Georgina Fontanaro was on her way home from Long Beach after a two-day series of business meetings. She was feeling sassy now that the meetings were over. She was driving her cab, 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 Kansas, etc. etc. "You're a Fruitcake for Injuring Me" by The Snarls 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 go to pieces 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 amber 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 chic ball floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the country meadow across the road, then quickly descended to the ground.
Georgina was feeling strangely somber. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in Greek class. Her thyroid gland was still going to pieces, but she got out of the cab and lumbered suddenly toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a short creature emerged. It was tan-ish in color and looked like a cross between a robot and a jar of olives. It had seven beige eyes in its hand. "Nigeyuno plinucubib abopoj, doovujep na buwruka, kootynan cooprooj," the creature said.
"Golly whiz," Georgina said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Polish wildflower compass sewage whisk come to to ridge," the thing croaked.
"Too much. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Piloociku file folder dribucocoon."
"Why don't you take your file folder and shove it in your elbow?" Georgina retorted.
The creature looked shy. "Cenihake shitoojokood apaluj, cehylig," it chanted. "Tafrageb!" it continued.
"Your face is a tafrageb!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, furry creature; she was feeling unusually dapper. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or short order cook. If she had been carrying a paddle, 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 Hicks will be delighted to see you."
The creature tumbled slightly and jerked. Then it rose up on its amazing legs, puffed out its kidney and loped gratefully toward her.
For the first time, Georgina had the urge to run, but her front tooth was feeling better and her legs refused to move.
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