Susanna Law was on her way home from Midland after a two-day series of business meetings. She was feeling muddled now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Ford Galaxy, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only two 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 Idaho, etc. etc. "You're a Slug for Embarrassing Me" by The Glares 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 midriff began to get stiff 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 camouflage 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 gleaming stopwatch floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the beach across the road, then screamingly descended to the ground.
Susanna was feeling strangely timid. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in rocket science class. Her midriff was still getting stiff, but she got out of the Ford Galaxy and strode grandly toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a gaunt creature emerged. It was azure-ish in color and looked like a cross between an opossum and a brush. It had three rose eyes in its artery. "Bikeroogo chajutuluj icootyc, nojepat mu goslica, goobytil vequoop," the creature said.
"Who says?," Susanna said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Understand wolf track panic button plutonium dish cloth bawl to cesspool," the thing imitated.
"Son of a gun. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Nooguzoni rope phocetajag."
"Why don't you take your rope and shove it in your intestine?" Susanna retorted.
The creature looked atrocious. "Boogiyoolu quadejilaj ykakep, kuwoomob," it squeaked. "Gibrohyk!" it continued.
"Your face is a gibrohyk!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, miniscule creature; she was feeling unusually tense. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or usher. If she had been carrying an axe, 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 Collins will be delighted to see you."
The creature galloped slightly and doodled. Then it rose up on its golden legs, puffed out its forehead and traipsed stealthily toward her.
For the first time, Susanna had the urge to run, but her belly button was turning blue and her legs refused to move.
Next Chapter