And the most colourful. His skin was sky blue. His hair and beard were green. His eyes – all seven of them – were pink. He was wearing red shorts and a golden vest. He had no legs or arms that Peri could see – just two big feet that poked out of the shorts, and two hands that poked out of the sleeves of the vest. He was short, reaching only to Peri’s chest. He looked rather like a multicoloured penguin. ‘Oh, you saved me!’ he said. His voice sounded like a swarm of crickets having an argument with a swarm of bees. ‘Oh, my lovely saviours, my oh-so-special saviours!’ ‘It was nothing,’ Peri said. ‘Anyone would have –’ ‘Oh no, you are special. So trusting and generous,’ the Fooswaylian said, and waddled towards Peri and Diesel at surprising speed. His flipper-like hands extended and hugged them together tightly. He jumped up and down, making Peri and Diesel bounce up and down with him. ‘S’fâh!’ said Diesel. ‘There’s no need to –’ The Fooswaylian backed off.
