Mangy Aliens

**tweet** this is from engines under ursus but never made it into the podcast due to time constraints **tweet**

John Bell stepped out of his black government car wearing his black suit and shoes.

Tyrell Jackson stepped out with him.

"I'll do the talking," said Bell to his young apprentice.

"Should I wear the sun glasses?" he asked.

"Doesn't matter. The important thing is to never smile," said John. "Follow me and bring the box."

Tyrell nodded.

They walked into the state animal laboratories and went up to the first floor, flashing their badges at security who let them through.

Finally they found Professor Nikola Tenneson who was poring over the remains of an animal which had been found on the road by a passer by. The local news stations had picked it up. The animal had remained unidentified. It had a strange tuft of hair on its back and sharp claws. Local law enforcement were baffled so they sent it to the professor.

"We're here for the coyote," said Bell. He flashed his badge at Nikola which had a high security clearance.

"We haven't determined it's a coyote yet."

"We're here to pickup the coyote with the mange," repeated Bell.

Neither agent smiled.

Tyrell moved beside the professor and placed the remains in the box.

"But..." said Nikola.

"It's a Coyote with mange, right?" said Bell. Both agents looked at Nikola without smiling. "You like working here don't you? Kids are in the local high school. Doing pretty well too. Isn't that right? Kate and Jacob. Wouldn't want to have to move jobs all of a sudden, would you?" said Bell. "This job has good health care cover for your wife's diabetes too, right?"

Nikola looked at the two men.

"Do we have a problem?" asked Bell.

Nikola shook his head. "No, no," he said. "It's a Coyote with mange," he said and stopped looking them in the eye like a small dog having met a giant dog.

"I look forward to your report," said Bell. "And so do my superiors."

They left the building.

"Oh man, you were good!" said Tyrell.

"The key is to never smile and do your research on your target," said Bell.

Tyrell stopped smiling. "Got it."

Bell got into the car first. He looked back at the lab and saw Nikola looking down at them as they took the carcass away.

Bell sighed to himself and muttered under his breath. "I hate this job."