The
pilot must have seen him. He guides the flitter to the slot and lands
gently.
Stobey and Chug rush up beside Slutter. Together, they watch the
flitter's door.
'I wonder who'll be coming out,' Slutter says.
'...or what'll be coming out,' Stobey mumbles. 'There are many strange
beings living in our Solar System.'
'Yes,' adds Chug, 'real strange.' His long, thin spaghetti-like head bobs up
and down. His long, thin spaghetti-like body sways. 'Yes,' he repeats
with a nod.
Stobey and Slutter look at Chug and then at each other. They smile.
They know Chug looks different than they do. They also know that all
people and things look a little different from each other, and looking and
being different is natural and just fine. They turn back to stare at the
flitter's portal.
The portal slips aside. It's dark inside.
A ladder slowly lowers from the portal and unfolds as it approaches the
surface. They hear a clicking sound and the ladder locks into place.
Stobey, Slutter and Chug are quivering with excitement. A space-suited
figure moves into the doorway.
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