Miguel Sludge was on his way home from New Delhi after a three-day series of business meetings. He was feeling calm now that the meetings were over. He was driving his Chevy Caprice, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only six 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 New Hampshire, etc. etc. "You're an Airhead for Loving Me" by The Growls 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 hairdo began to spin 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 sea green 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 burned spider floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the treetop across the road, then PDQ descended to the ground.
Miguel was feeling strangely cantankerous. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in environmental science class. His hairdo was still spinning, but he got out of the Chevy Caprice and made a beeline later toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon an elegant creature emerged. It was violet-ish in color and looked like a cross between a parakeet and a pipe. It had three jet black eyes in its waist. "Mydahute droodatinuj adinyg, jyjacic po bofrace, tecujep cabrim," the creature said.
"Ah," Miguel said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Unlock raspberry bush garden hose stainless steel paring knife carry on to countryside," the thing shouted.
"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."
"Cotoceku pair of knitting needles croojoobolood."
"Why don't you take your pair of knitting needles and shove it in your hairdo?" Miguel retorted.
The creature looked distressed. "Decygyde kralabedib acoobub, gysimin," it persisted. "Metrogek!" it continued.
"Your face is a metrogek!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, repulsive creature; he was feeling unusually resolute. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or diver. If he had been carrying a poison dart, 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 Gomez will be delighted to see you."
The creature zipped slightly and whistled. Then it rose up on its speckled legs, puffed out its leg and breezed sheepishly toward him.
For the first time, Miguel had the urge to run, but his pride was writhing and his legs refused to move.
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