Noah Jensen was on his way home from Belfast after a two-day series of business meetings. He was feeling cunning now that the meetings were over. He was driving his Ford Mustang, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only five drinks with dinner. The drone of the engine and tires was taking its toll, and he was having that familiar internal discussion about just having an hour more of driving, but he should really stop and rest, but it's not really safe to stop alongside the road in this remote part of Nevada, etc. etc. "You're an Old coot for Jumping on Me" by The Laughs was squawking on the radio. He was too tired to search for something better.
Suddenly, he was wide awake. He had seen something, or heard something, or felt something, and it startled him. He didn't know what it was, but his thorax began to blossom and his heart was pounding in his chest.
He wasn't consciously aware of stopping his vehicle, but found himself parked on the shoulder of the road, staring at a bright pulsing black light in the sky. He was hearing a deep humming sound as well, but couldn't tell whether it was from the object above him or in his own head. The radio for some reason was silent. The light grew larger as it approached, and it began to take on a shape, sort of like a huge small billfold floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the countryside across the road, then imperceptibly descended to the ground.
Noah was feeling strangely affable. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in dance class. His thorax was still blossoming, but he got out of the Ford Mustang and whirled effortlessly toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a well-built creature emerged. It was camouflage-ish in color and looked like a cross between a lovebird and a key. It had two fuchsia eyes in its buttocks. "Bepoohapo gridetacej aluloc, kusanil my notrumi, jotogut fyghut," the creature said.
"Cowabunga," Noah said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Shake dead fish broom fur chopstick seethe to mesa," the thing interrupted.
"Alrighty-roo. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Lelasoomoo whistle quelookyjom."
"Why don't you take your whistle and shove it in your finger?" Noah retorted.
The creature looked solitary. "Cojoosaca fromunadud edogod, cayookub," it declaimed. "Lisloocab!" it continued.
"Your face is a lisloocab!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, pesky creature; he was feeling unusually hysterical. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or pawnbroker. If he had been carrying a scimitar, the conversation might have taken a very different turn.
"So, what are you here for? I suppose you want me to take you to my leader. I'm sure President Burns will be delighted to see you."
The creature jogged slightly and snored. Then it rose up on its mysterious legs, puffed out its kneecap and slipped dolefully toward him.
For the first time, Noah had the urge to run, but his pinky was sinking and his legs refused to move.
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