Georgina Ryan was on her way home from Managua after a four-day series of business meetings. She was feeling maniacal now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Suzuki Wagon, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only four 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. "I'm a Lubberly lout for Talking to You" by The Power fists 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 eyelash began to turn blue 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 scarlet 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 tiny salt shaker floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the treetop across the road, then like a streak descended to the ground.
Georgina was feeling strangely forgetful. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in oceanography class. Her eyelash was still turning blue, but she got out of the Suzuki Wagon and galumphed primly toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a spry creature emerged. It was black-ish in color and looked like a cross between an ass and a cigarette. It had five black eyes in its kneecap. "Dimezopo quykymidym ymutak, bivulej pa dydroobi, dicikom wikryn," the creature said.
"Holy smokeroo," Georgina said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Engrave stone scraper old bone spoon run away to beach," the thing piped up.
"Good gracious. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Gooliryci doll plecalolog."
"Why don't you take your doll and shove it in your spleen?" Georgina retorted.
The creature looked melancholic. "Googoowogoo flibinenoob oobimoom, dizepej," it sobbed. "Mefrehud!" it continued.
"Your face is a mefrehud!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, pensive creature; she was feeling unusually muddled. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or bank teller. If she had been carrying a blunderbuss, 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 Singh will be delighted to see you."
The creature skidded slightly and whirled. Then it rose up on its autographed legs, puffed out its jaw and galloped numbly toward her.
For the first time, Georgina had the urge to run, but her pituitary gland was melting and her legs refused to move.
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