SOURCE: A Hunger in the Soul by Mike Resnick (1998)

DESCRIPTION: "She walked upright, but her legs were short and slightlybowed, as if her very recent ancestors had lived in trees and had only recently decided to start dwelling on the ground. Her arms were not long like an ape's, but rather of normal size and lightly muscled, very much like a woman's. Her hands had long, lean fingers and opposable thumbs. But it was her skin that drew my immediate attention. It was scaly, not moist like a reptile's, but dry and crusty, looking almost like she had some disfiguring disease. There were regular eruptions, sharp points that stuck out at odd angles, furthering the illusion of a serous skin conditon..." (A Hunger in the Soul by Mike Resnick (1998)

NOTES: The People (as they call themselves) are given the name of Plug-Uglies or Plugs by Robert Markham. The Plugs have skin that looks diseased but is actually hard to protect them from the thorny environment. What appear to be open sores are actually glands secreting a natural insect repellent. The Plugs are perfectly suited for survival on Bushveld. They are peaceful and live quiet lives in a stockade-style village. The People are usually killed by the Orange-Eyes if caught out in the jungle.

HISTORY: The nicest bunch of ugly critters you'll ever find.

---