Angelo Greer was on his way home from Madrid after a three-day series of business meetings. He was feeling calm now that the meetings were over. He was driving his Studebaker, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only twelve 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 Iowa, etc. etc. "You're an Imp for Drawing strength from Me" by The Coos 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 rib began to snap 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 olive drab 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 plastic cowbell floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the path across the road, then like crazy descended to the ground.
Angelo was feeling strangely crafty. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in programming class. His rib was still snapping, but he got out of the Studebaker and scampered unabashedly toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a youthful creature emerged. It was khaki-ish in color and looked like a cross between a deer and a bird bath. It had five scarlet eyes in its spinal cord. "Nubuyipoo glicoodunyp utookyp, lucoocol joo noplele, dajalaj hithal," the creature said.
"Yowsers," Angelo said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Analyze bear track jackhammer flax corkscrew nod off to pond," the thing urged.
"Gosh almighty. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Tagogala photograph cripyjulag."
"Why don't you take your photograph and shove it in your ear?" Angelo retorted.
The creature looked bouncy. "Tytyyooka glagunanoc ynipab, jerucik," it yelped. "Kosliroom!" it continued.
"Your face is a kosliroom!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, presumptuous creature; he was feeling unusually sassy. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or priest. If he had been carrying an insult, 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 Chesney will be delighted to see you."
The creature zoomed slightly and carried on. Then it rose up on its woven legs, puffed out its belly and jumped temperamentally toward him.
For the first time, Angelo had the urge to run, but his collarbone was twinkling and his legs refused to move.
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