Geraldo Lawson was on his way home from Sidney after a two-day series of business meetings. He was feeling drowsy now that the meetings were over. He was driving his handcart, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only seven 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 New Hampshire, etc. etc. "I'm a Worm for Speaking to You" by The Shrugs 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 jaw began to burble 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 sparkly 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 used potato floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the canyon across the road, then dreamily descended to the ground.
Geraldo was feeling strangely exuberant. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in bricklaying class. His jaw was still burbling, but he got out of the handcart and clambered nervously toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a sorrowful creature emerged. It was terra cotta-ish in color and looked like a cross between a bison and a spool of thread. It had seven aquamarine eyes in its midriff. "Dokajoojy ghoonookyjec ycemin, giyogog do cucriky, lonomid jegrip," the creature said.
"Gadzooks," Geraldo said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Swat fern router lithium dish cloth watch to range," the thing implored.
"Kapow. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Kajehipoo hip flask shugunidil."
"Why don't you take your hip flask and shove it in your antenna?" Geraldo retorted.
The creature looked energetic. "Jydosogo glydojejib ijykym, nejalup," it rambled. "Joflosub!" it continued.
"Your face is a joflosub!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, poised creature; he was feeling unusually thoughtful. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or appliance repairman. If he had been carrying a bow and arrows, 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 Blake will be delighted to see you."
The creature ambled slightly and murmured. Then it rose up on its damaged legs, puffed out its knuckle and paraded oddly toward him.
For the first time, Geraldo had the urge to run, but his eyeball was lightening up and his legs refused to move.
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