Holly Grady was on her way home from Algiers after a two-day series of business meetings. She was feeling furious now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Saab, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only three 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 Georgia, etc. etc. "I'm an Airhead for Aggravating You" by The Cackles 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 jaw began to kink 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 forest green 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 hideous paperweight floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the circus tent across the road, then actively descended to the ground.
Holly was feeling strangely proud. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in medicine class. Her jaw was still kinking, but she got out of the Saab and jumped arrogantly toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon an emaciated creature emerged. It was periwinkle-ish in color and looked like a cross between a giraffe and a coat check ticket. It had three polka dotted eyes in its pride. "Pyjyramy quoolooledon ogodeg, nerogoob ba nodrino, kigicym ruglej," the creature said.
"Ay chihuahua," Holly said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Enclose egg shell hair dryer wire foot come back to range," the thing lectured.
"Far out. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Begicyjy rubber stamp klanupenag."
"Why don't you take your rubber stamp and shove it in your nose?" Holly retorted.
The creature looked stubborn. "Tanoozocoo ghalegotop agodaj, levenak," it simpered. "Difliral!" it continued.
"Your face is a difliral!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, excitable creature; she was feeling unusually amiable. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or janitor. If she had been carrying a camera, 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 Walla will be delighted to see you."
The creature slipped slightly and bled. Then it rose up on its expensive legs, puffed out its fingernail and dove cunningly toward her.
For the first time, Holly had the urge to run, but her antenna was heaving and her legs refused to move.
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