the coming race-第22章
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I cannot vouch for your safety in barbarous nations governed by different laws from ours； nations； indeed； so benighted； that there are among them large numbers who actually live by stealing from each other； and one could not with safety in the Silent Hours even leave the doors of one's own house open。〃
Here our conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Taee； who came to inform us that he； having been deputed to discover and destroy the enormous reptile which I had seen on my first arrival； had been on the watch for it ever since his visit to me； and had began to suspect that my eyes had deceived me； or that the creature had made its way through the cavities within 91the rocks to the wild regions in which dwelt its kindred race；… when it gave evidences of its whereabouts by a great devastation of the herbage bordering one of the lakes。 〃And；〃 said Taee； 〃I feel sure that within that lake it is now hiding。 So；〃 （turning to me） 〃I thought it might amuse you to accompany me to see the way we destroy such unpleasant visitors。〃 As I looked at the face of the young child； and called to mind the enormous size of the creature he proposed to exterminate； I felt myself shudder with fear for him； and perhaps fear for myself； if I accompanied him in such a chase。 But my curiosity to witness the destructive effects of the boasted vril； and my unwillingness to lower myself in the eyes of an infant by betraying apprehensions of personal safety； prevailed over my first impulse。 Accordingly； I thanked Taee for his courteous consideration for my amusement； and professed my willingness to set out with him on so diverting an enterprise。
Chapter XVIII。
As Taee and myself； on quitting the town； and leaving to the left the main road which led to it； struck into the fields； the strange and solemn beauty of the landscape； lighted up； by numberless lamps； to the verge of the horizon； fascinated my eyes； and rendered me for some time an inattentive listener to the talk of my companion。
Along our way various operations of agriculture were being carried on by machinery； the forms of which were new to me； and for the most part very graceful； for among these people art being so cultivated for the sake of mere utility； exhibits itself in adorning or refining the shapes of useful objects。 Precious metals and gems are so profuse among them； that they are lavished on things devoted to purposes the most 92commonplace； and their love of utility leads them to beautify its tools； and quickens their imagination in a way unknown to themselves。
In all service； whether in or out of doors； they make great use of automaton figures； which are so ingenious； and so pliant to the operations of vril； that they actually seem gifted with reason。 It was scarcely possible to distinguish the figures I beheld； apparently guiding or superintending the rapid movements of vast engines； from human forms endowed with thought。
By degrees； as we continued to walk on； my attention became roused by the lively and acute remarks of my companion。 The intelligence of the children among this race is marvellously precocious； perhaps from the habit of having intrusted to them； at so early an age； the toils and responsibilities of middle age。 Indeed； in conversing with Taee； I felt as if talking with some superior and observant man of my own years。 I asked him if he could form any estimate of the number of communities into which the race of the Vril…ya is subdivided。
〃Not exactly；〃 he said； 〃because they multiply； of course； every year as the surplus of each community is drafted off。 But I heard my father say that； according to the last report；there were a million and a half of communities speaking our language； and adopting our institutions and forms of life and government； but； I believe； with some differences； about which you had better ask Zee。 She knows more than most of the Ana do。 An An cares less for things that do not concern him than a Gy does； the Gy…ei are inquisitive creatures。〃
〃Does each community restrict itself to the same number of families or amount of population that you do？〃
〃No； some have much smaller populations； some have larger… varying according to the extent of the country they appropriate； or to the degree of excellence to which they have brought their machinery。 Each community sets its own limit according to circumstances； taking care always that there shall 93never arise any class of poor by the pressure of population upon the productive powers of the domain； and that no state shall be too large for a government resembling that of a single well…ordered family。 I imagine that no vril community exceeds thirty…thousand households。 But； as a general rule； the smaller the community； provided there be hands enough to do justice to the capacities of the territory it occupies； the richer each individual is； and the larger the sum contributed to the general treasury；… above all； the happier and the more tranquil is the whole political body； and the more perfect the products of its industry。 The state which all tribes of the Vril…ya acknowledge to be the highest in civilisation； and which has brought the vril force to its fullest development； is perhaps the smallest。 It limits itself to four thousand families； but every inch of its territory is cultivated to the utmost perfection of garden ground； its machinery excels that of every other tribe； and there is no product of its industry in any department which is not sought for； at extraordinary prices； by each community of our race。 All our tribes make this state their model； considering that we should reach the highest state of civilisation allowed to mortals if we could unite the greatest degree of happiness with the highest degree of intellectual achievement； and it is clear that the smaller the society the less difficult that will be。 Ours is too large for it。〃
This reply set me thinking。 I reminded myself of that little state of Athens； with only twenty thousand free citizens； and which to this day our mightiest nations regard as the supreme guide and model in all departments of intellect。 But then Athens permitted fierce rivalry and perpetual change； and was certainly not happy。 Rousing myself from the reverie into which these reflections had plunged me； I brought back our talk to the subjects connected with emigration。
〃But；〃 said I； 〃when； I suppose yearly； a certain number among 94you agree to quit home and found a new community elsewhere； they must necessarily be very few； and scarcely sufficient； even with the help of the machines they take with them； to clear the ground； and build towns； and form a civilised state with the comforts and luxuries in which they had been reared。〃
〃You mistake。 All the tribes of the Vril…ya are in constant communication with each other； and settle amongst themselves each year what proportion of one community will unite with the emigrants of another； so as to form a state of sufficient size； and the place for emigration is agreed upon at least a year before； and pioneers sent from each state to level rocks； and embank waters； and construct houses； so that when the emigrants at last go； they find a city already made； and a country around it at least partially cleared。 Our hardy life as children make us take cheerfully to travel and adventure。 I mean to emigrate myself when of age。〃
〃Do the emigrants always select places hitherto uninhabited and barren？〃
〃As yet generally； because it is our rule never to destroy except when necessary to our well…being。 Of course； we cannot settle in lands already occupied by the Vril…ya； and if we take the cultivated lands of the other races of Ana； we must utterly destroy the previous inhabitants。 Sometimes； as it is； we take waste spots； and find that a troublesome； quarrelsome race of Ana； especially if under the administration of Koom…Posh or Glek…Nas； resents our vicinity； and picks a quarrel with us； then； of course； as menacing our welfare； we destroy it： there is no coming to terms of peace with a race so idiotic that it is always changing the form of government which represents it。 Koom…Posh；〃 said the child； emphatically； 〃is bad enough； still it has brains； though at the back of
