the night watch by rembrandt

up and down a gorgon scale. The sandpeople remained poised a moment longer. Then they were utteringloud grunts and moans of fright as they rushed to get away from the highly visiblelandspeeder. The shivering howl sounded again, nearer this time. Bu now the sandpeoplewere halfway to their waiting Banthas, that were likewise lowing tensely and tuggingat their tethers. Although the sound held no meaning for Artoo Detoo, the little 'droid tried tosqueeze himself even deeper into the almost-cave. The booming howl came closer.Judging by the way the sandpeople had reacted, something monstrous beyondimagining had to be behind that rolling cry. Something monstrous and murder-bentwhich might not have the sense to distinguish between edible organics and inediblemachines. Not even the dust of their passing remained to mark where the Tusken Raidershad only minutes before been dismembering the interior of the landspeeder. ArtooDetoo shut down all but vital functions, trying to minimize noise and light as aswishing sound grew gradually audible. Moving toward the landspeeder, thecreature appeared above the top of a nearby dune…