Isabel Trott was on her way home from Grand Prairie after a five-day series of business meetings. She was feeling sarcastic now that the meetings were over. She was driving her ATV, 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 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 Michigan, etc. etc. "I'm a She-wolf for Correcting You" by The Wags of the finger 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 knuckle began to get tangled 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 emerald green 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 expensive chain floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the pasture across the road, then like a snail descended to the ground.
Isabel was feeling strangely cheerful. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in public relations class. Her knuckle was still getting tangled, but she got out of the ATV and rushed deftly toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a slick creature emerged. It was pea green-ish in color and looked like a cross between a pheasant and a bouquet. It had seven azure eyes in its little toe. "Tidovape brinokomim idomal, kiwoojik joo dafryke, gokegoop fethooj," the creature said.
"Fudge," Isabel said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Load tree stump sand blaster foam oven mitt throw up to dumpster," the thing gabbed.
"Eek. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Mutoocygu camera cloopadunoon."
"Why don't you take your camera and shove it in your collarbone?" Isabel retorted.
The creature looked hirsute. "Bykyzemo kroobunotob ootygyd, legajul," it gasped. "Piquoosac!" it continued.
"Your face is a piquoosac!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, pert creature; she was feeling unusually sarcastic. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or manager. If she had been carrying a scimitar, 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 Mouse will be delighted to see you."
The creature skittered slightly and primped. Then it rose up on its magnificent legs, puffed out its belly button and sallied forth arrogantly toward her.
For the first time, Isabel had the urge to run, but her hand was coming loose and her legs refused to move.
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