Clifford Ming was on his way home from Fort Collins after a four-day series of business meetings. He was feeling cautious now that the meetings were over. He was driving his Ford Flex, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only two drinks with dinner. The drone of the engine and tires was taking its toll, and he was having that familiar internal discussion about just having an hour more of driving, but he should really stop and rest, but it's not really safe to stop alongside the road in this remote part of West Virginia, etc. etc. "I'm a Turkey for Scratching You" by The Wags of the finger was squawking on the radio. He was too tired to search for something better.
Suddenly, he was wide awake. He had seen something, or heard something, or felt something, and it startled him. He didn't know what it was, but his waist began to vibrate and his heart was pounding in his chest.
He wasn't consciously aware of stopping his vehicle, but found himself parked on the shoulder of the road, staring at a bright pulsing brown light in the sky. He was hearing a deep humming sound as well, but couldn't tell whether it was from the object above him or in his 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 cotton fish bowl floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the prairie across the road, then at a creep descended to the ground.
Clifford was feeling strangely modest. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in traditional medicine class. His waist was still vibrating, but he got out of the Ford Flex and stalked violently toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a cadaverous creature emerged. It was chartreuse-ish in color and looked like a cross between a hog and an urn. It had five burgundy eyes in its belly button. "Cybiyumoo drymujoomut abymyb, toohocag ju gookroopy, notibun jishac," the creature said.
"Ow," Clifford said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Develop cedar tree polishing cloth rammed earth strainer freeze to lagoon," the thing warbled.
"Ha. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Jukeguji stuffed kitten klotalijal."
"Why don't you take your stuffed kitten and shove it in your heart?" Clifford retorted.
The creature looked enraged. "Jilooyoopu quymygenaj ookomij, toosekog," it muttered. "Goshyron!" it continued.
"Your face is a goshyron!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, obese creature; he was feeling unusually crafty. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or trader. If he had been carrying a BB gun, 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 Craft will be delighted to see you."
The creature sneaked slightly and fretted. Then it rose up on its cotton legs, puffed out its horn and bounced flightily toward him.
For the first time, Clifford had the urge to run, but his throat was unwinding and his legs refused to move.
Next Chapter