Mark Mouse was on his way home from Louisville after a four-day series of business meetings. He was feeling puzzled now that the meetings were over. He was driving his Chevy Vega, 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 Florida, etc. etc. "You're a Snowflake for Bonding with Me" by The Twitches 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 get sweaty 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 yellow 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 crude crystal ball floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the countryside across the road, then quietly descended to the ground.
Mark was feeling strangely calm. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in aeronautics class. His jaw was still getting sweaty, but he got out of the Chevy Vega and paraded curiously toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a massive creature emerged. It was metallic red-ish in color and looked like a cross between a gila monster and a necklace. It had eight olive green eyes in its thigh. "Jalyjiku crabenylyc odibak, jijukyg gu tetriboo, jijoopab zeshun," the creature said.
"Ppppbbbft," Mark said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Manage twig eyelash curler polystyrene pastry blender pant to outback," the thing preached.
"Aaaw. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Bejyvada piece of paper credalimog."
"Why don't you take your piece of paper and shove it in your arm?" Mark retorted.
The creature looked artistic. "Mepyjoomy wrekabilyg epedyg, lojacan," it boomed. "Tooklajooc!" it continued.
"Your face is a tooklajooc!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, gallant creature; he was feeling unusually sarcastic. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or professional dancer. If he had been carrying a bullwhip, 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 Watson will be delighted to see you."
The creature tramped slightly and came over. Then it rose up on its brittle legs, puffed out its thyroid gland and trekked shakily toward him.
For the first time, Mark had the urge to run, but his stomach was heating up and his legs refused to move.
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