Sacrifice

"You didn't tell me how the lode was found," Fett said. It was his best shot at small talk, given that they didn't seem to want to talk about his death. "After ten years? In the middle of nowhere?"

"From orbit." Medrit paused in midslice as he carved a sticky pile of nut- studded, glistening pastry into six portions and licked his fingers. Little burn scars peppered his hands. Fett wondered if he'd find metal filings in the cake. "Some Mando'ade coming home after a few generations in the Outer Rim. A minerals engineer and a geologist ran a few scans, compared diem with the old geological charts, and decided to take a look on close approach. Result—wayii!"

"Good timing," Fett said.

"We're getting a lot of skilled people coming home, Bob'ika,'"

Beviin said. "You said you wanted Mando'ade to come back, and some already have."

"Impressive." Fett was surprised at the willingness of people to abandon all they'd ever known simply at his suggestion. "Let's hope they're all that lucky."

"More resourcefulness than luck."

Fett thought of the last thing that Fenn Shysa had said to him. If you only look after your own hide, then you're not a man. No, Jaing didn't have any idea what went on between them in those final moments.

People generally believed what they wanted to.

"Makes me wonder what else is still lying undiscovered on this planet," said Fett.

That night, lying awake far too long on the rickety trestle bed in the outbuilding, Fett reflected on the fact that Mirta hadn't been in touch since they'd returned, and wondered what his father would have done had he