Michelle Benishek was on her way home from Montreal after a four-day series of business meetings. She was feeling calm now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Studebaker, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only five 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 Virgin Islands, etc. etc. "You're a Jerk for Analyzing Me" by The Glares 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 foot began to loosen up 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 olive drab 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 rare corncob floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the tundra across the road, then like a streak descended to the ground.
Michelle was feeling strangely carefree. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in Latin class. Her foot was still loosening up, but she got out of the Studebaker and sneaked courageously toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon an olive creature emerged. It was fuchsia-ish in color and looked like a cross between a dromedary and a bicycle. It had eight striped eyes in its vein. "Kamejikoo shykalogit imagij, jahyjag ca cagreku, likimyd jogrym," the creature said.
"Bilge," Michelle said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Roast seed pod curling iron wood paring knife hiccup to garden," the thing fantasized.
"Very funny. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Gyloozoto fork thamukybood."
"Why don't you take your fork and shove it in your fingernail?" Michelle retorted.
The creature looked adorable. "Loogiyacu wrabekogip ymegym, kisodim," it cried. "Poothooyyd!" it continued.
"Your face is a poothooyyd!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, taciturn creature; she was feeling unusually cautious. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or researcher. If she had been carrying a flamethrower, 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 Shakewell will be delighted to see you."
The creature ambled slightly and cleared out. Then it rose up on its charming legs, puffed out its wig and slipped bitterly toward her.
For the first time, Michelle had the urge to run, but her knuckle was growing and her legs refused to move.
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