Beverly Grayheels was on her way home from Lexington after a five-day series of business meetings. She was feeling queer now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Chevy Camaro, 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 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 Mississippi, etc. etc. "You're a Pig for Manipulating 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 thyroid gland began to get sticky 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 pea 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 delicate baby doll floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the marsh across the road, then ploddingly descended to the ground.
Beverly was feeling strangely amiable. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in meteorology class. Her thyroid gland was still getting sticky, but she got out of the Chevy Camaro and marched defiantly toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a good looking creature emerged. It was hot pink-ish in color and looked like a cross between an ostrich and a twig. It had three scarlet eyes in its mouth. "Califalo drijynubij yjylut, boohybot di dyshini, poodegam yyprin," the creature said.
"Indeed," Beverly said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Demolish feather wire cutter felt strainer sniff to crime scene," the thing growled.
"Puppy biscuits. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Numiyaty coupon slokogejoon."
"Why don't you take your coupon and shove it in your eyebrow?" Beverly retorted.
The creature looked amiable. "Jecovyna pregikujoot iponyd, diwanet," it vouched. "Pewreyook!" it continued.
"Your face is a pewreyook!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, intrepid creature; she was feeling unusually amiable. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or system administrator. If she had been carrying a water balloon, 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 Banks will be delighted to see you."
The creature bolted slightly and bounced. Then it rose up on its dirty legs, puffed out its chest and staggered excitedly toward her.
For the first time, Beverly had the urge to run, but her kneecap was turning around and her legs refused to move.
Next Chapter