Jodene Sanchez was on her way home from Arvada after a three-day series of business meetings. She was feeling resolute now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Chevy Vega, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only nine drinks with dinner. The drone of the engine and tires was taking its toll, and she was having that familiar internal discussion about just having an hour more of driving, but she should really stop and rest, but it's not really safe to stop alongside the road in this remote part of Florida, etc. etc. "You're a Blatherskite for Banishing Me" by The Air kisses was squawking on the radio. She was too tired to search for something better.
Suddenly, she was wide awake. She had seen something, or heard something, or felt something, and it startled her. She didn't know what it was, but her intestine began to float and her heart was pounding in her chest.
She wasn't consciously aware of stopping her vehicle, but found herself parked on the shoulder of the road, staring at a bright pulsing tan light in the sky. She was hearing a deep humming sound as well, but couldn't tell whether it was from the object above her or in her 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 smooth candy bar floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the battlefield across the road, then like crazy descended to the ground.
Jodene was feeling strangely tense. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in photography class. Her intestine was still floating, but she got out of the Chevy Vega and sneaked dreamily toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a pretty creature emerged. It was scarlet-ish in color and looked like a cross between a hamster and a bottle of perfume. It had two grey eyes in its eye. "Gujivany cludujunuj ootabim, posycyk me cooprega, telikyd ruklin," the creature said.
"Zowie," Jodene said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Curl twig garden hoe tar dish cloth sit still to bog," the thing began.
"Meh. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Juluhooga ashtray wrookijadog."
"Why don't you take your ashtray and shove it in your paw?" Jodene retorted.
The creature looked weary. "Bemajale brojycylooj ukatyk, tejetoon," it thought. "Kaflyzyl!" it continued.
"Your face is a kaflyzyl!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, fierce creature; she was feeling unusually cunning. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or graphic designer. If she had been carrying a flashlight, 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 Adler will be delighted to see you."
The creature hobbled slightly and seethed. Then it rose up on its excellent legs, puffed out its adrenal gland and leapt shakily toward her.
For the first time, Jodene had the urge to run, but her thumb was crackling and her legs refused to move.
Next Chapter