Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7
This time, when he awoke, Nineed was slightly less cordial. By his side stood another like him, though shorter.
“Cleaning that up was an unpleasant task,” said the other, who had to be Leegar. “Please refrain from repeating that behavior.”
Apparently not one to suffer fools, the creature reached out a snaky arm to flick on the light. He held his other hand up in a “halt” position. “Abstain from losing consciousness. Better to know us now since we will be living in the same space.”
There was, at this point, little danger in Louis fainting again. He felt as if there was no more blood left to leave his head and that he had turned to stone.
Before him stood two creatures from a nightmare. Gangly white things with sunken dark eyes and pursed little mouths, heads shaped like potatoes, vein work showing all over their chests and arms. They wore tight, slate-blue pants over their oddly-shaped legs that bent backwards like those of a dog. Their ears were small and high on their heads.
“We are not from around here,” Nineed again pointed out, unnecessarily.
It was at least nine hours before Louis could again speak and another three before he dared leave his room. By the time he did, it was mid-afternoon Sunday. His stomach growled in spite of his sense of unreality.
There was no sign of the monsters as he crept to the kitchen, other than some odd equipment stacked in a corner and softly humming. Furtively, he glanced about as he attempted to down a slice of peanut-butter toast. His stomach was so tight that eating felt like shoving cardboard into a block of wood with a ramrod. Every nerve in his body was electrified. Should he call the police? The Marines, the Air Force? Had it all been a terrible dream, perhaps instigated by party booze and food poisoning? He had some memory of vomiting after all.
Nineed suddenly materialized in front of the refrigerator. Louis slammed both hands on the table and tried to stand, but was too feeble to accomplish it.
“Sorry to frighten you,” said the monstrosity. “I could have walked up the stairway, but this is so much easier. We are still unloading our equipment. The lower level is very good for most of our work, so for ninety-eight percent of the time we will not be in your way. You can see that my rendering of your language is vastly improving, no? Soon, I will be speaking with current argot.”
“The basement?!” demanded Louis. “What about my projects? I’m in the middle of building a birdhouse! And what about my laundry? The washing machine is down there!”
“Do not rile yourself, Louis. We will allow you to use your machines. We will wall off that area or possibly bring them upstairs so you can use them here. What would please you more?”
“What would please me more?” gasped Louis. “If you left, that’s what! What right do you have to do this? I’m calling the government!”
“Which part of your government, Louis? Would the President answer your communication? I do not think those in positions of power would believe you. They have not believed all the other humans who have tried to convey this type of information, have they?”
“No, but….” Louis tried to think though his brain felt as if it were occupied by crazed bees. Every time he looked at the creature, his vision blurred.
“You must think of this as an honor, Louis,” said Nineed. “Of all the humans in the world, we could have chosen anyone, but we chose you. We chose your home. We need to be in the midst of humans but undetectable.”
“But I’m in the middle of a development!” exclaimed Louis. “Kids and mothers will see you. Old ladies will see you!”
“We will make certain that no one sees us but you,” said Nineed, tilting his large, misshapen head. Louis noticed now that his eyes were navy blue, his skin a pale ivory. The creature had black finger nails — that was not appealing. Well, nothing about him was.
Louis opened his mouth, but nothing emerged.
About Margaret Karmazin
