The Lady of Shalott

And finally, as if being spit out of the very flames of the conflagration, theMillennium Falcon shot toward Endor, only moments before the Death Star flaredinto brilliant oblivion, like a fulminant supernova. Han was binding Leia's arm-wound in a fern-dell when the Death Star blew. Itcaptured everyone's attention, wherever they happened to be—Ewoks, stormtrooperprisoners, Rebel troops—the final, turbulent, flash of self-destruction, incandescent inthe evening sky. The Rebels cheered. Leia touched Han's cheek. He leaned over, and kissed her; then sat back,seeing her eyes focused on the starry sky. "Hey," he jostled, "I'll bet Luke got off that thing before it blew." She nodded. "He did. I can feel it." Her brother's living presence touchedher, through the Force. She reached out to answer the touch, to reassure Luke shewas all right. Everything was all right.