The Second Book of the Alienbutt Saga. The Rise of Mr Fluffy. Part 11.

Alienbutt quickly began to recover his strength. The frog people were polite to him but he could tell they were nervous having him around. Only the Princess Isme was friendly and as soon as he was able to get out of bed she began to show him around her home. Much of the city was underwater and those parts above the water were on islands within a string of great lakes and seas. The buildings above water were all organic in appearance and blended into the landscape. Nowhere did the frog people seek to build anything that would not fit naturally into their planet.

Alienbutt sat on the shore of one of the great lakes. He had been out of bed for almost a week and his strength had now almost returned. Suddenly Isme landed beside him, making him jump in shock at her sudden appearance. He doubted he would ever get used to the way her people could leap such large distances.
“A trader has arrived. He has contacts in many systems and may know someone who can help you return home,” she said excitedly. “He’s visited here lots of times and has offered to help you. Tonight he will sing for us and entertain us with his stories. It’s always fun when he visits.”
Alienbutt smiled but Isme could tell that the news didn’t excite him that much. “If anyone can get you home then he will know of them, Alienbutt. He may even know someone who can get your hand to grow back.”
Alienbutt stared down at the still-bandaged stump. It was strange how his fingers still tingled, but he had heard that was normal for people who had lost body parts.
“Well, my Princess, let’s go see this trader and not keep him waiting,” he said, smiling at her, trying to sound positive.

The main hall where the frog people gathered to meet visitors from the outside worlds was a massive dome created from hundreds of giant green leaves, each easily thirty feet across. They allowed sunlight through them to give the inside a soft greenish light. As Alienbutt walked in he saw the envoy, standing in the centre of the dome. He was a tall human with long white hair and beard. He felt it strange that here in this dimension he was looking at someone who was definitely human. He was certain this was not some species that looked like them; he was looking at the real thing. As he approached, the figure turned to face him, breaking off conversation with four of the leaders of the frog people who stood around him. Alienbutt was taken aback by what he saw. He looked to be an older human by the white hair and long well-kept beard, but the eyes said so much more. Those eyes belonged to someone who had seen ages pass; this human, he knew, had seen hundreds of years of life. They both stood regarding each other for a while in silence.
“So you must be my friends’ visitor, Alienbutt, isn’t it?” the trader finally said with a smile. “My name is Stoney, I trade around these here systems.”
“You’ve made your new home a long way from Earth, Stoney,” Alienbutt said, returning the smile, and saw a flicker cross the old man’s face.
“Well that’s a name I haven’t heard in many years. Have you come from there?” he asked in some surprise.
Alienbutt nodded. Stoney hid his shock and then turned to the frog leaders. “I think I need to have a long sit down with your guest. It appears we have much in common.”

To be continued.
All images are mine.