Rover Hopkins was on his way home from Hong Kong after a four-day series of business meetings. He was feeling tired now that the meetings were over. He was driving his Buick LeSabre, 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 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 Mississippi, etc. etc. "You're a Dweeb for Massaging Me" by The Honks 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 kneecap began to get moist 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 sparkly 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 mechanical blank check floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the island across the road, then at a dawdle descended to the ground.
Rover was feeling strangely fearful. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in storytelling class. His kneecap was still getting moist, but he got out of the Buick LeSabre and ambled craftily toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a bedraggled creature emerged. It was aquamarine-ish in color and looked like a cross between a toad and a button. It had five burgundy eyes in its abdomen. "Pejysunoo cledejoolooj apabub, lijubub goo taghoogi, gumenul fithoc," the creature said.
"Never mind," Rover said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Ridicule tree branch garden hoe lumber fork nod to hill," the thing fumed.
"Peachy-keen. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Pyjoosyce sea shell clulobydal."
"Why don't you take your sea shell and shove it in your midriff?" Rover retorted.
The creature looked hungry. "Kynurypo glupegujyt oodedul, livenok," it gabbed. "Tuquajool!" it continued.
"Your face is a tuquajool!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, gregarious creature; he was feeling unusually self-confident. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or auctioneer. If he had been carrying a Nerf bat, 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 Niebels will be delighted to see you."
The creature trotted slightly and scratched. Then it rose up on its hollow legs, puffed out its cheek and clambered nicely toward him.
For the first time, Rover had the urge to run, but his bicep was looking funny and his legs refused to move.
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