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watch of his own construction； marking both the time as in my watch and
the time as kept among the Vril…ya。 I have that watch still； and it has
been much admired by many among the most eminent watchmakers of
London and Paris。 It is of gold； with diamond hands and figures； and it
plays a favorite tune among the Vril…ya in striking the hours： it only
requires to be wound up once in ten months； and has never gone wrong
since I had it。 These young brothers being thus occupied； my usual
companions in that family； when I went abroad； were my host or his
daughter。 Now； agreeably with the honourable conclusions I had come to；
I began to excuse myself from Zee's invitations to go out alone with her；
and seized an occasion when that learned Gy was delivering a lecture at
the College of Sages to ask Aph…Lin to show me his country…seat。 As this
was at some little distance； and as Aph…Lin was not fond of walking； while
I had discreetly relinquished all attempts at flying； we proceeded to our
destination in one of the aerial boats belonging to my host。 A child of
eight years old； in his employ； was our conductor。 My host and myself
reclined on cushions； and I found the movement very easy and luxurious。
111〃Aph…Lin；〃 said I； 〃you will not； I trust； be displeased with me； if I
ask your permission to travel for a short time； and visit other tribes or
communities of your illustrious race。 I have also a strong desire to see
those nations which do not adopt your institutions； and which you consider
as savages。 It would interest me greatly to notice what are the
distinctions between them and the races whom we consider civilised in the
world I have left。〃
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〃It is utterly impossible that you should go hence alone；〃 said Aph…Lin。
〃Even among the Vril…ya you would be exposed to great dangers。
Certain peculiarities of formation and colour； and the extraordinary
phenomenon of hirsute bushes upon your cheeks and chin； denoting in you
a species of An distinct alike from our own race and any known race of
barbarians yet extant； would attract； of course； the special attention of the
College of Sages in whatever community of Vril…ya you visited； and it
would depend upon the individual temper of some individual sage whether
you would be received； as you have been here； hospitably； or whether you
would not be at once dissected for scientific purposes。 Know that when
the Tur first took you to his house； and while you were there put to sleep
by Taee in order to recover from your previous pain or fatigue； the sages
summoned by the Tur were divided in opinion whether you were a
harmless or an obnoxious animal。 During your unconscious state your
teeth were examined； and they clearly showed that you were not only
graminivorous but carnivorous。 Carnivorous animals of your size are
always destroyed； as being of savage and dangerous nature。 Our teeth； as
you have doubtless observed；* are not those of the creatures who devour
flesh。〃
* I never had observed it； and； if I had； am not physiologist enough to
have distinguished the difference。
〃It is； indeed； maintained by Zee and other philosophers； that as； in
remote ages； the Ana did prey upon living beings of the brute species； their
teeth must have been fitted for that purpose。 But； even if so； they have
been modified by 112hereditary transmission； and suited to the food on
which we now exist； nor are even the barbarians； who adopt the turbulent
and ferocious institutions of Glek…Nas； devourers of flesh like beasts of
prey。
〃In the course of this dispute it was proposed to dissect you； but Taee
begged you off； and the Tur being； by office； averse to all novel
experiments at variance with our custom of sparing life； except where it is
clearly proved to be for the good of the community to take it； sent to me；
whose business it is； as the richest man of the state； to afford hospitality to
strangers from a distance。 It was at my option to decide whether or not
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The Coming Race
you were a stranger whom I could safely admit。 Had I declined to
receive you； you would have been handed over to the College of Sages；
and what might there have befallen you I do not like to conjecture。 Apart
from this danger； you might chance to encounter some child of four years
old； just put in possession of his vril staff； and who； in alarm at your
strange appearance； and in the impulse of the moment； might reduce you
to a cinder。 Taee himself was about to do so when he first saw you； had
his father not checked his hand。 Therefore I say you cannot travel alone；
but with Zee you would be safe； and I have no doubt that she would
accompany you on a tour round the neighbouring communities of Vril…ya
（to the savage states； No！）： I will ask her。〃
Now； as my main object in proposing to travel was to escape from Zee；
I hastily exclaimed； 〃Nay； pray do not！ I relinquish my design。 You have
said enough as to its dangers to deter me from it； and I can scarcely think
it right that a young Gy of the personal attractions of your lovely daughter
should travel into other regions without a better protector than a Tish of
my insignificant strength and stature。〃
Aph…Lin emitted the soft sibilant sound which is the nearest approach
to laughter that a full…grown An permits to himself； ere he replied： 〃Pardon
my discourteous but momentary indulgence of mirth at any observation
seriously made by my 113guest。 I could not but be amused at the idea of
Zee； who is so fond of protecting others that children call her 'THE
GUARDIAN；' needing a protector herself against any dangers arising
from the audacious admiration of males。 Know that our Gy…ei； while
unmarried； are accustomed to travel alone among other tribes； to see if
they find there some An who may please them more than the Ana they find