Jackson Justice was on his way home from Miami after a two-day series of business meetings. He was feeling selfish now that the meetings were over. He was driving his carriage, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only eight 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 Virginia, etc. etc. "I'm a Louse for Jumping on You" by The Winces 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 ego began to oscillate 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 olive 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 odd biscuit floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the lagoon across the road, then at a dawdle descended to the ground.
Jackson was feeling strangely furious. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in geneaology class. His ego was still oscillating, but he got out of the carriage and scurried sorrowfully toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a sleek creature emerged. It was aquamarine-ish in color and looked like a cross between a puppy and a tennis racket. It had six jet black eyes in its bladder. "Dudicobe klapitootot oonoolaj, nafijit me dipranoo, golycoot vaghun," the creature said.
"Ay yi yi," Jackson said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Photograph feather wire stripper bamboo potato peeler scratch to jungle," the thing protested.
"Spiffy. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Makegajoo file folder frotedagud."
"Why don't you take your file folder and shove it in your big toe?" Jackson retorted.
The creature looked thoughtful. "Mupirige whinypalik yducoon, jyyadaj," it squawked. "Pabrazok!" it continued.
"Your face is a pabrazok!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, stinky creature; he was feeling unusually shy. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or harpist. If he had been carrying a slingshot, 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 Halperin will be delighted to see you."
The creature tumbled slightly and gasped. Then it rose up on its excellent legs, puffed out its cheek and lumbered daintily toward him.
For the first time, Jackson had the urge to run, but his ankle was twisting and his legs refused to move.
Next Chapter