“No campfire tonight,” Moe added as they walked into the middle of a grove of trees. “It will just draw attention to where we are. We now know this planet is inhabited, but what we don’t know is whether they are friendly or hostile. We have to conserve our food and water. Everyone take out what food and water you have in your packs and place it on this towel.”

Stephen and Heather had two bottles of water, two candy bars, and three peanut butter sandwiches. John had three sodas, a bag of jerky, an apple and a banana. Moe and Ryan had between them two days of rations and four bottles of water.

“I think we can stretch this out for four days, if we need to,” Moe said. “By then we should have a camp set up at the base of the mountains. Ryan, I’m putting you in charge of rations.”

While John and Ryan were picking up tree limbs to clear a camp area, Heather and Stephen started pulling grass and placing it in small piles for beds. After the campsite was cleared and sleeping arrangements were made, everyone sat in a circle and ate their first night’s rations.

“I can’t get the image of cats inside flying pulsating yellow bubbles making crop circles out of my mind,” John said aloud.

“I think those pulsating bubbles were the same thing I saw in the secret chamber,” Heather replied.

“Do you think we were so close to the triangular object, we were transported with them?” John asked.

“That would mean the tabloids are true,” Stephen said. “There really are aliens visiting Earth!”

“Well, I don’t read the tabloids,” Moe said with a smirk, “but I do know we are not on Earth. I suggest we take turns keeping watch, two to a shift. I’ll take a double shift, but I’d like a little sleep first. Any volunteers for the first shift?”

“I’ll take it,” Heather said. “My adrenalin is running high.”

“Guess that means I join you.” Stephen said, giving Heather a proud smile for volunteering first.

“Thanks,” Ryan said. “Moe and I will take the second shift.”

“That leaves John and me for the third,” Moe nodded. “All settled, then. See you guys in three hours. I’m getting some shuteye.” He jumped up with a heavy groan and lay down on his pile of grass.

“Guess we should get some shuteye too,” Ryan said to John, and each proceeded to settle down on their grass beds behind a tree next to Moe.

The night air felt mysterious and alluring, Heather thought as she and Stephen sat down and leaned against a tree.

“I feel like I’m being watched,” she said to Stephen. “I swear I keep hearing a noise in the night mist over there.”

“Just your imagination,” Stephen said with a yawn. “I feel… great, as a matter of fact—calm and cool. This kinda reminds me of when Daniel and I used to camp out in the backyard at his grandmother’s house. She’d bring us hot chocolate with those little marshmallows floating on top and she’d always leave her flashlight behind. I can almost smell the hot chocolate now. Those were the good old days….” His voice drifted away as he leaned back against the tree, holding Heather in his arms to keep her warm. The night air was cool and crisp, with a hint of dampness in the air. It was unusually light for nighttime, Heather thought. Then she remembered that the moonlight beamed from three moons.

“I never went camping,” she said, a tinge of nostalgia in her voice. “But we did sit in chairs or on a blanket around campfires on the beach, until it was prohibited. There are only a few places in Florida now where you can drive on the beach and have a campfire.”

“I’d be a little afraid to camp in Florida, with all those poisonous snakes and alligators…” Stephen replied.

“Shh, I really do hear something,” Heather said suddenly, “over there. Almost sounds like purring.” She got to her feet and strained her ears for the sound she had just heard.

Stephen stood up too and looked around. In the moonlight he noticed John was not lying on his bed of grass. “John? John where are you? John?” He spoke softly, so as not to disturb Moe or Ryan who were snoring in unison.

“Maybe he had to go to the bathroom.” Heather suggested.

“John would not leave the camp without letting us know,” Stephen frowned skeptically. “I’d better look for him,” he said nervously, as he stared out into the darkness.

“Don’t go wandering off by yourself,” she pleaded. “It may not be safe out there. Wake up Moe, okay?”

Stephen could see the fear etched in Heather’s eyes. He gave her a reassuring smile, “All right, I’ll get Moe.”

“Wait… I’m going with you. I’m not staying here by myself!”

Quietly they walked to where Moe was sleeping. Stephen reached down and tugged at the sleeping security chief’s shoulder. “Moe, wake up, Moe,” Stephen whispered, trying not to wake up Ryan who was sleeping beside Moe.

“Is it time for my shift already? I feel like I just went to sleep.” Moe answered as he struggled to open his eyes.

“John’s gone!” Stephen told him.

Moe jumped up immediately and looked around at John’s empty grass bed. “Ryan, get up. John’s gone!”

Ryan woke up in a flash and reached for a nearby stick lying on the ground, while Moe grabbed his handgun from his shoulder harness. The two circled the perimeter of the camp as they called out John’s name, but there was no answer.