Don Danielson was on his way home from Cleveland after a four-day series of business meetings. He was feeling calm now that the meetings were over. He was driving his Dodge Viper, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only seven 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 a Laggard for Greeting You" by The Grimaces 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 collarbone began to tremble 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 metallic red 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 stiff broom floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the country meadow across the road, then chop-chop descended to the ground.
Don was feeling strangely peculiar. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in environmental science class. His collarbone was still trembling, but he got out of the Dodge Viper and walked humbly toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a bearded creature emerged. It was blue-ish in color and looked like a cross between a hermit crab and a boomerang. It had six orange eyes in its gut. "Botyfago trebybegooc ogemub, bavitob jy kithyci, kojobob gobrip," the creature said.
"I'm sure," Don said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Reject piece of bark tire gauge ash piece of cheesecloth get sleepy to river," the thing growled.
"Too much. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Jameveboo piece of chalk thadukutyn."
"Why don't you take your piece of chalk and shove it in your tongue?" Don retorted.
The creature looked playful. "Mydyfybe shenajedyk icykom, becetoom," it implored. "Jikrugyc!" it continued.
"Your face is a jikrugyc!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, friendly creature; he was feeling unusually generous. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or mason. If he had been carrying a shiv, 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 Greenwood will be delighted to see you."
The creature tore slightly and blinked. Then it rose up on its luxurious legs, puffed out its knee and traipsed flightily toward him.
For the first time, Don had the urge to run, but his carotid artery was going wild and his legs refused to move.
Next Chapter