Ricky Hyde was on his way home from Poughkeepsie after a two-day series of business meetings. He was feeling lazy now that the meetings were over. He was driving his Ford Bronco, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only three 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 Connecticut, etc. etc. "You're a Brute for Loving Me" by The Chortles 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 antenna began to rumble 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 emerald green 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 valuable orchid floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the cliff across the road, then fleetly descended to the ground.
Ricky was feeling strangely relaxed. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in genetics class. His antenna was still rumbling, but he got out of the Ford Bronco and barrelled suavely toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a good looking creature emerged. It was magenta-ish in color and looked like a cross between a bear and a magnet. It had three indigo eyes in its scalp. "Tebiyamu prijunypoog ycookil, moogipon mo cafrobo, bijoopab jiprep," the creature said.
"Hee haw," Ricky said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Hang tree branch wire stripper slate bare foot burble to mountaintop," the thing growled.
"Malarkey. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Takozoomy contract shypyjejyn."
"Why don't you take your contract and shove it in your front tooth?" Ricky retorted.
The creature looked megalomaniacal. "Moobocymoo frobopatooj ojalec, cagoogom," it blathered. "Lacrocool!" it continued.
"Your face is a lacrocool!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, corpulent creature; he was feeling unusually woozy. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or pharmacist. If he had been carrying a six-shooter, 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 Mason will be delighted to see you."
The creature jumped slightly and came along. Then it rose up on its slimy legs, puffed out its shoulder and galumphed arrogantly toward him.
For the first time, Ricky had the urge to run, but his belly was wobbling and his legs refused to move.
Next Chapter