The window clicked shut and the smaller door opened.
Inside was a small courtyard that was sparsely decorated. It was obviously a reception area for anyone coming into the city, a small foyer before entering the city proper. They filed in through the door to gather in this area. As J?inn stepped through, the doorman held out his arm and blocked the way. He scrutinized the Kzin with his one good eye.
?Don?t I know you?? ha asked. J?inn was extremely nervous.
?Nope, never been here before.? He replied, not looking at the doorman and shuffling behind the Julins.
?Still,? the doormans voice took on an old, breathy, almost creaky quality, ?I never forget a facccce.? He stared at J?inn.
?Nope never been here before. That?s my story and I?m sticking to it.?
After a moment the doorman stopped staring and motioned toward the inner door.
Slowly it opened to reveal the main street through the city. If the skyline was staggering, the street was downright breathtaking.
Again the various purples provided a palette of palpable pandemonium (thpbt! type that 3 times fast!). The building were all different sizes with no two alike. Contrasts and blends abounded so that no one colour or design dominated. And yet they all complimented each other so the whole seemed almost incomplete without the others. Even the store fronts, landings, and porches and balconies were all decorated to match and yet be distinct.
The people moved to and fro, busy with their own business. They were not bipeds like our intrepid band. They were tripeds. 3 arms, 3 legs, 3 eyes, 3 ears. There even seemed to be 3 sexes. All of them coloured purple like the city around them. However, like the city, no two were alike. Different shades and even different patterns of the shades made everyone different so that even they blended with the city itself to form a moving almost poetic mass of colour. The only thing they all semmed to have in common were the smiles.
Everyone seemed happy.
?I never realized that there were so many shades of purple.? Thought Rolling, as she took in the view.
A carriage came into view, being pulled by a massive triped who, very UNlike the others was yellow.
?What is that?? J?inn blurted out as he neared them.
?Why that my friends,? replied the doorman ?Is a Hydran of a different colour! You've heard about him have you not?"