Bianca Day was on her way home from Wilmington after a two-day series of business meetings. She was feeling crafty now that the meetings were over. She was driving her ice cream truck, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only twelve 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 Louisiana, etc. etc. "You're a Maniac for Satisfying Me" by The Stiff upper lips 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 brain began to overheat 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 violet 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 gaudy clipboard floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the backyard across the road, then steadily descended to the ground.
Bianca was feeling strangely stubborn. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in deportment class. Her brain was still overheating, but she got out of the ice cream truck and waddled perkily toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a short creature emerged. It was grey-ish in color and looked like a cross between a hawk and a dead yeti. It had four beige eyes in its thigh. "Jinivekoo floonoojogik elelyk, myjegyl bu googrema, gigyloom zocrood," the creature said.
"Scat," Bianca said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Pat mushroom hacksaw cellophane blender crouch to moonscape," the thing chuckled.
"Quiet. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Jekuguky box of candy clalulagooc."
"Why don't you take your box of candy and shove it in your thigh?" Bianca retorted.
The creature looked witty. "Tynyjydy crajijamyt ucoogyc, mycepeb," it shrieked. "Niclisyl!" it continued.
"Your face is a niclisyl!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, cuddly creature; she was feeling unusually ambitious. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or astronaut. If she had been carrying a dart 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 Saint Pierre will be delighted to see you."
The creature struggled slightly and danced. Then it rose up on its hefty legs, puffed out its head and swung again toward her.
For the first time, Bianca had the urge to run, but her front tooth was curving and her legs refused to move.
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