He tried to remember why he was here. He remembered the pain in his chest, and then he remembered the log in the water.
Why had he been in the water?
The effort to remember was too great, and he floated watching the stars for a while. They were very beautiful.
Then he remembered the child, and why he had gone into the water.
He remembered the torrent of swirling water and the thin leg that he grabbed. For an age, his mind went through the battle against the current, and the pain in his chest was ever present.
Suddenly, he was watching his own wedding. Then he watched his children playing softball in the park near their home. Before his eyes, the kids grew into the young man and woman whom they were when he had last seen them, so he wondered if this was when he was supposed to die. Absently he half-expected St. Peter of the black cloaked Death to come to him. No one came.
He felt frustrated, because he couldn’t remember whether the child had lived or died.
Then he recalled rolling the child over and gazing at a face that surprised him.
For the face that stared up at him was not of a child, but a grey creature with enormous eyes.
He recoiled into his brain in shock.
He had saved an alien.
<<How is it?>>
<<The transition has been completed, Captain. But it is showing some signs of mental shock.>>
<<I know that, how is it?>>
<<We will not know until it regains consciousness.>>
The Captain gazed at the figure of the human. This human was younger and very different to the other form, which was now lying very still on an adjacent table.
Its mental anguish was very apparent, which leaked, causing consternation amongst the whole crew.
<<Is the source unit redundant?>>
<<Affirmative, it is a simple shell. What would you have us do with it?>>
<<Take it off life support and allow it to die.>>
The technician switched off the machine, so the body that had once held the life and soul of Mike Dunwoody breathed its last.
<<Do they all have those large globes on their upper chest?>> asked the Captain, regarding the new creature on the table.
<<Yes Captain, all mature females have the mammary glands. Some are larger than others. Large ones seem to be considered more attractive.>>
<<They seem enormous, do they not affect balance?>>
<<Apparently not, but actually, these are not excessive, but I believe they are slightly above average. We have kept everything in direct proportion. It would be dangerous to create something that was deemed unnatural.>>
<<I agree, it is just the shape of the body is so different to the male. It goes in at the waist and out at the hips. Is this natural?>>
“Indeed, the shape is directly connected to the female’s primary function. This function of the female is to bear children exclusively has created a physiology appropriate for the task. They carry their foetus for almost twice as long as do we, and therefore the babies are nearly twice the size to our children. The pelvis has to be shaped like this as the baby could attain a size of up to twenty Hals.>>4
The Captain was silent in thought for a moment.
<<Also, Captain, the deceased male body has been permitted to acquire surplus fat deposits, and mainly on the lower half of the torso. This would also be a deviation from the ideal shape. It seems that these creatures have the knowledge of what is good for them, but too many enjoy a diet containing too many destructive elements.>>
<<What is that on the top of her head?>>
<<Hair. Many human females maintain long hair, as it is considered fashionable. We simply permitted it to grow as long as we could in the time available.>>
<<Fashionable? What is this?>>
<<The humans adorn themselves with constructed textiles and paint. They even alter the length, colour and shape of their hair to be in fashion. The popular trends are what are considered fashion, so whole industries have grown up to support this.>>
<<These beings are truly foolish. Their planet is being destroyed under them, and they waste time an effort on such things?>>
<<Quite, Captain.>>
<<All the more reason to establish colonies here, for these creatures are bent on self destruction.>>
The figure on the bed groaned and moved slightly, as several medics appeared and all watched it with interest.
Mike fought the fog. He felt he was floating in fog with the consistency of molasses
He was hearing strange voices in his head, and he kept seeing monsters float past him. Huge eyes stared at him, unblinking and boring right into his soul.
He now believed he had died, and was under scrutiny before being damned.
He smelled a strange scent, and it calmed his uneasy spirit. He smiled and drifted into a blissfully dreamless sleep.
<<It is asleep. I have administered a mild sedative. The transition is complete, and it needs to rest.>>
<<Good, for how long?>>
<<I am not sure, perhaps ten gronks.>>
The Captain left the medical unit and returned to the bridge.
<<Number One. Return to the site of the accident. I want the dead human returned to the vicinity of its vehicle.>>
<<Captain, it is daylight.>> The officer was concerned that the Captain was taking an unnecessary risk.
<<I am aware of that. We need to return the human before the vehicle is discovered. So, as fast as possible, leave the body and then leave again.>>
<<Is this wise?>>
<<Scan the area, Number One.>> The Captain was determined, so, discussion over, the officer relented.
<<Aye Captain.>>
The ship returned, and having discerned no potential threats, was above Mike’s police vehicle in a matter of moments. The dead body of Sergeant Mike Dunwoody now lay a short distance from the vehicle, with all his clothes and equipment intact.
2.
“Sheriff McGuire?” said a female voice; it was Sally, the dispatcher.
“What is it, Sal?”
“They’ve found Mike’s pick-up.”
“Where?”
“They’re out by Booker’s Bridge, up the gulch towards Harry’s Hill.”
“Have they landed?”
“Not yet, sir.”
Steve McGuire turned his jeep round and headed for the bridge. The sun was hot, so the dust blew in clouds from behind his spinning wheels. The floods of the previous night had now evaporated, and it was as if they had never been.
“Sheriff?”
“Go ahead.”
“They found Mike, sir, and, sir, I’m sorry, but it don’t look good.”
“Damn!” Steve swore.
He and Mike had become good friends. Mike was a good cop, they had first met in New York, and Steve had been responsible for persuading Mike to consider moving out here.
Twenty minutes later, he arrived at the scene. Mike’s truck stood parked with the door open, and the winch cable lay in the dust. The helicopter settled fifty yards away, looking like a lazy dragonfly.
The two deputies from the helicopter were standing looking at the ground.
Steve got out and ran over to them. Mike’s body lay on the ground. He was curled on his side, but he looked remarkably restful.
Steve looked at Sean, the pilot.
“You checked him?”
“Sure, no pulse and he’s as cold as ice. He’s dead, Boss.”
“Any wounds?”
“Nope, looks like natural causes, but he has been in the water.”
Steve looked at the man’s clothes. They showed the classic signs of having been wet, even though they were almost dry now. He reached down, took out Mike’s Glock from his holster and checked it. The leather was damp, and all rounds were still in the weapon.