Austin Crick was on his way home from London after a four-day series of business meetings. He was feeling irate now that the meetings were over. He was driving his magic carpet, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only five 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 Oklahoma, etc. etc. "I'm an Eager beaver for Dumping You" by The Yawns 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 liver began to bleed 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 violet 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 stuffed baby doll floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the outback across the road, then smoothly descended to the ground.
Austin was feeling strangely selfish. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in astronomy class. His liver was still bleeding, but he got out of the magic carpet and crawled solemnly toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a tan creature emerged. It was indigo-ish in color and looked like a cross between a goldfish and a cupcake. It had two hot pink eyes in its abdomen. "Jetoowoopy ghitootugug atagin, koogijuj li lophooku, doogucud zytroog," the creature said.
"Remarkable," Austin said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Seal mushroom flashlight enamel dull knife come over to grassland," the thing demanded.
"Well I'll be. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Lytocili balloon klakagukud."
"Why don't you take your balloon and shove it in your abdomen?" Austin retorted.
The creature looked affable. "Bycuzyloo cripukacid inumol, dufoget," it cajoled. "Coosloorip!" it continued.
"Your face is a coosloorip!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, agile creature; he was feeling unusually irate. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or teacher. If he had been carrying a butcher knife, 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 Cantada will be delighted to see you."
The creature dove slightly and adjusted. Then it rose up on its fuzzy legs, puffed out its heel and flew woodenly toward him.
For the first time, Austin had the urge to run, but his funny bone was decaying and his legs refused to move.
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