Chapter 67: A mountain and a pebble.
Around the docks and on the shore, the curious chatter that Sloan couldn't understand started to go silent. As Sloan stood there staring up at the great ruler of the Dagerstanteens, the general din hushed.
“Human?" Octnavin's voice was hard as granite, and his English sounded like the alien was weighing every word. “Why have you come here?"
“I came to…" Sloan thought about a hundred things he could say. None of his ideas were suitable. Octnavin was a ruler, a warrior, a king. Here, at this moment, Sloan had to honor the alien's position. They were not alone where he could say what was really on his mind. He supposed that he would just have to call Octnavin a d**k later.
“Speak, Human." Octnavin stared down at him, and his green eyes looked like sea-
