Chapter 40: Vronk Bread
The bakery door announced Coop’s presence with a friendly chime. Coop stepped inside and was greeted by the heavenly smell of fresh bread. A wide display counter separated the front of the bakery from double doors that led into the back section. The lovely aromas wafted from unseen ovens behind the doors.
Coop took his time checking all of the displays. It was a bit different than what he expected. He thought there would be all sorts of baked goods, pastries, cookies, and cakes. Instead, he only found bread. A huge variety of bread that was all carefully displayed behind the glass. It seemed like this particular baker was especially fond of baking bread and really nothing else.
Coop wasn’t any kind of expert on all of the different types, but judging by the shapes and colors of the different loafs, this baker produced an extravagant assortment of bread. He didn’t think there were analogs for most of it on Earth. Unless there was a blue baguette he didn’t know about, the alien baker baked lots of alien bread.
The double doors exploded outward and a huge monster stepped forward. It was so large it had to hunch to fit beneath the ceiling and could only fit through the doorway because it was twice as wide as a regular door. Even then, it was a close call. Coop only vaguely registered the white chef’s uniform and the red apron that matched the red chef hat before his spear was in his hand.
It was an odd outfit for an ogre. Coop didn’t get a chance to react to the monster’s dramatic entrance. The ogre prepared to roar.
“You want Vronk bread?” The roar came out as a cordial question instead.
Coop quickly dismissed his spear, embarrassed at his inability to expect the unpredictable aliens every time.
“What’s Vronk bread?” Coop managed to respond, nearly with politeness despite his quavering voice.
“Me…” The ogre began before pausing, “I Vronk.” He corrected himself. “Vronk bake bread.”
“You’re Vronk?” Coop asked, and the ogre ducked his head further to nod. “You’re the baker?” Coop continued, and the ogre ducked his head a second time.
Coop accepted the situation, “Okay, I’m Coop, the Champion. Welcome to the settlement, Vronk.”
“You want Vronk bread?” The ogre asked again as a response.