Richard Sorensen was on his way home from Panama City after a three-day series of business meetings. He was feeling stubborn now that the meetings were over. He was driving his Mini Cooper, 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 Alaska, etc. etc. "You're a Hothead for Dating Me" by The Smiles 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 horn began to droop 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 jet black 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 torn whoopee cushion floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the meadow across the road, then lethargically descended to the ground.
Richard was feeling strangely queer. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in journalism class. His horn was still drooping, but he got out of the Mini Cooper and pranced mysteriously toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a shapely creature emerged. It was olive green-ish in color and looked like a cross between a chicken and a cage. It had four black eyes in its spine. "Bilejuta grookinijoom ookomic, behoogam bu nobrupo, kipepoog jeglek," the creature said.
"Gosh almighty," Richard said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Rattle dead fish wrench money strainer growl to plain," the thing fantasized.
"Egad. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Doolayeloo photograph frumimabuc."
"Why don't you take your photograph and shove it in your artery?" Richard retorted.
The creature looked disagreeable. "Moomigibu croolulimep apikob, goohopog," it avowed. "Dophyzyp!" it continued.
"Your face is a dophyzyp!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, hungry creature; he was feeling unusually tense. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or maid. If he had been carrying a flask, 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 Boyce will be delighted to see you."
The creature darted slightly and prayed. Then it rose up on its well worn legs, puffed out its tail and strolled busily toward him.
For the first time, Richard had the urge to run, but his knuckle was stiffening and his legs refused to move.
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