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By DAVID LOWE
Published: 02 Mar 2011
As she curls her toes inside her worn grey socks, Cathy Star Eagle's head falls forward and she talks in a low, monotone voice: "Greetings to all who have gathered seeking knowledge and universal truth."
We're clearly not at a conference for insurance salesmen.
The bizarre event is an extraterrestrial channelling session at the world's largest UFO conference, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Each year thousands of flying saucer fans from the UK and all over the world descend on the five-day event – which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary – to hear from a range of wackos. Sorry, speakers.
The Sun has bagged a spot at Cathy's much-anticipated sideshow – despite a ban on the Press – where she claims to pass on messages from The Ambassador telepathically.
Not surprisingly The Ambassador turns out to be an alien, otherwise known as Loran, from the planet M42 in the Orion star system. But to sceptics, Cathy's description of her ET pal doesn't really help her case.
She says: "Loran is about 4ft tall, copper in colour, with an Asian appearance. He has a little bit of hair, but not a lot.
"Be careful what you ask because he doesn't hold back – although he's always respectful and discreet."
Cathy, a somewhat overweight woman from nearby Tucson, is now in a trance-like state as she answers one question each from those present.
But rather than seize the chance to ask a real-life alien about intergalactic space travel, the audience are more interested in the mundane, quizzing agony uncle Loran on their house moves, career worries or relationship troubles.
One elderly man asks about his granddaughter, who is battling cancer.
Slowly Cathy, alias Loran, replies: "We do feel this situation is more positive than first thought. The malignancy is not as advanced as feared. Nutrition will be key to overcoming the disease."
Then she blinks back into consciousness with all the theatrics of a pantomime actor.
Ironically, after telling the man his granddaughter needs a better diet, we spot her later in the restaurant with an equally overweight friend tucking into mammoth-sized hamburgers and fries.
Meanwhile, the conference's vendor room is abuzz with activity as self-professed UFO experts flog all manner of merchandise. One book catches my attention – We Are Among You Already – and I approach the table for a look.