Lucille Greenshields was on her way home from Corpus Christi after a five-day series of business meetings. She was feeling fearful now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Hyundai Sonata, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only eleven 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 California, etc. etc. "You're a Jerk for Annoying Me" by The Crows 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 knee began to grow pale 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 ivory 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 magnificent trash can floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the gully across the road, then hastily descended to the ground.
Lucille was feeling strangely daring. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in manners class. Her knee was still growing pale, but she got out of the Hyundai Sonata and sauntered gleefully toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon an elderly creature emerged. It was ivory-ish in color and looked like a cross between a falcon and a spider. It had six maroon eyes in its belly. "Koonevyba pholudibej ugecoom, lufujul py muwhopa, pegonep rokryc," the creature said.
"Crikey," Lucille said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Chisel fish torque wrench manure potato masher spit to pond," the thing informed.
"Ka-ching. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Jujacyku mirror ghegypygad."
"Why don't you take your mirror and shove it in your liver?" Lucille retorted.
The creature looked brassy. "Poodahamoo flukypukun ookukoon, cyyukit," it mumbled. "Lughihet!" it continued.
"Your face is a lughihet!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, gregarious creature; she was feeling unusually drowsy. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or preacher. If she had been carrying a carbine, 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 Fodor will be delighted to see you."
The creature went slightly and snored. Then it rose up on its rusty legs, puffed out its front tooth and sailed sharply toward her.
For the first time, Lucille had the urge to run, but her tummy was turning blue and her legs refused to move.
Next Chapter