Clarisa Wales was on her way home from Paris after a four-day series of business meetings. She was feeling suave now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Firebird, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only four 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 Michigan, etc. etc. "You're a Dummy for Suspecting Me" by The Hoots 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 pride began to go nuts 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 golden 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 fluffy remote control floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the canyon across the road, then PDQ descended to the ground.
Clarisa was feeling strangely lazy. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in theology class. Her pride was still going nuts, but she got out of the Firebird and hobbled suddenly toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a flabby creature emerged. It was maroon-ish in color and looked like a cross between a ghost and a mushroom. It had three teal eyes in its funny bone. "Tooderyjo crekypykel ulajup, jejiboob bo keklody, kopegym rewrel," the creature said.
"Drat," Clarisa said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Dye fern punch muslin slotted spoon party to arroyo," the thing professed.
"Well I'll be. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Dilyyodi coat check ticket klybymookok."
"Why don't you take your coat check ticket and shove it in your bladder?" Clarisa retorted.
The creature looked quiet. "Poojygimoo fridakoopub oojekyc, moozedym," it whined. "Moowrazuj!" it continued.
"Your face is a moowrazuj!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, sinister creature; she was feeling unusually resolute. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or meat inspector. If she had been carrying a spit wad, 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 Jetson will be delighted to see you."
The creature traipsed slightly and blanked out. Then it rose up on its huge legs, puffed out its tummy and struggled fervently toward her.
For the first time, Clarisa had the urge to run, but her chin was feeling funny and her legs refused to move.
Next Chapter