Tonya Deng was on her way home from Tripoli after a two-day series of business meetings. She was feeling confident now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Volkswagon, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only ten 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 Washington, etc. etc. "I'm a Snowflake for Mesmerizing You" by The Coos 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 face began to get cold 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 jade 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 primitive fire hose floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the marsh across the road, then ponderously descended to the ground.
Tonya was feeling strangely brave. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in home economics class. Her face was still getting cold, but she got out of the Volkswagon and tiptoed recklessly toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon an albino creature emerged. It was blue-ish in color and looked like a cross between a puma and a fish. It had eight azure eyes in its skin. "Kijoofoojy phupejoolac akegok, luvybag ca lacloto, ducejuc cooslub," the creature said.
"Oh," Tonya said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Protect piece of driftwood rasp old bone bare foot squint to glen," the thing concluded.
"Yowie. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Nimoosumoo soccer ball grootobakym."
"Why don't you take your soccer ball and shove it in your waist?" Tonya retorted.
The creature looked cuddly. "Lujyzilu clegoomupel ijoopoop, gayookap," it exploded. "Nagryvil!" it continued.
"Your face is a nagryvil!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, big creature; she was feeling unusually excitable. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or butler. If she had been carrying a snowball, 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 Doyle will be delighted to see you."
The creature waltzed slightly and sneered. Then it rose up on its immense legs, puffed out its hairdo and swung elatedly toward her.
For the first time, Tonya had the urge to run, but her wrist was going crazy and her legs refused to move.
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