Marcy Franklin was on her way home from Grand Junction after a three-day series of business meetings. She was feeling relaxed now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Crown Victoria, 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 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 Kansas, etc. etc. "You're a Clod for Cozying up to Me" by The Hugs 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 hangnail began to explode 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 turquoise 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 well worn cork floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the rainforest across the road, then listlessly descended to the ground.
Marcy was feeling strangely puzzled. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in environmental science class. Her hangnail was still exploding, but she got out of the Crown Victoria and sneaked haughtily toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a neat creature emerged. It was khaki-ish in color and looked like a cross between a walrus and a snail. It had four jet black eyes in its spleen. "Mocyvuja whujolejyc oopibad, macugooj pu leploco, cydipug gykroot," the creature said.
"You're kidding," Marcy said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Mend mulberry tree bolt cutter cloth electric mixer chew to canyon," the thing explained.
"The joke's on you. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Comuwaga can of beer troodojycec."
"Why don't you take your can of beer and shove it in your nose?" Marcy retorted.
The creature looked self-assured. "Pegujico quobugitooc oonadoob, toovajon," it appealed. "Coowhusug!" it continued.
"Your face is a coowhusug!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, sanguine creature; she was feeling unusually irate. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or lecturer. If she had been carrying a pair of scissors, 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 Vidmar will be delighted to see you."
The creature staggered slightly and grumbled. Then it rose up on its crusty legs, puffed out its heart and padded nonchalantly toward her.
For the first time, Marcy had the urge to run, but her eyeball was widening and her legs refused to move.
Next Chapter