Bendy nodded and the kangaroo-like creature inclined his furry head in acknowledgment to Alis and Don. Then he—Don had already stopped thinking of the creature as an "it"—formed two words with his tapering, black-nailed fingers.
Pleasant, he communicated. "Gizl." And he tapped his chest.
Don turned to Bendy. "Now can I ask him?"
"With His Majesty's permission," Bendy said solemnly.
Hector nodded. Don left the three names intact, distributing the rest, then put three squares together to spell Man. He pointed to the word and then to Civek, Bendy, Alis and himself, excluding the creature.
"Well, I like that!" Alis said. "Do I look like a man?"
"Let's keep it simple, woman," Don said.
The creature nodded and pointed again to Gizl, then to himself, "He doesn't understand," Don said.
"It's quite possible his people don't have individual names," Bendy said. "Let's call him Gizl for now and go on."
"Okay." Don thought for a moment, then formed a question. "Might as well get basic," he said.