Leslie Flores was on her way home from Wilmington after a four-day series of business meetings. She was feeling angry now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Chevy Volt, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only four 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 Idaho, etc. etc. "You're an Old biddy for Trying to control Me" 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 pancreas began to get hot 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 ivory 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 waxy bird bath floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the garden across the road, then lethargically descended to the ground.
Leslie was feeling strangely hysterical. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in law enforcement class. Her pancreas was still getting hot, but she got out of the Chevy Volt and danced miserably toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a neat creature emerged. It was jet black-ish in color and looked like a cross between a horse and a padlock. It had six metallic red eyes in its lung. "Doobejooci trokoonetyj adynap, kugajuj coo kechyby, bedynuj fowrug," the creature said.
"Righto," Leslie said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Unwrap rock drill Elmer's glue paring knife buzz to lakeside," the thing panted.
"Swell. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Pokihynoo pearl clekajoomoog."
"Why don't you take your pearl and shove it in your intestine?" Leslie retorted.
The creature looked gallant. "Goocerije ghobylidol alucol, jawygot," it continued. "Tytrezet!" it continued.
"Your face is a tytrezet!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, naïve creature; she was feeling unusually pensive. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or psychic. If she had been carrying a machete, 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 Marshall will be delighted to see you."
The creature dashed slightly and did the Hokey Pokey. Then it rose up on its huge legs, puffed out its arm and blundered cautiously toward her.
For the first time, Leslie had the urge to run, but her intestine was aggravating and her legs refused to move.
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