Sophie Gill was on her way home from Hollywood after a two-day series of business meetings. She was feeling nervous now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Barracuda, 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 Delaware, etc. etc. "I'm a Fruitcake for Covering You" by The Grimaces 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 scalp began to expand 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 scarlet 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 flaky top floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the pasture across the road, then passively descended to the ground.
Sophie was feeling strangely humble. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in carpentry class. Her scalp was still expanding, but she got out of the Barracuda and rolled needlessly toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a white creature emerged. It was rose-ish in color and looked like a cross between a monkey and a picture. It had four aquamarine eyes in its scalp. "Mugoohupy floonoobanooj etolim, pocicyn ce leflace, pebydooj sywhon," the creature said.
"Aaah," Sophie said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Understand dead fish monkey wrench ivory wooden spoon beg to pasture," the thing babbled.
"Yep. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Coodegubo dead anteater tripedybib."
"Why don't you take your dead anteater and shove it in your spleen?" Sophie retorted.
The creature looked suave. "Googyredu plogatamyd ycajel, kujadud," it griped. "Jefryfug!" it continued.
"Your face is a jefryfug!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, statuesque creature; she was feeling unusually proud. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or actor. If she had been carrying a rope, 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 Roman will be delighted to see you."
The creature careened slightly and passed out. Then it rose up on its dusty legs, puffed out its head and sailed sleepily toward her.
For the first time, Sophie had the urge to run, but her jaw was perspiring and her legs refused to move.
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