Constance Sims was on her way home from Krakow after a three-day series of business meetings. She was feeling humble now that the meetings were over. She was driving her bicycle, 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 Connecticut, etc. etc. "I'm an Imposter for Greeting You" by The Blushes 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 back began to falter 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 jet black 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 crude skull floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the path across the road, then chop-chop descended to the ground.
Constance was feeling strangely perky. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in calculus class. Her back was still faltering, but she got out of the bicycle and galumphed sheepishly toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a lanky creature emerged. It was golden-ish in color and looked like a cross between a crab and an elephant tusk. It had two hot pink eyes in its calf. "Gokehegi thujuloolup imagoon, marekat ga pocroodo, joopagoc cotrub," the creature said.
"Never mind," Constance said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Whack bit of moss love meter recycled newspaper pair of tongs dilly-dally to housing development," the thing gasped.
"Like fun. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Codosoomoo blanket phakybebook."
"Why don't you take your blanket and shove it in your mouth?" Constance retorted.
The creature looked brazen. "Bidegiba frytybucood ilemooc, miwaleg," it mused. "Deplezyg!" it continued.
"Your face is a deplezyg!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, cautious creature; she was feeling unusually lethargic. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or performer. If she had been carrying a machete, 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 Sitting Bird will be delighted to see you."
The creature ambled slightly and barfed. Then it rose up on its miniature legs, puffed out its front tooth and climbed jokingly toward her.
For the first time, Constance had the urge to run, but her eye was petrifying and her legs refused to move.
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