A cold, winter day. Snow covered roofs, the trees snowy white. The snow has conquered the world. Could you possibly imagine more beautiful weather? Life is great!

Myself and Sam were standing near a house, talking.

'Water', said Sam, 'is the proto-element all right. It gives life to everything that lives. Life itself originated from water. It is the very Being in everything we can observe. Is that not so?'

'Quite so', I replied.

'And the true philosopher cannot but realise that the Being is everything that IS and that everything that IS NOT should be considered Non-being.'

'Most assuredly!'

'What shall we say about you and me. If I am not mistaken, you and I ARE.'

'Such appears to be the case.'

'And, as I was saying at first, water is the Being.'

'True.'

'Then are not we (who ARE) water ourselves?'

'Yes, I quite agree', said I.

'I am glad that you do', said he. 'Because I am now about to go a step further in order to show to you that the Sun is not what everybody believes it is.'

'Proceed then.'

'In most people's minds the Sun appears to be a synonym for life. They (and I pity them) believe that the Sun is good, that there is no life without it. So, when it sets, they light fires, they turn on the lights in order to imitate the Sun.'

'Very true.'

'I swear by Zeus that they go to sleep at night only to avoid the absence of the Sun!'

'I think that you are right, Sam. How, then, shall we proceed?'

'Let us consider the matter together. We have already cleared up one fact; namely that we are water. For so I have ever thought, and continue to think, but, if you are of another opinion, let me hear what you have to say. If, however, you remain of the same mind as formerly, I will proceed to the next step.'

'You may proceed, for I have not changed my mind.'

'Than I will go on to the next point, which may be put in the form of a question: What happens to water if we leave it in the hot sun?'

'It most certainly dissappears.'

'If it does, then it IS NOT any more. So, we can consider it Non-being, that is, Nothingness.'

'To be sure, replied I'

'There is another question then, which will probably throw light on our present enquiry, if you and I can agree about it: Does the the Sun bring life to all living entities or is it death that it creates?'

'Undoubtedly, death.'

'I am glad', said he, 'that you and I agree...'

Suddenly, he ceased talking. The sun came out from behind the clouds...

He did not last long, poor Sam. He liquefied within an hour. I watched his theory being proved right before my eyes. His snowy limbs melted and his body became shapeless and puddly. His black, coal eyes were observing the Sun with hate till the last moment...

I knew I was lucky to have been built in deep shade, so that I could last to tell. Stories like this. Sad. But true.