboard the vessel. This was the last shipment of cargo; as soon as it was all aboard Captain Daveen would take the ship into space.

They made their way through the streets of the city. They passed several of the huge round docking bays that were scattered around the city, until finally they drew near to their destination. Kern kept his head down, but Shmi scanned the street around the docking bay door, which was gradually filling with pedestrians as the day's light grew brighter.

"There." She spotted a shock of spiky red hair. "She's alone." Some of the tension that had been building up in Shmi's muscles relaxed. She waited until they had drawn close to the other woman, who was casually leaning against the wall beside the docking bay door with a bored expression.

"Darna!" Shmi hissed, barely loud enough to be heard above the rumble of the huge doors opening. Darna looked around, not seeing her. "Up here!"

Finally Darna looked up and saw them. Shmi scooted out of the way to make room for Kern to reach down to help her up. Darna reached up to grasp his offered hand, the loose sleeves of her slave tunic falling back. Shmi looked around worriedly, hoping no one would notice the contrast between Darna's clothes and their close-fitting dockworkers' jumpsuits.

Kern passed Darna along to settle on the long bench seat between Shmi and the driver. Then Kern nudged Shmi and patted the seat on the other side of him. Puzzled, she scrambled over to sit on his far side, nearest the outside of the wagon. He leaned close to her.

"Shmi." His voice was barely above a whisper. "As soon as you can see the ship, jump down and run, as fast as you can. Don't look back. Just get on board, and tell Captain Daveen to blast off."

Shmi stared at him. "What?"

"It's a trap." He jerked his head a tiny twitch back toward Darna, and touched his upper arm. When Shmi continued to look blankly at him, he leaned closer. "She's got a scar on her arm."

Horrified comprehension froze Shmi in place. The wagon lurched forward, and as they cleared the docking bay doors the ship came into sight, a large, nondescript freighter.

"Go, Shmi!" Kern yelled, shoving Darna hard into the driver. Then he was pushing Shmi ahead of him. She jumped off the wagon, stumbled as she hit the ground, but recovered and sprinted as fast as she could toward the ramp that led up to the ship's open hatch, Kern close behind her.

Shouts and blaster fire erupted around them, as the guards who had clustered hidden on either side just inside the docking bay door opened fire. Darna's shriek rose above the din. "That's them! Shoot them!"

Shmi felt a blaster bolt sizzle hot past her ear. She put her head down and ran, Kern's footsteps pounding in rhythm with her own.

Behind her, a thud and a cry, and Kern's footsteps were no longer there. She glanced wildly back, and froze. Kern lay stretched on the ground. Smoke rose from a blackened patch on his back.

He raised his head, and his eyes fixed on hers. "Run, Shmi," he gasped. For an instant more Shmi stared at him. As the guards raced toward them and the first of many more blaster bolts burned into his body, she turned and stumbled blindly toward the ship.

"Don't blast the girl! Jabba wants her alive! Stun her!"

Shmi ran. The ramp was only a few steps ahead. Safety, and freedom, for herself, and Kern's child…

The stun bolt caught her and she fell, her outstretched hand straining forward, until she came to rest frozen and helpless, face down on the sandy floor of the hangar. As she blacked out she caught a last glimpse of her reaching fingers paralyzed in the dust, less than a centimeter from the base of the ramp.