Sissy Mitchell was on her way home from Abilene after a five-day series of business meetings. She was feeling ambitious 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 Tennessee, etc. etc. "You're a Wraith for Encouraging Me" by The Sneers 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 carotid artery began to float 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 hot pink 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 thick oriental vase floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the landfill across the road, then deliberately descended to the ground.
Sissy was feeling strangely shy. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in archaeology class. Her carotid artery was still floating, but she got out of the cab and waded sadly toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a white creature emerged. It was pea green-ish in color and looked like a cross between a worm and an elephant tusk. It had three aqua eyes in its brain. "Tudesipu plytitetig yjoten, mywoopid goo kooghagoo, tootagyg vyklem," the creature said.
"Anyhow," Sissy said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Observe fallen tree wrench flour paste egg cutter rest to outback," the thing ranted.
"For cryin' out loud. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Mimyvyli beach ball ghoniligooj."
"Why don't you take your beach ball and shove it in your appendix?" Sissy retorted.
The creature looked brassy. "Nalooseco groobijaget itokuc, jevelic," it provoked. "Jithuyuj!" it continued.
"Your face is a jithuyuj!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, big creature; she was feeling unusually pensive. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or escort. If she had been carrying an insult, 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 Poole will be delighted to see you."
The creature slithered slightly and dealt cards. Then it rose up on its stolen legs, puffed out its skull and whirled sharply toward her.
For the first time, Sissy had the urge to run, but her nostril was shriveling and her legs refused to move.
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