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Chapter 24 — The Natural History of the Selenites

           Thatwretched-lookinghand-tentaclestickingoutofitsjarseemedtohaveasortoflimpappealforlostpossibilities;ithauntsmestill,although,ofcourseitisreallyintheendafarmorehumaneproceedingthanourearthlymethodofleavingchildrentogrowintohumanbeings,andthenmakingmachinesofthem.

           “Quiterecently,too—IthinkitwasontheeleventhortwelfthvisitImadetothisapparatus—Ihadacuriouslightuponthelivesoftheseoperatives.Iwasbeingguidedthroughashortcuthither,insteadofgoingdownthespiral,andbythequaystotheCentralSea.Fromthedeviouswindingsofalong,darkgallery,weemergedintoavast,lowcavern,pervadedbyanearthysmell,andasthingsgointhisdarkness,ratherbrightlylit.Thelightcamefromatumultuousgrowthoflividfungoidshapes—someindeedsingularlylikeourterrestrialmushrooms,butstandingashighorhigherthanaman.

           “‘Mooneyseatthese?’saidItoPhi-oo.

           “‘Yes,food.’

           “‘Goodnessme!’Icried;‘what’sthat?’

           “MyeyehadjustcaughtthefigureofanexceptionallybigandungainlySelenitelyingmotionlessamongthestems,facedownward.Westopped.

           “‘Dead?’Iasked.(ForasyetIhaveseennodeadinthemoon,andIhavegrowncurious.)

           “‘No!’exclaimedPhi-oo.‘Him—worker—noworktodo.Getlittledrinkthen—makesleep—tillwehimwant.Whatgoodhimwake,eh?Nowanthimwalkingabout.’

           “‘There’sanother!’criedI.

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