The terrain was rough, but I could still make good time. I was startled when the alien began communicating with me. I thought 

contact was necessary. The being indicated it was touching the back of my neck. Now I could feel it, but just barely. The alien again 

communicated the uselessness of this gesture. I let it know that I was going to need water anyway, I'd given all of mine away, I was just 

toting it along for the ride. The being acknowledged my selflessness at giving away all of my water in an attempt to allow it to continue 

functioning.  	I was a bit concerned about how much of my mind the alien could read. The alien assured me only that which was consciously 

active in my mind was accessible to it. I understood. The being wasn't reading my mind as such. it was more like it was able to sense what 

I was currently thinking about.  	I wondered about the being's home planet. Instantly, images of a endless oceans dotted with hundreds of formless, yet graceful, 

golden patches drifting about, filled my head. It was beautiful and I communicated that to it. I wondered about land, islands and 

continents. The being indicated that those did not exists on it's planet. The entire world was covered with water, deep endless oceans. 

He'd never even experience dirt or sand before. It knew that such things existed, but never bothered to go that deep on it's home planet.  	Their society was much different than that of earth. Offspring were the combination of dozens of beings and only done when a being 

was needed for a specific purpose. Then the a few dozen beings with the proper knowledge sets came together and shared fluids with the 

group until a separate being achieved a state of self-awareness. It would posses all the knowledge of each of the beings involved in it's 

'birth'. The alien possessed a great deal of knowledge from the being who formed it, but unfortunately did not posses the knowledge to 

correct the problem with it's Transport Capsule. It had malfunctioned and the alien was attempting to land in the place I knew as Crescent 

Moon Lake, but fell short.   

	I wondered how long it would be before they sent out a rescue ship. The being didn't understand the term 'rescue'. I tried to explain, 

but apparently it's world sent out Transport Capsules all the time, in their quest for knowledge. When one returns, the rewards are great, 

but few return. I wondered why anyone would want to go, the life-form indicated that it was it's purpose. The beings that came together to 

produce it, had produced it specifically to make this voyage. It indicated it had no concept of what we call danger,discontinuing to 

function was not a normal condition on it's planet, all beings continue to function virtually forever, that is why they don't have a word or 

concept of death. They assume the Transport Capsules that have not returned yet are simply not finished gathering knowledge. The 

Transport Capsules are not designed for failure, it wasn't even aware that failure of a Transport Capsule was possible. It never dreamed of 

crashing on a alien world and never returning home. It is NOW aware of the concepts of danger and failure, and that it is possible to 

discontinue normal functions, (or die) since it was close to that once and will be experiencing it shortly. I verbally let it know, "Not if I can 

help it."  	I wondered how old the being was and how long it had been traveling in that Capsule. It indicated that the concept of time is 

difficult for a life-form that normally never discontinues to function. I wondered how it could survive for long periods of time out in space 

when it needed water to survive. The being indicated that it's Transport Capsule and others like it, are more than 100 times the size of 

what remained of his. It was filled with water and the Transport Capsule is designed to collect trace gases in space and convert them into 

water. However it was the intense heat, caused by this planets atmosphere that evaporated most of the Transport Capsule and all of it's 

water supply. I wondered about the alien's planet's atmosphere, doesn't it have one? And if it does how do they survive re-entry? the alien 

pointed out that although it's planet does have an atmosphere, much like ours, it's planet is covered with water, so landings are little or no 

risk. Transport Capsules are designed to diminish in size upon re-entry. Although Transport Capsules have returned with knowledge of 

planets with land masses, (Even a planet orbiting the same star that was all land mass and virtually no water.) but they never even 

considered that they would ever land on one. Since their planet was all water, they always land in the water. Transport Capsules are 

designed to diminish in size and lose it's water supply on re-entry. It's  the diminished weight that allows it to achieve a water landing 

without blowing apart.  	All knowledge gathered about other planets was gathered from space. The Transport Capsule was capable of performing a great 

many functions. It could be configured and reconfigured to do many different things. Like interpret light-wave reflections and emissions, 

with great detail and at great distances. (I mused, it could 'see'.) It could intercept other form of emissions as well, like electro-magnetic 

emissions, radio waves. The transport could even be configured to detect wave compressions of the atmosphere (I was impressed, it could 

'hear' from outer space.) Unfortunately one thing it wasn't capable of, was repairing itself. It wasn't designed to fail, so it was wasn't 

constructed with the knowledge of how to repair itself. That took me by surprise, the Transport Capsule had knowledge? I wondered if the 

Transport Capsule was ALIVE. A living being? The alien informed me that although the Transport Capsule did posses a great deal of 

knowledge and could do a great many things, and some things independent of instruction, it was not self-aware. It's was in complete 

control of the Transport and the Transport could not function without a being, such as himself, to control it. The Transport had a compact 

series of instruction sets to perform it's functions. In human terms, it was 'programed'. The alien agreed with my term after I explained 

what it meant. It expanded on that, saying the instruction sets the Transport capsule followed were much more complex than anything 

"programed" on this planet, but it was not capable of independent thought.   	I wondered about all the knowledge that would be lost if they couldn't come up with a way to repair the Transport Capsule. The 

alien was perplexed by this thought. The Transport could not be repaired, It did not have the knowledge to do such a thing, but only the 

knowledge, placed into the transport, by those that constructed it would be lost, and as such was not really a loss since the originators of 

that knowledge would still posses that knowledge. I clarified my thought, I was referring to the data collected, but the alien indicated the 

Transport did not contain such knowledge, it was not capable of learning or retaining such knowledge. The knowledge collected on this 

voyage, would be lost when it discontinued normal functions. The being retained the full knowledge of everything and every place it had 

visited. It had been designed to do so, that was it's purpose, learn, evaluate, interpret, and retain.  	I was impressed, I could have used some of that ability in college. I had read that the human mind retained everything we ever did, 

saw, or heard, but it sure didn't feel that way when I had to study for a test. The being marveled at my thoughts of college. A university, a 

conglomeration of structures, devoted to the dissemination of knowledge. It decided that our race was even more intelligent than it had 

originally believed. I joked, if it had analyzed our Television and radio broadcasts, I could understand why it might question our level of 

intelligence. The being didn't understand, our radio emissions were a sign of intelligence, why would it's analysis of these emissions 

prove otherwise. They didn't have humor in it's society. And since communication on their planet required touching, there was no 

mass-media either, therefore no form of mind-numbing entertainment, like television sitcoms and "reality" shows. So my little joke went 

totally unappreciated, except by me, as I chuckled to myself.  	I wondered about the being's travel and what it had learned. The being filled my mind with images, some of the most recent ones I 

recognized, The desolate rocks of Uranus, and Neptune, the gas giants of Jupiter and Saturn, with it's rings. It had studied Jupiter for one 

full revolution around our star. I thought, wasn't that almost 12 years? It indicated it observed any planet with an atmosphere for at least 

one full revolution. Planets that had life were studied longer. I reeled, Didn't Saturn take something like 80 years to go around the Sun? 

The being didn't understand the term years, so I thought about how the earth revolved around the Sun every 365 rotations, or days. The 

being corrected me. it was 365.285... I told it that precision wasn't important at this point. Apparently this being has been buzzing around 

our solar system, for longer than I has been alive, for longer than my parents had been alive, even longer than my grandparents. That 

seemed amazing to me, although the alien couldn't share in my wonder. It viewed death, or 'discontinuing normal functions' with as 

much awe as I viewed the being's near immortality.  	I has been moving for hours and nature called. As I unzipped my pants the alien inquired about the ritual I was about to perform. I 

let it know I was going to urinate. This stunned the alien! It didn't understand why I was going to expel water from my body, when I 

obviously required water to survive. I thought back to my Biology classes to explain how urine carries waste and unused nutrients from the 

human body. This evolved into a lengthy dissertation of how humans take in food and drink, then breakdown the matter we take in, to use 

it for fuel throughout our bodies. Some of the waste products from this function is filtered out by the kidneys and removed from the body 

in the from of urine. An explanation of feces, would have to wait for another time.  	I really had to go now! The alien wanted me to share my waste water, it called it fluid, with it. I indicated that this was waste from my 

body, and includes poisons. It would be unsafe for even me to drink it and it was coming from MY body. Nevertheless, the alien would 

feel honored to have me share my urine with it. It also indicated the extra fluids from my body might increase it's chances for survival. It 

was once again getting close to discontinuing normal functions. Reluctantly, and with some serious reservations, I agreed. I wiggled off 

the makeshift backpack and set the jacket with the alien up against a tree and pulled open the drawstring to give me a large enough 

opening to pee through.   	I unzipped my fly and let it fly. My initial aim was off and I urinated on my rain slicker. "Damn." I thought. But then saw a streamer of 

gold slip out and retrieve the urine off the side of the jacket. I leaned forward and saw there was no splashing, the stream just seemed to 

merge with the being. Well if it helps it to survive until I gets to the river, the thought, I guess it's okay.  	The river! I tried to determine how far had I gone. The being was keeping me occupied with our 'conversation' I got the feeling the 

alien was slowing down it's thought patterns, for my benefit. I wondered how fast these beings could communicate with each other. 

Probably knew everything they need to know about each other in a matter of seconds. I sighed and felt the being's presence. I looked 

down, a stream of gold had followed my urine up to my penis and was going up inside of me. I cut my piss short as I quickly backed away 

from the alien. The gold strand wavered slightly then slipped back into the jacket. I finished urinating behind a another tree about 20 feet 

from the alien. There wasn't much left.  	I came back and tightened back up the drawstring. I hoisted the makeshift backpack and readjusted it. It wasn't really a good design, 

in fact it was downright uncomfortable. With more time to think I could have come up with a way to get the being into my backpack. That 

was a real good design, I could wear that all day and hardly feel a thing.  	The being came in contact again. It was confused why I stopped sharing my fluids. I indicated that I was aware of how dry the 

canteens were after the being merged with their contents. If the being entered me and did the same thing to my bladder that could be 

fatal. I explained the cells lining my bladder need moisture, if I allowed the alien to go in there an dry me out, the cells could die, the 

lining to my bladder could crack and I could be facing a life threatening infection if urine leaked from my bladder into my body. The 

alien was unfamiliar with the concepts of cells, and bladder. I understood it's problem, it was a fluid, although highly evolved and very 

intelligent, functioning on a molecular level, but still all one fluid.  	I started with Middle School Biology, single cell organisms. I figured the alien was intelligent enough to make the leap, so I skipped 

frogs and rats and progressed to man. I explained how cells specialize to perform one function, then these cells join together to form 

tissues, and the tissue comes together to form an organ, and organs work together to make systems, and the different systems all come 

together to form the human body. Of course with the alien's inquisitive intelligence, many questions were asked, and I answered the ones I 

could, to the best of my ability, so this whole explanation took quite a few hours and I was getting hungry.  	I paused to pull out some beef jerky. I took a bit and as I chewed it I realized I didn't have any water to counter the salt. The being 

was curious, so I explained how my whole body relied on a delicate balance of salt in my bloodstream. Too much salt and the cells loose 

water and organs begin to shutdown, not enough salt and more organs absorb water and begin to swell. If my brain swells too much, it 

might damage my brain stem and could cause death. Either way it would mean an end to my normal functioning. The alien worried 

about me sharing my fluids with it earlier, I explained that salt was also in that fluid, helping me to maintain that delicate balance. The 

being, who was analyzing the urine to identify molecules it could use, wondered which of these components were 'salt'. I thought about 

the chemical composition of salt and the alien was able to discern which component of the urine was salt. Which I found utterly amazing.  	I put away the jerky, I could eat that when I reached the river. I pulled out a pack of raisins and tossed a handful in my mouth. Carbs 

where what I needed anyway, I needed energy to get to the river. The protein could wait until I got there. The alien seemed weaker but 

was inquisitive. Carbs, energy, protein? I thought about the chemical compositions of proteins, carbohydrates and fats, and explained how 

the human body used them for energy and rebuilding, or repairing itself. Unlike the alien's Transport Capsule, My body did know how to '

repair' itself, for many minor injuries and infections.  	The being was concerned about my delicate balance and did not wish for me to discontinue normal functions. It was offering to 

share it's fluids with me. Since I had urinated in the being, I politely declined the offer. The being did not understand why I would refuse 

such an offer. Apparently sharing fluids was a big deal on the alien's home world. Some sort of special honor. I let the alien know that 

while the alien might like my urine, if I got any of that back, it might cause me to discontinue normal functions. The being was confused, 

why would it give back to me, what I had given to it. The alien assured me, that what I had given to it would be kept, it just wanted to give 

some of itself to me. Since this seemed really important to the poor thing, and it probably wouldn't make it to the river anyway, I agreed 

to accept the fluid that the being wanted to share with me.  	The being inquired what orifice would be best for the sharing, since I was covered in a thick covering. I indicated that that covering 

was called skin and, in addition to holding my body together and protecting me from infections, it also kept my water from evaporating 

into the air, as the alien seemed to be doing. I let the being know that my mouth would probably be most appropriate. I warily watched a 

tentacle of gold fluid come around my head. I opened my mouth and let the being know that taking water from my mouth could be just 

as dangerous as taking it from my bladder. The alien acknowledged that and assured me no such taking would occur, this was a giving 

thing.  	A bulb began to form at the end of the tentacle as it entered my mouth. I felt about 4 ounces of warm liquid, wash over my tongue 

as the tentacle retracted. It was hard to describe the taste, it was like nothing I'd ever tasted before. It tasted 'light'. I let it roll around my 

mouth a little bit before I swallowed it. I suddenly wondered if the alien's fluid was poisonous to humans? The alien assured me that 

nothing in it's composition would harm any part of my composition. The alien informed me that what it had shared with me was very 

similar to proteins and carbs.   	The alien decided to fully retreat back into the rain slicker to attempt to slow it's evaporation rate. Maybe, with a little luck, it could 

make it to the river.  	I felt recharged and ready to go. Even though the alien was no longer in contact with me. I felt like I had learned things about the 

alien's culture that I couldn't remember the alien actually revealing to me. I figured it was just thoughts in my head that I was still sorting 

out.   	It started to grow dark, but I found I could still see fairly well. It almost looked like I was wearing amber aviator's sunglasses. I didn't 

have time to think about it much, I was just glad I could see enough to navigate this rough terrain. If I couldn't see, I'd have to stop until 

morning. I couldn't believe, in my rush to leave, I forgot my flashlight.  	I felt invigorated as I reached the trail, a few miles closer to the river than I'd expected, but still a few hours out. I started a brisk walk 

that soon progressed to a moderate jog. This trail came out at a bend in the river. There was a wide bank that was a popular campsite 

with hikers. I hurried to reach it. A mile or so down the path I was running at a good pace. I wasn't sure of I could maintain that pace for 

the rest of the distance but I was sure gonna try. I felt great, like nothing could stop me!  	But it didn't last. I could already see the river in the distance, it couldn't have been more than a quarter of a mile away. 

Unfortunately, I was falling apart. I knew what it was, dehydration. What was I thinking? Running all that way? Without any water? I 

must've been out of my mind! I struggled to stay on my feet but my mind and body weren't working so well, I felt dizzy and disoriented. I 

staggered, but something inside me kept me on my feet. It seemed like an eternity when I reached the river bank. I dropped to my knees 

and crawled to the waters edge.   	I crawled into the water and fell face first. I turned my head to the side and drank from the cool flowing water. I choked and coughed, 

but managed to get my head up out of the water. I tried to drink again, and managed to choke down a little water, which cooled my 

patched throat. After a few more drinks I tried to lift myself out of the water and became acutely aware of the pain in my shoulders and the 

weight on my back. The alien!  	I popped up on my knees and struggled to get the raincoat off my back. I felt hard against my back. It dropped into the water with a 

splash. Not the 'merging' I expected. I turned and sat in the water, pulling open the drawstring. There was a dull, hard, golden-brown rock 

in my backpack. It was still quite heavy as I picked it up.  	Damn! I didn't make it! I nearly killed myself but still didn't make it in time! The alien had discontinued normal functions. It was 

dead. I felt a certain bond towards the creature, we had become friends of a sort, but I didn't even know it's name. I felt the despair that 

comes with making your best effort, but still coming up short, but this was more intense because a life was lost with this failure. I dropped 

back into the water with a splash. My face barely cleared the water, but I could still breath.  	I would have to bury my alien friend. Was that their custom? Wait, no it couldn't be, on it's planet they lived forever, so it would have 

no custom. Since my friend had no custom to handle this situation, I'd lend it one of ours. I would bury it here, at the bank of the river, 

close to the water. That seemed fitting.   	But I was so tired right now. I'd do it later, rest first, I needed rest. The alien rolled off my stomach and splashed into the water. I put 

my hand on it. The water felt so cool, so soothing, so nice....  	I drifted off to sleep....