Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

"Where do you think you'regoing?" But Solo had already rounded a far bend in the corridor and didn't hear. Notthat it would have made any difference. Upset at his partner's disappearance, Chewbacca let out a thunderous if unsettledhowl and rushed down the hallway after him. That left Luke and Leia standing alonein the empty corridor. "Maybe I was too hard on your friend," he confessed reluctantly. "He certainlyis courageous." "He certainly is an idiot!" a furious Luke countered tightly. "I don't know whatgood it'll do us if he gets himself killed." Muted alarms suddenly sounded from thebay below and behind them. "That's done it," Luke growled disgustedly. "Let's go." Together they startedoff in search of a way down to a hangar-deck level. Solo continued his rout of all opposition, running at top speed down the longhallway, yelling and brandishing his pistol. Occasionally he got off a shot whoseeffect was more valuable psychologically than tactically. Half the troops had already scattered down various subpassages and corridors.The ten troopers he continued to harry still raced headlong away from him, up againsta dead end, which forced them to turn and confront their opponents. Seeing that the ten had halted, Solo likewise slowed. Gradually he came to acomplete stop. Corellian and Imperials regarded one another silently. Several ofthe troopers were staring, not at Han but past him.