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A thick hatchway appeared ahead. The lighting beyond turned dimmer, raisingLuke's hopes. If they could lock the hatch even for a few moments and lostthemselves somewhere beyond, they might have a chance of shaking their immediatetormentors. But the hatch stayed open, showing no inclination to close automatically. Lukewas about to let out a shout of triumph when the ground suddenly vanished ahead ofhim. His toes hanging over nothingness, he failed to regain his balance, succeedingjust in time to nearly go over the edge of the retracted catwalk anyway as the Princessplowed into him from behind. The catwalk had been reduced to a stub protruding into empty air. A cool draftcaressed Luke's face as he studied walls that soared to unseen heights overhead andplunged to fathomless depths below. The service shaft was employed in circulatingand recycling the atmosphere of the station. At the moment Luke was too frightened and concerned to be angry with thePrincess for his attention. A burst of energy exploded above their heads, sendingmetal slivers flying. "I think we made a wrong turn," he murmured, firing back at the advancingtroops and illuminating the narrow corridor behind them with destruction. An open hatchway showed on the other side of the chasm. It might as wellhave been a light-year away. Hunting along the rim of the doorway, Leia located aswitch and hit it quickly. The hatch door behind them slid shut with a resoundingboom. At least that cut off the fire from the rapidly nearing soldiers. It also left thetwo fugitives balanced precariously on a small section of catwalk barely a metersquare. If the remaining section were to unexpectedly withdraw into the wall, theywould see more of the battle station's interior than either wished. Gesturing for the Princess to move aside as much as possible, Luke shielded hiseyes and aimed the pistol at the hatch controls. A brief burst of energy melted themflush with the wall, insuring that no one could open it easily from the other side.Then he turned his attention to the vast cavity blocking their path to the oppositeportal. It beckoned invitingly—a small yellow rectangle of freedom.