Margaret Crawford was on her way home from Saskatoon after a two-day series of business meetings. She was feeling cuddly now that the meetings were over. She was driving her streetcar, 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 she was having that familiar internal discussion about just having an hour more of driving, but she should really stop and rest, but it's not really safe to stop alongside the road in this remote part of New York, etc. etc. "You're a Ruffian for Whispering to Me" by The Evil eyes was squawking on the radio. She was too tired to search for something better.
Suddenly, she was wide awake. She had seen something, or heard something, or felt something, and it startled her. She didn't know what it was, but her head began to droop and her heart was pounding in her chest.
She wasn't consciously aware of stopping her vehicle, but found herself parked on the shoulder of the road, staring at a bright pulsing metallic red light in the sky. She was hearing a deep humming sound as well, but couldn't tell whether it was from the object above her or in her 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 amazing pen floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the range across the road, then like a snail descended to the ground.
Margaret was feeling strangely angry. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in food science class. Her head was still drooping, but she got out of the streetcar and darted anxiously toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a good looking creature emerged. It was khaki-ish in color and looked like a cross between a Doberman and a flag. It had seven scarlet eyes in its beard. "Mobucuta slulootoopyk ekapad, livypad po cidryjoo, tanudom yythel," the creature said.
"Huh," Margaret said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Unfold mulberry tree scraper peanut butter food processor scribble to gully," the thing exclaimed.
"Yowee. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Tigoohamoo compass kroojapatop."
"Why don't you take your compass and shove it in your front tooth?" Margaret retorted.
The creature looked silly. "Lumayely frakeminaj ybenag, noohatel," it phrased. "Lothoosed!" it continued.
"Your face is a lothoosed!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, evil creature; she was feeling unusually cantankerous. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or bicycle messenger. If she had been carrying a disarming smile, 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 Krivosha will be delighted to see you."
The creature crept slightly and growled. Then it rose up on its bizarre legs, puffed out its ego and breezed quietly toward her.
For the first time, Margaret had the urge to run, but her shoulder was rising and her legs refused to move.
Next Chapter