Isilently communicated the symptoms to my knowledge base. The answer came backquickly: it corresponded to thirst and dehydration.
Itwas such a natural, basic need, yet I had never felt it like this before. Itwas a new and novel experience. It wasn’t my nanoprobes giving me thisinformation. It was my body advising me that the current situation was notacceptable.
How amazing is that?
Thiswasn’t something I could record in any way, so I tried hard to memorize thefeel of it.
Ithen turned to Stevanion. “We need to find water.”
Heblinked few times, trying to clear his eyes. “I do not think this place has anyHO engines… ”
“Youwould not need hydro–oxy combustion here. This planet has natural water.The water-shower from yesterday must have gone somewhere.”
Henodded, then stopped walking. “My body needs a rest.”He sat down on his knees, his gaze empty on the ground.
Ilooked ahead. “I will try to find some water and come back.” I noted the coordinatesof Stevanion’s location on my nanoprobes and continued walking.
Afteronly few passes, an unusual plant caught my attention. It was only a little bittaller than the top of my head, and cup-shaped leaves were hanging down low fromthe green succulent trunk. They held water from last night’s shower.
“Ah,the Moons of Senthia!” I whispered and walked to the plant. I held a cupped leafin my hand, lowered it to touch my lips, and tilted it sideways so the watercould flow freely into my mouth. I closed my eyes and enjoyed a thrillingsensation of the cold liquid rolling down my tongue and throat and finallyreaching my stomach.
Idrank for what seemed to be a long time. Once satisfied, I let go of the leaf.It sprang up high in the air, empty of its water weight.
Itook one leaf still full of water and peeled the stem off the trunk.
Thenanoprobe map led me directly back to Stevanion.
“Stevanion,I found water.”
Hewas sitting next to a tree.
“Stevanion,I found water,” I said again.
Heturned toward me, looking at the leaf and then at me. “Dana, do we have anyconfirmation that this water is good for intake?”
Hisvoice sounded rough, and his lips were dry and rough like mine.
“Ido not have any confirmation, but we are both dehydrated. It is necessary forour bodily functions that we drink.”
“Thankyou, Dana, but I am unwilling to take the risk if there is no proper safetyconfirmation.”
Ilowered my hands and looked down at the leaf cup.
“Ifthere are no health consequences to my body by tomorrow, would you thenconsider it nontoxic?”
“Yes.”
“Inthis case, you would drink the water. Am I correct?”
“Yes.”
“Good.Then we have agreed. Tomorrow, you will drink the water.”
Ilooked at my straps and attachments, wondering if I could keep the watersomewhere on my skinsuit, but there was nothing appropriate, so I brought theleaf to my mouth and took several deep gulps. The rest I poured on the ground.
“Letus press on. We only have two food bars left. They will last until tomorrowmorning.”
Stevaniongot up and said, “What is your plan of movement, Dana?”
“Weneed to find a location where our surroundings are easily observable. We havebeen unable to find higher ground from which we can do this. My plan now is towalk to the end of the forest.”
“Doyou think this is achievable?”
Iturned to him. “I do not have this information. Our best option is to try. Wedo not have much choice in the matter.”
“Iam in agreement with you,” he said and turned forward to continue.
Magnificentand breathtaking as this flora was, I found it hard to keep my pace. I keptstepping over logs and fallen trees, brushing past branches and leaves andpushing through the undergrowth. As the day was coming to an end, I was happyfor a night’s rest.
“Doyou think we will have another shower above us?” I heard Stevanion ask behindme.
Ilooked up. Clear blue sky with no clouds in sight. Theslowly folding navy blue blanket promised a clear but cold night.
“Ido not think so, but it might start while we are asleep,” I said. “Let us find aprotected position before we rest.”
Notlong after, we found a tree similar to the tree that protected us the night before, only this one was somewhat different. Instead of a woodentrunk, its large leaves started at the ground and reached a few feet over ourheads. The stem was dark green and hard, with overlapping scales covering theheight from the ground to its leaves.
Isat close to the base. Stevanion sat as close to me as the IP distance allowed,so he could still have leaves protecting him from the possible shower.
Wedidn’t talk.
Thenight fell, covering us in complete darkness. With no visible moon on thisplanet, stars were the only light, decorating the black vacuum like sprinkleddiamond dust. I had seen stars many times before, but somehow now, from here, theylooked miraculous.
Fromthe corner of my eye, I noticed movement and looked back at Stevanion. He wasshaking in his sleep. This didn’t surprise me. His skinsuit had been wet throughoutthe previous night and most of the morning.
Ilooked around at the neighboring trees.
Barelyvisible in the night was a short but wide beige tree that I remembered frombefore. The bark was quite different from other trees I had seen here, and itpeeled off in thin layers.
Irose, walked to the tree, and peeled off several of the large sheets. They werewarm and soft to the touch. I brought them back to Stevanion, and withoutsaying anything, I layered them on top of his body as fast as I could withoutthem falling off and without me touching him.
Imoved away quickly.
Ididn’t know what else to do.
Isat down leaning on the succulent green trunk, warm under my protectiveskinsuit, and fell asleep.
Iwoke up late the next morning. The sun was already high in the bright sky. Theair was pleasantly warm. I looked at Stevanion. He was still sleeping; softtree sheets were spread around him on the ground. He wasn’t shaking anymore, whichmade me feel calmer.
Ilooked up. High in the trees, a softly humming breeze mingled with the birds’ songs.I stood up and stretched, all my muscles aching.
Iheard Stevanion waking up, and as I turned to look
