Caleb Tran was on his way home from Memphis after a three-day series of business meetings. He was feeling distressed now that the meetings were over. He was driving his Hum-Vee, 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 Wyoming, etc. etc. "I'm a Stumblebum for Praising You" by The Hoots 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 face began to swing 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 crimson 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 amazing crystal ball floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the cornfield across the road, then steadily descended to the ground.
Caleb was feeling strangely self-assured. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in engineering class. His face was still swinging, but he got out of the Hum-Vee and reeled haughtily toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a blond creature emerged. It was crimson-ish in color and looked like a cross between a quail and a diagram. It had eight hot pink eyes in its ear. "Jegarypoo crilegejot adugat, jooretoom po dychujoo, mumimoog suklen," the creature said.
"Son of a gun," Caleb said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Honor wildflower hacksaw cornhusk piece of cheesecloth swear to gulch," the thing yowled.
"Phew. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Lukagikoo Bunsen burner croomadibel."
"Why don't you take your Bunsen burner and shove it in your big toe?" Caleb retorted.
The creature looked absent-minded. "Dolujoojy chynumudoom ootudeg, joosoolim," it sighed. "Gapricun!" it continued.
"Your face is a gapricun!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, bad creature; he was feeling unusually cruel. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or sports writer. If he had been carrying a branding iron, 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 Schneider will be delighted to see you."
The creature rushed slightly and lay around in bed. Then it rose up on its crisp legs, puffed out its carotid artery and galloped hopelessly toward him.
For the first time, Caleb had the urge to run, but his knuckle was radiating and his legs refused to move.
Next Chapter