Chapter 13 — Mr. Cavor Makes Some Suggestions

           Foratimeneitherofusspoke.Tofocustogetherallthethingswehadbroughtuponourselvesseemedbeyondmymentalpowers.

           “They’vegotus,”Isaidatlast.

           “Itwasthatfungus.”

           “Well—ifIhadn’ttakenitweshouldhavefaintedandstarved.”

           “Wemighthavefoundthesphere.”

           Ilostmytemperathispersistence,andsworetomyself.Foratimewehatedoneanotherinsilence.Idrummedwithmyfingersonthefloorbetweenmyknees,andgrittedthelinksofmyfetterstogether.PresentlyIwasforcedtotalkagain.

           “Whatdoyoumakeofit,anyhow?”Iaskedhumbly.

           “Theyarereasonablecreatures—theycanmakethingsanddothings.Thoselightswesaw...”

           Hestopped.Itwasclearhecouldmakenothingofit.

           Whenhespokeagainitwastoconfess,“Afterall,theyaremorehumanthanwehadarighttoexpect.Isuppose—”

           Hestoppedirritatingly.

           “Yes?”

           “Isuppose,anyhow—onanyplanetwherethereisanintelligentanimal—itwillcarryitsbraincaseupward,andhavehands,andwalkerect.”

           Presentlyhebrokeawayinanotherdirection.

           “Wearesomewayin,”hesaid.“Imean—perhapsacoupleofthousandfeetormore.”

           “Why?”

           “It’scooler.Andourvoicesaresomuchlouder.Thatfadedquality—ithasaltogethergone.Andthefeelinginone’searsandthroat.”

           Ihadnotnotedthat,butIdidnow.

           “Theairisdenser.Wemustbesomedepths—amileeven,wemaybe—insidethemoon.”

           “Weneverthoughtofaworldinsidethemoon.”

           “No.”

           “Howcouldwe?”

           “Wemighthavedone.Onlyonegetsintohabitsofmind.”

           Hethoughtforatime.