The aging outlander opened the hanger door and gestured for Armitage to follow him inside.
   “Impressive,” said Armitage. He whistled through the gap in his front teeth. “I was expecting to see some form of gasbag, yet instead I am presented with a fabulous, yet most curious, device. It looks much like a giant bird, yet constructed from timbers, canvas and string. What name did you call your machine by? A horny-”
   “An ornithopter. It is a ship of the air, a craft designed to fly by the flapping of wings in imitation of birds and insects.”
   “Designed to fly? Have you not yet tested the craft?”
   “My work upon it is only this day completed. I will fly her tomorrow, weather permitting. Would you care to join me?”
   “My dear Bhaing, I was born for adventure. Of course I will join you; I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
   “Or any other world, aye?” suggested the outlander. “Have a look ’round, make yourself at home. I’ll fix you up with a bed roll.”
   “Thanks, but I have my own,” replied Armitage. He wandered over to a row of shelves containing an eclectic collection of wooden carvings. “Did you make these?”
   “Aye, whittling helps to keep my mind occupied in between tinkering with the flying machine.”
   Armitage picked up a carving that resembled one of the ducks he’d seen whilst peering through Bhaing’s telescope. He examined it with admiration.
   “You like my toys, mister Armitage? It is a model of a Lette duck.”
   “I like it very much. I’ve a young daughter back home in Doulton and I figure she’d like this here toy Lette duck. Would you sell it, Bhaing?”
   “Darn right I’d sell it. That is if the price were right.”
   “Ah, yes, money. I fear that I am embarrassed by my current financial status, for my purse is empty, my lime skayles all spent.”
   “Ha, then you may have it, my friend. I can always make another. Now come, get some rest, for tomorrow we fly.”

   The following day found Armitage and the outlandish aviator aboard the ornithopter, flapping through the clouds in the wake of a flight of lemon cifs.
   Several hours had already come and gone when suddenly Bhaing indicated to Armitage that he should look to starboard. “Land ahoy,” he said. “Harness yourself; I’m taking us in to land.”
   The ornithopter hopped, bumped, skipped and jumped across the smooth white plain of the mysterious new world, coming to rest before an enormous hoarding that surrounded a partially-demolished wooden shack.
   Armitage stepped down from the flying machine and studied a poster that had been pasted haphazardly onto the timber slats. “What do you make of this,” he said, gesturing towards the sign.
   Bhaing read the words aloud. “Beware of the gargantuan golden hound, for it comes to steal our quilted sheets. Huh! Whatever can it mean?”
   Abruptly, a door in the hoarding creaked open and a strange looking man stepped through the gap accompanied by an equally strange looking woman; both of them having silver complexions.
   “Howdoo pards,” said the man. “Yous-a lookin a lot like strangers to these parts. Where’ve yous travelled from? Bharrf, perhaps?”
   “I am not familiar with this place you call Bharff. My friend and I are from Rimworld,” replied Armitage.
   “I’ll have none’a’yer ol’ flannel now pard, none’a’yer soft soap. Rimworld be just a myth.”
   “I can assure you that Rimworld is not a myth, for it is from that very place that we have journeyed,” said Armitage. He stepped forward and offered his hand in friendship. “My name is Armitage Shanks, and this is my good friend, the aviator, Cillit Bhaing.”
   At this, the woman began hopping around and waving her arms excitedly. “Don’t you be a-liss’nin’ t’ none o’ their nonsense, huzbun-a mine. These varmints are feeden uz krapp, talkin' shyte they are.”
   “Foul wench!” exclaimed the silver-skinned man. “Get yo head insi’ the shack an’ wash yo mouth out wit’ soap.” He stepped forward and shook the hand that Armitage had offered. “Ma apologies gen-tel-men, the woman needs-a wupp'n. My names Pluhgg, Fawcett Pluhgg, an this here’s ma mad ass wife Mixie-Tapp. On behalf of my people, I would like to officially welcome you to W’Shan Baysun.”