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now its enormous breast； scaled on either side as in armour； in the centre
showing its corrugated skin of a dull venomous yellow； and now its whole
length was on the land； a hundred feet or more from the jaw to the tail。
Another stride of those ghastly feet would have brought it to the spot
where I sat。 There was but a moment between me and this grim form of
death； when what seemed a flash of lightning shot through the air； smote；
and； for a space of time briefer than that in which a man can draw his
breath； enveloped the monster； and then； as the flash vanished； there lay
before me a blackened； charred； smouldering mass； a something gigantic；
but of which even the outlines of form were burned away； and rapidly
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crumbling into dust and ashes。 I remained still seated； still speechless；
ice…cold with a new sensation of dread； what had been horror was now
awe。
I felt the child's hand on my head… fear left me… the spell was broken… I
rose up。 〃You see with what ease the Vril…ya destroy their enemies；〃 said
Taee； and then； moving towards the bank； he contemplated the
smouldering relics of the monster； and said quietly； 〃I have destroyed
larger creatures； but none with so much pleasure。 Yes； it IS a Krek； what
suffering it must have inflicted while it lived！〃 Then he took up the poor
fishes that had flung themselves ashore； and restored them mercifully to
their native element。
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CHAPTER XIX。
As we walked back to the town； Taee took a new and circuitous way；
in order to show me what； to use a familiar term； I will 100call the
'Station；' from which emigrants or travellers to other communities
commence their journeys。 I had； on a former occasion； expressed a wish
to see their vehicles。 These I found to be of two kinds； one for land
journeys； one for aerial voyages： the former were of all sizes and forms；
some not larger than an ordinary carriage； some movable houses of one
story and containing several rooms； furnished according to the ideas of
comfort or luxury which are entertained by the Vril…ya。 The aerial
vehicles were of light substances； not the least resembling our balloons；
but rather our boats and pleasure…vessels； with helm and rudder； with large
wings or paddles； and a central machine worked by vril。 All the vehicles
both for land or air were indeed worked by that potent and mysterious
agency。
I saw a convoy set out on its journey； but it had few passengers；
containing chiefly articles of merchandise； and was bound to a
neighbouring community； for among all the tribes of the Vril…ya there is
considerable commercial interchange。 I may here observe； that their
money currency does not consist of the precious metals； which are too
common among them for that purpose。 The smaller coins in ordinary use
are manufactured from a peculiar fossil shell； the comparatively scarce
remnant of some very early deluge； or other convulsion of nature； by
which a species has become extinct。 It is minute； and flat as an oyster；
and takes a jewel…like polish。 This coinage circulates among all the
tribes of the Vril…ya。 Their larger transactions are carried on much like
ours； by bills of exchange； and thin metallic plates which answer the
purpose of our bank…notes。
Let me take this occasion of adding that the taxation among the tribe I
became acquainted with was very considerable； compared with the amount
of population。 But I never heard that any one grumbled at it； for it was
devoted to purposes of universal utility； and indeed necessary to the
civilisation of the tribe。 The cost of lighting so large a range of country；
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of providing 101for emigration； of maintaining the public buildings at
which the various operations of national intellect were carried on； from the
first education of an infant to the departments in which the College of
Sages were perpetually trying new experiments in mechanical science； all
these involved the necessity for considerable state funds。 To these I must
add an item that struck me as very singular。 I have said that all the
human labour required by the state is carried on by children up to the
marriageable age。 For this labour the state pays； and at a rate
immeasurably higher than our own remuneration to labour even in the
United States。 According to their theory； every child； male or female； on
attaining the marriageable age； and there terminating the period of labour；
should have acquired enough for an independent competence during life。
As； no matter what the disparity of fortune in the parents； all the children
must equally serve； so all are equally paid according to their several ages
or the nature of their work。 Where the parents or friends choose to retain
a child in their own service； they must pay into the public fund in the same
ratio as the state pays to the children it employs； and this sum is handed
over to the child when the period of service expires。 This practice serves；
no doubt； to render the notion of social equality familiar and agreeable；
and if it may be said that all the children form a democracy； no less truly it
may be said that all the adults form an aristocracy。 The exquisite
politeness and refinement of manners among the Vril…ya； the generosity of
their sentiments； the absolute leisure they enjoy for following out their
own private pursuits； the amenities of their domestic intercourse； in which
they seem as members of one noble order that can have no distrust of each
other's word or deed； all combine to make the Vril…ya the most perfect
n