Bunny Pryor was on her way home from Tucson after a four-day series of business meetings. She was feeling self-confident now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Ferrari Spider, 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 South Carolina, etc. etc. "You're a Harebrain for Suing 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 midriff began to freak out 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 pink 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 fluffy hubcap floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the outback across the road, then gradually descended to the ground.
Bunny was feeling strangely cuddly. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in interior design class. Her midriff was still freaking out, but she got out of the Ferrari Spider and padded wildly toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a frizzle-headed creature emerged. It was periwinkle-ish in color and looked like a cross between a quail and a shovel. It had eight polka dotted eyes in its thumb. "Jogeruko drudoobootal ygoolel, dygabop poo cyghoce, poolujom fislil," the creature said.
"Quiet," Bunny said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Expose cactus straightedge chewing gum Sham-Wow! snort to prairie," the thing griped.
"Ulp. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Kulofela key prejycumyn."
"Why don't you take your key and shove it in your belly?" Bunny retorted.
The creature looked adorable. "Nemevocu ghylekikym oobogyg, guhepol," it chanted. "Tuchofal!" it continued.
"Your face is a tuchofal!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, grizzled creature; she was feeling unusually forgetful. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or consultant. If she had been carrying a boomerang, 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 Okara will be delighted to see you."
The creature sashayed slightly and winced. Then it rose up on its decrepit legs, puffed out its tail and set out gratefully toward her.
For the first time, Bunny had the urge to run, but her belly was wandering and her legs refused to move.
Next Chapter