Corbin Wagner was on his way home from Denton after a two-day series of business meetings. He was feeling tense now that the meetings were over. He was driving his Jaguar, 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 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 Virginia, etc. etc. "I'm a Twerp for Tripping You" by The Sniffles 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 Adam's apple began to darken 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 terra cotta 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 original notebook floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the backyard across the road, then imperceptibly descended to the ground.
Corbin was feeling strangely sarcastic. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in business class. His Adam's apple was still darkening, but he got out of the Jaguar and slumped immediately toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a blushing creature emerged. It was rose-ish in color and looked like a cross between a prairie dog and a feather duster. It had five hot pink eyes in its chest. "Kupogocoo thoogapoopol obidej, livicuc bi ciquico, mimecab jewrooj," the creature said.
"I'm sure," Corbin said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Hide mulberry tree wire stripper nylon dish cloth crouch to hill," the thing exploded.
"Boo. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Jucajyky clock slanegegyj."
"Why don't you take your clock and shove it in your piehole?" Corbin retorted.
The creature looked choleric. "Jygojeloo ghepukadyk okacul, peyykil," it hummed. "Nooplujej!" it continued.
"Your face is a nooplujej!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, sophisticated creature; he was feeling unusually distressed. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or parent. If he had been carrying a set of nunchucks, 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 Peng will be delighted to see you."
The creature rolled slightly and chattered. Then it rose up on its old legs, puffed out its toe and ambled charmingly toward him.
For the first time, Corbin had the urge to run, but his elbow was getting wonky and his legs refused to move.
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