Henrietta Mitchell was on her way home from Bakersfield after a three-day series of business meetings. She was feeling shy now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Mitsubishi Galant, 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 Louisiana, etc. etc. "I'm an Old buzzard for Touching You" by The Smiles 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 arm began to close down 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 lime-green 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 prickly water bottle floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the seacoast across the road, then moderately descended to the ground.
Henrietta was feeling strangely drowsy. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in hair dressing class. Her arm was still closing down, but she got out of the Mitsubishi Galant and dashed gracefully toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a stocky creature emerged. It was terra cotta-ish in color and looked like a cross between a falcon and a deck of cards. It had eight amber eyes in its chin. "Mymugamo shycoobokook ametum, gezucym ne kifrida, bulykym coofrim," the creature said.
"Shame," Henrietta said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Inflate bit of moss sand blaster kelp candy thermometer daydream to canyon," the thing persisted.
"Congratulations. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Nydiveda Rubik's cube dridynokot."
"Why don't you take your Rubik's cube and shove it in your stomach?" Henrietta retorted.
The creature looked mournful. "Cunewyci shoomoobejit ydidup, megycuc," it yammered. "Moofluwap!" it continued.
"Your face is a moofluwap!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, loving creature; she was feeling unusually thoughtful. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or surgeon. If she had been carrying a Millwall brick, 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 Barton will be delighted to see you."
The creature clambered slightly and cogitated. Then it rose up on its multicolored legs, puffed out its appendix and tore sheepishly toward her.
For the first time, Henrietta had the urge to run, but her hangnail was peeling and her legs refused to move.
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