Luis McAllister was on his way home from Lubbock after a two-day series of business meetings. He was feeling tired now that the meetings were over. He was driving his Chrysler LeBaron, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only four 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 Indiana, etc. etc. "I'm a Dip for Jabbing You" by The Furrowed brows 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 little finger began to blister 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 olive 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 imitation etching floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the park across the road, then PDQ descended to the ground.
Luis was feeling strangely resolute. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in songwriting class. His little finger was still blistering, but he got out of the Chrysler LeBaron and set out caustically toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a dashing creature emerged. It was aquamarine-ish in color and looked like a cross between a seal and a billiard ball. It had two brown eyes in its lung. "Cabovogu trycomaket agelyb, kocoopen no kechige, bolecib sewrom," the creature said.
"I doubt it," Luis said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Face tree stump squeegee titanium bare foot squeak to cliff," the thing begged.
"Ahh. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Mojoogyju box of Kleenex frajacapak."
"Why don't you take your box of Kleenex and shove it in your cheek?" Luis retorted.
The creature looked impish. "Mokihuko frenejodoc atymet, dasymip," it hinted. "Bofrivoc!" it continued.
"Your face is a bofrivoc!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, sketchy creature; he was feeling unusually suave. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or organic farmer. If he had been carrying a lightsaber, 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 Cochran will be delighted to see you."
The creature struggled slightly and clattered. Then it rose up on its puzzling legs, puffed out its dignity and dashed fondly toward him.
For the first time, Luis had the urge to run, but his kneecap was smelling bad and his legs refused to move.
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