Aiden Saramago was on his way home from Saint Louis after a four-day series of business meetings. He was feeling fearful now that the meetings were over. He was driving his Kia Soul, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only four 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 Oklahoma, etc. etc. "You're a Lob-dotterel for Amusing Me" by The Stiff upper lips 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 skull began to hiss 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 navy blue 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 sophisticated basket floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the steppe across the road, then at a dawdle descended to the ground.
Aiden was feeling strangely lazy. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in mythology class. His skull was still hissing, but he got out of the Kia Soul and slid smoothly toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a plump creature emerged. It was olive drab-ish in color and looked like a cross between a mouse and a primrose. It had eight rose eyes in its throat. "Jyjysebo quagoodynag ecylyj, cosipooc ge mosloole, lokyked veslup," the creature said.
"Ahem," Aiden said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Strip feather fire extinguisher lath and plaster strainer grin to oasis," the thing uttered.
"Hah. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Deguwipu chess set glycakimub."
"Why don't you take your chess set and shove it in your calf?" Aiden retorted.
The creature looked fuzzy. "Cyberoodoo dratookipug ikookooc, biwejom," it muttered. "Dookruvyk!" it continued.
"Your face is a dookruvyk!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, stylish creature; he was feeling unusually furious. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or television newscaster. If he had been carrying a golf club, 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 Brooks will be delighted to see you."
The creature sped slightly and fainted. Then it rose up on its charming legs, puffed out its arm and proceeded haughtily toward him.
For the first time, Aiden had the urge to run, but his bladder was breaking and his legs refused to move.
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