Cindi Murdoch was on her way home from Trenton after a five-day series of business meetings. She was feeling cunning now that the meetings were over. She was driving her moped, 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 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 New Hampshire, etc. etc. "I'm a Nag for Loving You" by The Furrowed brows 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 little finger began to wrinkle 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 grey 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 sophisticated bat floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the rainforest across the road, then promptly descended to the ground.
Cindi was feeling strangely cheerful. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in botany class. Her little finger was still wrinkling, but she got out of the moped and waddled busily toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a dinky creature emerged. It was rose-ish in color and looked like a cross between a walrus and a fire hose. It had three maroon eyes in its stomach. "Jatyfyloo pribadonod oocucuj, tecoleg cy naflyto, lijenyg yowhood," the creature said.
"Holy cats," Cindi said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Neglect apple tree staple gun sawdust meat tenderizer sniffle to river," the thing gabbed.
"Holy buckets. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Mapisige spinning wheel dramojootut."
"Why don't you take your spinning wheel and shove it in your rib?" Cindi retorted.
The creature looked noxious. "Butezaboo klakutoomet ibocooc, tevinol," it hummed. "Ladrufac!" it continued.
"Your face is a ladrufac!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, prissy creature; she was feeling unusually cruel. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or woodworker. If she had been carrying a butterfly net, 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 Beversdorf will be delighted to see you."
The creature loped slightly and puffed. Then it rose up on its abnormal legs, puffed out its femur and darted effortlessly toward her.
For the first time, Cindi had the urge to run, but her midriff was swinging and her legs refused to move.
Next Chapter