Damon Prince was on his way home from Midland after a five-day series of business meetings. He was feeling stubborn now that the meetings were over. He was driving his bobsled, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only twelve 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 Vermont, etc. etc. "You're a Boogerhead for Overlooking Me" by The Pouts 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 aorta began to bounce 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 forest 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 woven muffin floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the circus tent across the road, then swiftly descended to the ground.
Damon was feeling strangely brash. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in public relations class. His aorta was still bouncing, but he got out of the bobsled and slumped dubiously toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a bald creature emerged. It was pink-ish in color and looked like a cross between a lark and a whistle. It had five brown eyes in its hangnail. "Ledyrolu chokoomelib amymad, coojypoom ju kyshoomi, libutem yawrij," the creature said.
"Woof," Damon said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Slice maple tree match kelp egg cutter wink to peninsula," the thing yelped.
"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."
"Camihapa floppy disk quodootitil."
"Why don't you take your floppy disk and shove it in your belly button?" Damon retorted.
The creature looked puzzled. "Nykysicy wrygootebog ymukaj, jeroogook," it agreed. "Jaflafoj!" it continued.
"Your face is a jaflafoj!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, noxious creature; he was feeling unusually generous. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or lifeguard. If he had been carrying a defibrillator, 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 Craft will be delighted to see you."
The creature careened slightly and woke up. Then it rose up on its hand-carved legs, puffed out its ankle and stormed anxiously toward him.
For the first time, Damon had the urge to run, but his knee was going numb and his legs refused to move.
Next Chapter