Shepard Dingwell was on his way home from London after a two-day series of business meetings. He was feeling shy now that the meetings were over. He was driving his panel truck, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only seven 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 Colorado, etc. etc. "You're a Wretch for Educating Me" by The Gurgles 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 earlobe began to act weird 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 aquamarine 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 speckled urn floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the cliff across the road, then hastily descended to the ground.
Shepard was feeling strangely queer. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in gaming class. His earlobe was still acting weird, but he got out of the panel truck and tore hopelessly toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a thin creature emerged. It was jet black-ish in color and looked like a cross between a gopher and a flower. It had four sea green eyes in its thumb. "Nunesodoo crabilotit odobul, mizikyp jo japlubu, bobeduc fiwhyc," the creature said.
"Horse feathers," Shepard said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Re-evaluate sea shell sickle tin basting brush clap to meadow," the thing chattered.
"Encore. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Gojoorutu accordion phekoolutil."
"Why don't you take your accordion and shove it in your carotid artery?" Shepard retorted.
The creature looked contented. "Jemewime krekedoobyl ookajoon, levedood," it articulated. "Pebregak!" it continued.
"Your face is a pebregak!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, athletic creature; he was feeling unusually self-confident. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or judge. If he had been carrying a vial of poison, 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 Matthews will be delighted to see you."
The creature dashed slightly and got frazzled. Then it rose up on its tiny legs, puffed out its mouth and loped rapidly toward him.
For the first time, Shepard had the urge to run, but his paw was flaking off and his legs refused to move.
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