def METHOD_NAME(author: dict[str, str]) -> str:
    """
    Return the beginning of the author line, using the ``:user:`` role
    if the alias is available.
    Parameters
    ----------
    author : `dict` of `str` to `str`
        A dictionary containing author information, which should be an
        item in the list returned by `parse_cff`.
    Returns
    -------
    str
        The beginning of the author line.
    """
    name = get_author_name(author)
    alias = author.get("alias", None)
    if not alias or alias in obsolete_github_usernames:
        return f"- {name}"
    if alias == name:
        return f"- :user:`{alias}`"
    return f"- :user:`{name} <{alias}>`"