"The Secrets of Long Snoot" appears as a concise tale within the larger compilation, From a Certain Point of View. Delilah S. Dawson is the author of this narrative, which presents events as perceived by Garindan ezz Zavor, an Imperial spy.
The narrative commences with Garindan ezz Zavor, the Kubaz spy also known as "Long Snoot," being subjected to a torrent of xenophobic insults from a human male. This man accuses him of being an exploitative spy. Garindan, communicating in Kubazian, views humans as self-centered beings. In defiance, Garindan pilfers the man's pouch containing credits. Despite his outsider status on Tatooine, Garindan hails from a distinguished clan on Kubindi, renowned for cultivating a specific type of delicious picolet beetle. His offspring include prominent senators, orators, and artists, and he boasts numerous grandchildren in various educational institutions.
The previous day, Garindan exhausted his financial resources by paying for a fragmented communication from the planet Kubindi. His daughter informs Garindan of his wife's passing and the family's current predicament. This expenditure has disrupted his plans to return to Kubindi and liberate his homeworld from the oppression of the Galactic Empire. Garindan resolves to dedicate the next three standard days to gathering the necessary intelligence and funds to depart Tatooine, properly honor his deceased spouse, and regain authority within his clan. Leveraging his extensive network, Garindan has arranged for an informant to provide the codes required for his journey home.
Navigating the "foul-smelling" streets of Mos Eisley, Garindan connects with his human informant, who furnishes him with the codes needed to bypass the Imperial blockade surrounding Kubindi. The informant assures Garindan that the codes will remain valid for several days and advises him to travel on a trading vessel, avoiding ships associated with the rebels. Garindan retreats to his dilapidated dwelling, formerly used for animal storage. He finds the lingering animal scent comparable to that of humans and other aliens, considering animal odors predictable, harmless, and reliable. Conversely, he perceives humans and other sentient beings as emitting a multitude of pheromones, exposing their inner thoughts and emotions.
Garindan reflects on the Empire's exploitation of him and his people, leveraging the Kubaz species' inherent abilities to interpret body language, detect pheromones and weapons, and perceive sounds from great distances. The Empire employed diplomatic protocol droids to secure the support of Kubaz elders. Garindan was selected as a promising student from the academy to study under the Empire's tutelage, with the expectation of returning to his family and community with newfound prestige. However, Garindan was instead forced into servitude and trained as a spy. He and fifty others were shackled and subjected to propaganda, indoctrination, and reprogramming. Garindan managed to escape his assignment and attempted to return to Kubindi, only to find its orbit heavily guarded by Imperial forces. He decides to find a new job so he can earn enough credits to hire a ship, with the ultimate goal of penetrating the Imperial blockade and informing his people about the Empire's manipulative practices.
This undertaking involves Garindan assisting the Empire in locating two fugitive droids and claiming the associated reward. His day begins at Chalmun's Spaceport Cantina, where he observes the arrival of Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Shortly thereafter, Ponda Baba and Cornelius Evazan accost Skywalker, resulting in Kenobi severing Baba's arm. Garindan also witnesses Skywalker and Kenobi meeting with Han Solo and the Wookiee Chewbacca to discuss their journey to Alderaan. Noting the absence of the droids, Garindan lies in wait in a dimly lit area between the cantina and Han's junker ship. He eventually spots the men passing by with C-3PO and R2-D2.
Garindan informs the Imperial authorities about the droids' presence at Mos Eisley spaceport's Docking Bay 94. Garindan directs the stormtroopers to Docking Bay 94, where a firefight erupts. Anticipating payment, the Kubaz purchases another beverage at Chalmun's Cantina from the bartender Wuher. While conversing with the Devaronian Labria, Garindan learns that the droids have escaped, thus forfeiting the bounty. Despite his disappointment, Labria offers Garindan a job on behalf of Derrida the Ketton. He explains that Derrida requires a companion for a mission against the Rebel Alliance, a task that humans are unwilling to undertake.
Determined to return home and reveal the Empire's exploitation, Garindan accepts the job. When Labria praises Garindan's espionage prowess and questions whether he is motivated by unscrupulous motives or the pure joy of destroying so many well-laid plans, Garindan replies that he is "very far from home."
The story portrays Garindan as a victim of the Galactic Empire, rather than a mercenary spy. However, the 2013 digital card game Star Wars: Force Collection depicted Garindan as a greedy, paid Imperial informant. Lucasfilm Story Group's Matt Martin expressed a preference for the From a Certain Point of View interpretation of Garindan, but stated that the matter remained open for debate until officially clarified for another story. The 2019 reference book Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition subsequently validated the backstory presented in From a Certain Point of View.