. . .

Rolling in circles in the grass

It lay before me, in the cornfield. A wide circle of corn pushed down, as if by some huge gust of wind from above. I knew that if I bothered to measure it I would find the circle was perfect, precise. I didn't bother to measure it. I'd seen them before.

I went back to the farmhouse, pausing only along the way to relatch the gate behind me. "Martha!"

"What is it, Harold?" came the voice from inside.

"Aliens got into the crops again."

Martha came out and watched me as I worked the pump to rinse off the sweat from the day's exertions. "Oh, is it May again already? They never show up before May."

"Been May for a month now."

"All right. Want help setting the traps?"

"I'll get the boys to help me. They've been slacking off this season anyhow. About time they started learning something about the business. I won't be around forever."

"Now, Harold. Don't talk like that. Come on inside. Supper's waiting."

Damn aliens. Locusts were worse, but at least they were rare. The aliens just kept coming back. Soon as we got rid of one ship, another one would be along to take up right where the first left off. We'd all been probed at least once. Martha kept getting picked up by the damn things.

Was a few days before the traps showed anything. One trap got sprung, but nothing was caught in it. Happens. No trap works all the time.

Finally, though, I was out in the area where the traps were set, and I heard something. A deep thrumming melodic sound. I'd caught one.

Over the rise was the ship, thrashing, still trying to escape. It wouldn't, though. That netting was chicken wire. Beside it were the remains of the cow. Next time I'd picket it farther away - it was expensive to keep losing the cows like that.

I headed over to it and watched it for a while. The ship was saucerlike, silvery. Good. Those were the little gray aliens with the big eyes. They went down real easy. The lizardy ones were tougher, but even they felt a blast from ol' Bessie. I always kept Bessie with me in alien season since the time I'd been caught without her and ended up with three probings and a brain implant. Still had the implant. Never did like hospitals anyhow.

After a while, the ship settled on down, and I felt something inside it, watching me. It flashed some colored lights at me real fast. One thing you can say about 'em. Prettier 'n fireflies. I went right up to it, warily. We stared at eachother for a while. My daddy always told me you had to have patience when dealing with 'em.

Eventually, that ramp came on down and I headed inside. Went up to the control cabin. A couple of them were there. A glow, almost a holy glow, came from their eyes, and they radiated tranquility and joy. They opened up their hands in the universal sign of peace.

That's when I hit 'em with my bat.

After it was all over, I buried the bodies in shallow, unmarked graves, and stuck the ship with the others. Next year, I think I'll get Jed to do it.