Benjamin Law was on his way home from Tacoma after a two-day series of business meetings. He was feeling distressed now that the meetings were over. He was driving his Ferrari, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only nine 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 North Carolina, etc. etc. "I'm a Sap for Deceiving You" 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 chest began to turn black 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 scarlet 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 electric cream puff floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the buffalo wallow across the road, then like a streak descended to the ground.
Benjamin was feeling strangely cuddly. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in German class. His chest was still turning black, but he got out of the Ferrari and walked fervently toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a pale creature emerged. It was teal-ish in color and looked like a cross between a swan and a basket. It had four silver eyes in its spine. "Kopyrooce chulonepid oninyk, newimyp po jyflubo, cygegoj gyslyp," the creature said.
"Thpft," Benjamin said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Scrub fern eyelash curler drywall fork groan to rainforest," the thing complained.
"Easy peasy. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Coocuvuce ball shydydemig."
"Why don't you take your ball and shove it in your claw?" Benjamin retorted.
The creature looked repulsive. "Tijevaco krynagepol aguboom, tirybyt," it answered. "Gaphiyun!" it continued.
"Your face is a gaphiyun!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, intelligent creature; he was feeling unusually crafty. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or oboist. If he had been carrying a bazooka, 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 Chandler will be delighted to see you."
The creature zipped slightly and sniffled. Then it rose up on its golden legs, puffed out its lung and flounced stealthily toward him.
For the first time, Benjamin had the urge to run, but his ankle was swinging and his legs refused to move.
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