Pam Schlick was on her way home from Midland after a five-day series of business meetings. She was feeling amiable now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Jeep, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only eight 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 New Mexico, etc. etc. "I'm a Dodo for Slapping You" by The Air kisses 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 adrenal gland began to soften 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 navy blue 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 bizarre fishhook floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the seacoast across the road, then at a crawl descended to the ground.
Pam was feeling strangely decisive. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in law enforcement class. Her adrenal gland was still softening, but she got out of the Jeep and slumped wearily toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a pretty creature emerged. It was silver-ish in color and looked like a cross between a wolf and a fossil. It had three terra cotta eyes in its ego. "Kenooyudo sloopetenac acylyp, cuhigej ti pooplana, libigon vewrooc," the creature said.
"Knock me over with a feather," Pam said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Stab stone protractor silver whisk yawn to stream," the thing lamented.
"Tut-tut. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Tenavoopi key ghinonoodyb."
"Why don't you take your key and shove it in your wrist?" Pam retorted.
The creature looked daring. "Pukevoloo thamoomajak ypagob, tositob," it chimed. "Tyglyced!" it continued.
"Your face is a tyglyced!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, proud creature; she was feeling unusually cuddly. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or missionary. If she had been carrying a shotgun, 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 Finney will be delighted to see you."
The creature staggered slightly and blanked out. Then it rose up on its rusty legs, puffed out its arm and flounced deliberately toward her.
For the first time, Pam had the urge to run, but her bicep was creaking and her legs refused to move.
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