End Game Read Free Page B

ears, stalked eyes, and lolling tongues, they certainly didn’t look capable of waging war, but Sidious had warned Maul not to underestimate the species.
    “These Gungans were apprehended while exchanging goods with Naboo traders outside the city of Moenia,” OOM-9 explained.
    “Where are the Naboo traders?”
    “Confined in Detention Camp Six, Commander.”
    Maul took a moment to observe a STAP patrol buzzing overhead. “You’ve found no signs of Rellias?”
    “None, Commander. It’s possible that the Gungans have devices capable of foiling our penetrating scanners.”
    Maul considered it. However slight, there was a chance the Gungans were capable of doing something that could jeopardize his task of killing the Jedi and capturing the Queen, and he couldn’t have that.
    “This isn’t the time for subtlety,” he told OOM-9. “Poison the waters. If that doesn’t bring the Gungans to the surface, then drain the marsh.”

    Maul took the speeder bike out of the lowlands, following a twisting path that climbed back into the lush foothills of the Gallo range. Farms began to appear, with stately old houses set far back from the roadbed. Reasoning that revolt of any sort would likely begin in one of the cities, the Neimoidians hadn’t sent their droids into the area. But clearly the Naboo farmers were aware of what had happened elsewhere, as many of the houses were abandoned, and agricultural machines sat silently in the midst of furrowed fields.
    Eventually Maul located the place Sidious had told him to seek out. Posted where the roadbed intersected the lane that accessed the house, a sign written in Basic and Futhork read: SUMMIT FARM BLOSSOM WINERY. Maul waited at the sign. East and west of the lane as far as he could see spread field after field of cultivated plants, their vibrant flowers varying in color, size, and shape. The warm air was redolent with their heady fragrances. Maul swung the speeder bike over the lane and moved slowly toward the house. In some of the fields, Naboo men working alongside labor droids stopped what they were doing to watch him pass. One man set off in a run for the house, clearly to announce Maul’s arrival.

    The house was a well-cared-for building made of wood and stone, with a quaint peaked roof.
    Some distance from the house, two ancient windmills spun. In an outbuilding larger than the house, Maul could see extraction presses and wooden storage barrels. He had just brought the speeder to a halt when a short Naboo woman exited through the house’s front door, wiping her hands on a work apron and appraising him openly. As sturdily built as her house, the woman had sharp features, piercing blue eyes, and close-cropped silver hair. The muscular worker who had tipped her off lingered behind, his posture indicating that he had a blaster tucked into the waistband of his pants, at the small of his back. Maul brought his left leg over the speeder’s U-shaped saddle and stood for a moment, allowing the woman to study him while he peeled off his long black gloves and draped them over the steering bar.
    “You’ve ridden a long way,” she said. “You must be thirsty. Come inside.” She turned and walked back into the house. Her protector stepped away, allowing Maul to pass before following him inside. The interior was cool and dim and decorated with wooden furniture and other old things. The woman returned from a food preparation area and handed Maul a clear drink cooled by crushed ice. He took a small sip, testing it for poison, then drank the sweet liquid down in one long pull while the woman traded furtive glances with her bodyguard. With a nod of her pointed chin, she signaled the man to leave the room, but he didn’t go far.
    When Maul handed her the empty glass, she gestured to a couch.
    “Sit down, won’t you? And tell me what I can do for you.”
    Maul didn’t move. “I need location coordinates for the principal Gungan cities.” She blinked in surprise. “Who told you