The short story revolves around protagonist Don Fenton, an American government agent on vacation in Mexico, and his meeting with the Parsons. Ruth Parsons and her daughter Althea charter a plane with the Mayan pilot Esteban and allow Fenton to travel with them. When the plane crashes, Don and Ruth split off from Althea and Esteban in order to search for fresh water. Throughout the ordeal, Don becomes increasingly annoyed when Ruth does not panic or act in a way he expects of a woman. His conversations with Ruth reveal that she feels alienated since she is a woman, though Don is unable to understand her views. During an encounter with aliens, Ruth pleads with them to take her and Althea away from Earth while Don tries to “save” her from the extraterrestrials. In the end the aliens leave with the Parsons, leaving Don bewildered and questioning why the two women would rather leave with aliens than stay on Earth.