Bolden's Pets

Lee Bolden, a weary Earth trader, flies into the mist‑shrouded peaks of Van Daamas, hoping to strike a deal with the mountain‑dwelling natives. Carrying an odd-numbered trove of radar goggles, carbines and ammunition, he follows their strict exchange ritual while a strange fever courses through his veins. The locals, whose eyesight pierces the perpetual fog, value the high‑tech vision aids more than weapons, and their quiet leader offers a single, inscrutable wicker basket in return.

As Bolden waits for the council’s verdict, the alien’s patience is tested by a brewing storm and the trader’s worsening condition. He must decide whether to trust the enigmatic gift, the ominous blue‑stained arrow, and the promise that the natives will return in a few days. The uneasy partnership hints at cultural misunderstandings and the fragile balance between curiosity and survival on an alien frontier.