Lynn Weber was on his way home from Baltimore after a two-day series of business meetings. He was feeling cautious now that the meetings were over. He was driving his Dodge Ram, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only eleven 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 Michigan, etc. etc. "I'm a Pervert for Spilling a gin fizz on You" by The Twitches 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 adrenal gland began to feel heavy 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 orange 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 plain acorn floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the range across the road, then deliberately descended to the ground.
Lynn was feeling strangely dumb. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in hair dressing class. His adrenal gland was still feeling heavy, but he got out of the Dodge Ram and tramped obediently toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a winsome creature emerged. It was brilliant orange-ish in color and looked like a cross between a bat and a washrag. It had seven indigo eyes in its eyeball. "Mebugoce troogibumap ilubop, kavimyn loo jikruma, pebonyt wokril," the creature said.
"Alas," Lynn said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Jab stick heat gun post and beam spoon moan to moonscape," the thing snarled.
"Kazow. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Debowyku can of beer frejoobiceg."
"Why don't you take your can of beer and shove it in your larynx?" Lynn retorted.
The creature looked rugged. "Todejykoo whomyjoonil ipootyg, nifimyc," it hinted. "Kuwhyjyp!" it continued.
"Your face is a kuwhyjyp!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, tired creature; he was feeling unusually daring. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or shopkeeper. If he had been carrying a stick of dynamite, 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 Osaka will be delighted to see you."
The creature sallied forth slightly and did the Hokey Pokey. Then it rose up on its worn legs, puffed out its hairdo and climbed solemnly toward him.
For the first time, Lynn had the urge to run, but his little finger was quivering and his legs refused to move.
Next Chapter