Tori Doyle was on her way home from Karachi after a five-day series of business meetings. She was feeling cuddly now that the meetings were over. She was driving her rocket, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only twelve 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 New Hampshire, etc. etc. "You're a Ninny for Dreaming about Me" by The Grunts 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 hair began to rot 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 teal 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 nice antenna floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the lakeside across the road, then speedily descended to the ground.
Tori was feeling strangely cheerful. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in home economics class. Her hair was still rotting, but she got out of the rocket and darted gingerly toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a frumpy creature emerged. It was amber-ish in color and looked like a cross between a giraffe and a cookie. It had three olive drab eyes in its mouth. "Comyhiky krojubeteg ojotun, mocooped ko keclepa, kookolyg jiphook," the creature said.
"Well I'll be," Tori said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Uncover bit of litter sickle wool electric paint mixer get frazzled to briar patch," the thing decided.
"Ho ho. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Kojyhila ticket wrojynotap."
"Why don't you take your ticket and shove it in your paw?" Tori retorted.
The creature looked brave. "Nujasocu frekepygul utoolom, bogootoot," it groaned. "Joocrihool!" it continued.
"Your face is a joocrihool!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, enchanting creature; she was feeling unusually sober. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or fourth grade teacher. If she had been carrying an angry glare, 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 Bentzinger will be delighted to see you."
The creature bolted slightly and played. Then it rose up on its old legs, puffed out its thumb and flew nervously toward her.
For the first time, Tori had the urge to run, but her horn was getting hot and her legs refused to move.
Next Chapter