Leah Aceworth was one of the most famous journalists in the world. She worked for the ‘Daily News Times’. A few minutes ago, she had received a call from Mrs. Tiana Jackson, a very famous actress, to arrive at her residence immediately. Apparently her house was invaded by aliens. Leah parked her BMW X3 near the celebrated actress’ house. Mrs. Jackson greeted her in a friendly manner, as Leah reached the door.
Mrs. Jackson was a beautiful woman of forty. But her face looked haggard and troubled. Once seated, she began. ‘Miss Aceworth, as unusual as it may sound to you, it really did happen. I myself find this whole business unbelievable.’ Leah smiled politely. ‘Mrs. Jackson, what actually is the matter?’
Mrs. Jackson started. ‘It happened yesterday. I felt very thirsty at night, so I went to drink some water. I thought I heard some noise from the warehouse, so I went up there to look into the matter. As I drew nearer, it (the warehouse) smelt like something was burning. Then I saw a strange contraption. It had a round-shaped wing around it and was completely covered with a greasy, slimy matter. Then I saw two odd-shaped figures coming out of it.
They were about the same height as me, green in complexion. Their ears were as long as an elephant’s trunk and they wore a glossy kind of suit with a red emblem. But that was not what frightened me. It was their faces, oh Miss Aceworth, their faces!’ Mrs. Jackson shuddered. ‘My voice died out of fright. Somehow I managed to hide behind the door.
As I watched, one of them took out a gadget. It spoke to the other in a cold, snarling voice, “Arin, these humans” its voice turned into a sneer as it said humans “have a lot of resources. But they have water in huge amounts. We must destroy their water resources before it destroys us.” The one named Arin nodded gravely. “Arath, you are right” I looked around me, wishing I had been anywhere but here. In my despair, I saw my beacon of light- a bucket of water at the corner of the warehouse.
Very quietly, I slipped to the corner and carried the bucket of water to where those-those aliens were, engrossed in that gadget of theirs. But with my trembling hands, my aim wasn’t good. The water splashed on the one named Arin and it burst into flames, producing earsplitting sounds. The other alien, Arath looked at me and I screamed. I thought that was it, Miss Aceworth. I thought I was dead.
But the alien reacted in a different way. All of a sudden, I was staring blankly, frightened out of wits at an empty suit and a burnt mark on the ground. There was no trace of that contraption or those two creatures-‘
‘What happened to the suit, Mrs. Jackson? Tell me – do you have it now?’ Leah interrupted, unable to contain her curiosity and excitement. ‘Yes, I do’ Mrs. Jackson announced proudly. ‘That’s why I called you here. Please follow me.’ Leah trailed behind her.
She was thinking about tomorrow, when her article was published with huge headlines in the front page of Daily News Times. This would take my career to its peak, she thought gleefully. Mrs. Jackson stopped at a big cabinet. She opened it and took out the suit. Leah stared it with amazement.
It was unlike anything she ever saw in her life. She touched it, her fingers shaking. It was like satin. But only the where an emblem was stitched looked rough. Leah lifted her hand to touch it. At the same time, Mrs. Jackson’s maid entered the room with a bucket of water to clean the room. Leah yelled as the emblem burned her and she dropped the suit, into the water. Before anyone could react, it burst into flames.
Leah banged herself at the wall at her folly. Mrs. Jackson seemed to be at a verge of tears. ‘Oh no, my suit, my only proof………………….’ She whispered, her voice cracking. ‘Here goes the biggest story in the history of humanity, my Pulitzer Prize……………..’ Leah stated, in remorse.
