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soldiers； but we have no bowmen to defend us； such as yours。 We defend
ourselves。〃
〃You go out and get killed by your enemies！〃 cried Jav incredulously。
〃Certainly；〃 replied Carthoris。 〃How do the Lotharians？〃
〃You have seen；〃 replied the other。 〃We send out our deathless
archersdeathless because they are lifeless； existing only in the
imaginations of our enemies。 It is really our giant minds that defend us；
sending out legions of imaginary warriors to materialize before the mind's
eye of the foe。
〃They see themthey see their bows drawn backthey see their
slender arrows speed with unerring precision toward their hearts。 And
they diekilled by the power of suggestion。〃
〃But the archers that are slain？〃 exclaimed Carthoris。 〃You call them
deathless； and yet I saw their dead bodies piled high upon the battlefield。
How may that be？〃
〃It is but to lend reality to the scene；〃 replied Jav。 〃We picture many of
our own defenders killed that the Torquasians may not guess that there are
really no flesh and blood creatures opposing them。
〃Once that truth became implanted in their minds； it is the theory of
many of us； no longer would they fall prey to the suggestion of the deadly
arrows； for greater would be the suggestion of the truth； and the more
powerful suggestion would prevailit is law。〃
〃And the banths？〃 questioned Carthoris。 〃They； too； were but
creatures of suggestion？〃
〃Some of them were real；〃 replied Jav。 〃Those that accompanied the
archers in pursuit of the Torquasians were unreal。 Like the archers； they
never returned； but； having served their purpose； vanished with the
bowmen when the rout of the enemy was assured。
〃Those that remained about the field were real。 Those we loosed as
scavengers to devour the bodies of the dead of Torquas。 This thing is
demanded by the realists among us。 I am a realist。 Tario is an etherealist。
〃The etherealists maintain that there is no such thing as matterthat all
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is mind。 They say that none of us exists； except in the imagination of his
fellows； other than as an intangible； invisible mentality。
〃According to Tario； it is but necessary that we all unite in imagining
that there are no dead Torquasians beneath our walls； and there will be
none； nor any need of scavenging banths。〃
〃You； then； do not hold Tario's beliefs？〃 asked Carthoris。
〃In part only；〃 replied the Lotharian。 〃I believe； in fact I know； that
there are some truly ethereal creatures。 Tario is one； I am convinced。 He
has no existence except in the imaginations of his people。
〃Of course； it is the contention of all us realists that all etherealists are
but figments of the imagination。 They contend that no food is necessary；
nor do they eat； but any one of the most rudimentary intelligence must
realize that food is a necessity to creatures having actual existence。〃
〃Yes；〃 agreed Carthoris； 〃not having eaten to…day I can readily agree
with you。〃
〃Ah； pardon me；〃 exclaimed Jav。 〃Pray be seated and satisfy your
hunger；〃 and with a wave of his hand he indicated a bountifully laden table
that had not been there an instant before he spoke。 Of that Carthoris was
positive； for he had searched the room diligently with his eyes several
times。
〃It is well；〃 continued Jav； 〃that you did not fall into the hands of an
etherealist。 Then； indeed； would you have gone hungry。〃
〃But；〃 exclaimed Carthoris； 〃this is not real foodit was not here an
instant since； and real food does not materialize out of thin air。〃
Jav looked hurt。
〃There is no real food or water in Lothar；〃 he said； 〃nor has there been
for countless ages。 Upon such as you now see before you have we
existed since the dawn of history。 Upon such； then； may you exist。〃
〃But I thought you were a realist；〃 exclaimed Carthoris。
〃Indeed；〃 cried Jav； 〃what more realistic than this bounteous feast？ It
is just here that we differ most from the etherealists。 They claim that it is
unnecessary to imagine food； but we have found that for the maintenance
of life we must thrice daily sit down to hearty meals。
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〃The food that one eats is supposed to undergo certain chemical
changes during the process of digestion and assimilation； the result； of
course； being the rebuilding of wasted tissue。
〃Now we all know that mind is all； though we may differ in the
interpretation of its various manifestations。 Tario maintains that there is no
such thing as substance； all being created from the substanceless matter of
the brain。
〃We realists； however； know better。 We know that mind has the
power to maintain substance even though it may not be able to create
substancethe latter is still an open question。 And so we know that in
order to maintain our physical bodies we must cause all our organs
properly to function。
〃This we accomplish by materializing food…thoughts； and by partaking
of the food thus created。 We chew； we swallow； we digest。 All our
organs function precisely as if we had partaken of material food。 And
what is the result？ What must be the result？ The chemical changes take
place through both direct and indirect suggestion； and we live and thrive。〃
Carthoris eyed the food before him。 It seemed real enough。 He
lifted a morsel to his lips。 There was substance indeed。 And flavour as
well。 Yes； even his palate was deceived。
Jav watched him； smiling； as he ate。
〃Is it not entirely satisfying？〃 he asked。
〃I must admit that it is；〃 replied Carthoris。 〃But tell me； how does
Tario live； and the other etherealists who maintain that food is
unnecessary？〃
Jav scratched his head。
〃That is a question we often discuss；〃 he replied。 〃It is the strongest
evidence we have of the non…existence of the etherealists； b