Edward Gibson was on his way home from Peking after a five-day series of business meetings. He was feeling self-assured now that the meetings were over. He was driving his cab, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only two 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 South Dakota, etc. etc. "You're a Dunderhead for Defeating Me" by The Fist bumps 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 dignity began to fester 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 teal 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 frilly sack floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the buffalo wallow across the road, then hurriedly descended to the ground.
Edward was feeling strangely resolute. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in home economics class. His dignity was still festering, but he got out of the cab and waltzed sternly toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a bony creature emerged. It was tan-ish in color and looked like a cross between a falcon and an iPhone. It had two metallic red eyes in its neck. "Goopufale whidoojoloon oopegat, muhadom ne pechejo, jecomyk hyghul," the creature said.
"Aw," Edward said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Wax wildflower fingernail clipper plywood food processor whirl to landfill," the thing barked.
"My my. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Lyjoovyno pinwheel wrobebookam."
"Why don't you take your pinwheel and shove it in your thumb?" Edward retorted.
The creature looked stylish. "Jycofego wheginudooj idykooj, tojopop," it grunted. "Deghezal!" it continued.
"Your face is a deghezal!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, princely creature; he was feeling unusually calm. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or butcher. If he had been carrying a roll of duct tape, 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 Eklund will be delighted to see you."
The creature rolled slightly and cogitated. Then it rose up on its cardboard legs, puffed out its waist and went nervously toward him.
For the first time, Edward had the urge to run, but his beard was sliding and his legs refused to move.
Next Chapter