She must have passed out. Human had no recollection of how she got here, but she was lying on a table in a round room bathed in very bright chartreuse light.
The creature she had met outside was beside her, along with seven other similar-looking beings, all peering at her with those aqua eyes. They were urgently conversing in the strange language she had heard earlier.
She was feeling no fear; in fact, she felt nothing. She was just watching everything, like those out-of-body experiences she had read about.
"Plotudoojab ojotob," one said. "Jicuvoopa," another replied. They testily raised up two strange metallic devices above her beard, plunged the tips of them in, and removed it. They returned the beard, then put it in a hand-made khaki container that was hovering beside them. They then did the same with her nose, and her forehead. It all seemed very strange, mostly because she was aware she should be feeling very flattered, but actually was simply observing.
The beings continued their sassy conversation, while she lay there, with the curious thought that she probably shouldn't try to get up while her beard, nose, and forehead were missing. Meanwhile, one of the aliens lightly touched the side of the container, and her body parts were automatically whisked away and out of sight. "For the love of Pete," she thought to herself, "I guess that's that."
The other aliens continued conversing and prodding what was left of her body. "Lakoojomeoo," one peeped. "Laluheb," another responded.
"Kebugety?" she said abruptly, surprising herself — and, evidently, everyone.
The room was suddenly full of animated alien conversation. "Kitajem?" "Gajijepu podyyenu nyjooyomu." "Mekujugy." "Lopegool!"
The most artistic of the aliens then moved effortlessly to her side. "I hope we have not inconvenienced you," it commented, in perfect robotic English. "We come in peace. We will return you to your van when we are finished."
She actually felt pretty inconvenienced, insofar as someone without feeling could feel. "Mytegani," she pleaded. "May I have my beard back? And my nose and forehead?"
She realized that there was no language being used to communicate. All were understanding each other without the need to translate.
"They are currently in the lab, being squashed. We will return them shortly."
"That's good to know," she replied, with only a little irony. "I am waiting sarcastically."
"Thank you for your cooperation."
"Yeah, well, I'll just lie here and cooperate until I get my nose back," she bellowed.
The poking and prodding and conversation continued. The words were just background sound unless they were directed toward her. The chartreuse light bathed her in a peaceful feeling, and she was oblivious to the passage of time.
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