Author: Angel

E-mail: valarltd@hotmail.com

URL: http://www.oocities.org/lady_aethelynde

Rating: G

Summary:  Luke tells his story

Type: Legendary myth, or mythical legend

Disclaimer:  The whole thing belongs to George,
but if he was letting Luke work, he wouldn't ambush
me on my lunch hour and make me write.

Notes: Based on the African legend of Anansi the
Spider.

Feedback: I crave it. It's my favorite high.

****
The Talking Hubba
2000 Angelia Sparrow
****
 

Luke walked into the pilots' rec room.  A friendly
game of cards was in progress, friendly because there was
no money on the table.  He smiled at his rogues.

"Hey, Luke, your turn tonight, remember?"

"Remind me again how this story nonsense got started?"

"Quit shirking, Skywalker!"  Wedge tossed his cards on the table
and turned his chair to face the one where Luke sat.

"All right.  Aunt Beru told me this one when I was little."

***

Of all the gardens in all the canyons, Bantha's was best.
Sni, the sand spider, often looked with hunger on the
huge hubba gourds, juicy bluevines, and delicate windflutters.
His own garden grew nothing, but not for lack of effort.

One day, while Bantha was away, Sni, overcome by hunger,
chewed his way into a hubba.  Once inside, he ate his fill.
His stomach full for the first time in weeks, Sni fell
asleep inside the hubba.

He awoke to the sounds of scratching tools, and peered out.
Bantha was working two rows over.  He tried to wriggle out,
but he had eaten too much and could no longer fit through
the hole he had gnawed.  He ate another bit of hubba and
considered his situation.

As Bantha came closer, he finally piped up, "Leave me alone."

Bantha looked at the hubbas.  "What was that?  Did someone speak?"

"I did.  Over here."

Bantha picked up the hubba that Sni was in.  "You spoke?"

"Yes I did!"

"I'm taking you to King Krayt!  A talking hubba is something to see!"

Bantha set off with the talking hubba.  Sni had a bite
more to eat.

On his way, Bantha encountered Womp-Rat.

"Whatcha got, Bantha?  Wanna share?"

"No.  This is a talking hubba, and I'm taking it to King Krayt."

"Talking hunh?  Have it say something."

"I am too a talking hubba," Sni announce indignantly.

"Wizard!" Womp-Rat said, and went with Bantha.

Farther down the road, they met Dewback.  He, too, had
to see the talking hubba.

At last, they came to the canyon of King Krayt.  The giant
dragon greeted them lazily, looking up from its meal of
Rancor.

"Oh, mighty Krayt," began Bantha, "in my humble garden,
a miracle has occurred.  This hubba spoke to me."

"I heard it, too," verified Womp-Rat

"And I," added Dewback.

"Speak then," commanded Krayt.  Sni said nothing.
"Speak, your King commands it!"  Sni remained silent.

Krayt Dragon shook the hubba, stared at it, and demanded it
talk to him, becoming more furious by the instant.
At last, he tossed it high in the air, and batted it with his tail,
sending it sailing back to Bantha's garden.

"Out!" Krayt Dragon roared.  "And if I ever see this sort
of nonsense again, I'll eat all of you!"

The hubba sailed back to Bantha's garden, and shattered as
it hit the ground.  Sni helped himself to a few last
bites and waddled off to hide in bluevines before Bantha returned.

Bantha came back and glared at his hubba patch.  "I don't care if you _all_
talk to me," he announced, "I'm ignoring you!"

"Good idea," said Sni from his hiding place.  "We bluevines
could have told you hubbas are nothing but trouble."

***

The laughter rose loud and long from the rogues.