> I would like to get an edonkey client that works without installing
> anymore kde/gnome then already on the system. Any input appreciated

I use lmule (and fluxbox, too).

http://lmule.sourceforge.net

However, it requires package wxGTK, which requires gnome.

In general, it works OK. Sometimes it terminates for no apparent
reason. I just restart it--not a big problem, but annoying. I
recently had a problem where it would terminate after a few minutes.
I got around the problem by deleting some files on my transfer list.
Not sure why this fixed it.

Hope this helps.