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The cases were slung over their shoulders and the telephones clamped to their ears. When all ready, Estra began to talk, and his voice came nearly as sharp and clear through the apparatus as before. It was modified by a metallic flatness, together with a certain amount of mechanical noise in which a peculiar hissing was the most noticeable. Otherwise he said: "I am now using my own language.
We can look forward, now" and his face shone again "can look forward to generation upon generation of people whose spirituality will be absolute!" The girl moved closer to him. She spoke with feverish earnestness. "There may be some hitch in the idea, Estra. If God meant for man to become to become obsolete, He would not have hidden the method all this time.
Estra did not take his attention from what he was doing, but answered as readily as ever. "I do not blame you for mistaking this for a city. The fact is, however, that we have no such thing." Billie stared at him helplessly. "You've abolished cities, too?" "Not exactly. In the same sense that we have abolished nations, yes. Likewise we have abolished states, also counties.
She picked up the baby, and with her free hand tugged at the Venusian's arm. "Come on! Don't sacrifice yourself!" The door bulged under the attack. The noise was ear-splitting. Nevertheless Estra heard, and shook his head without looking at the woman from the Earth. She dashed to the window, then came back. "Hurry! There's a chance!" He stood unmoved, watchful and ready. "Estra!
In a way, it was Spanish, or, rather, the pure Castilian tongue; but it seemed to be devoid of dental consonants. It was very agreeable to listen to. Estra, however, had taken the four parcels from his comrade, and now presented him to the four, saying that his name was Kalara, and that he was a machinist. "He cannot use your tongue," said the Venusian. "Few of us have mastered it.
She glanced about, missed Estra, looked slightly puzzled, and then frowned angrily as the Venusian himself stepped in: "You fooled me!" she shot at him. But he smiled apologetically. He was carrying a large package of leaflets, closely printed in Venusian; there seemed to be several thousand in the lot. He said, by way of explanation: "I had to get ready.
There was an instant's silence; then, the thunder of the mob, hurling itself against the door. The people were fairly snarling now. Estra closed the inner door. "Estra!" shrilly, from Billie. She laid the baby down, and strode to the Venusian. "Let's get out of here! The car's on the balcony; nobody's in the way to interfere! Why not " A grinding, ripping jar from above, and Estra shook his head.
He took it in at a glance; then whirled to the door. "We ought to warn Estra!" "He knows it already!" reminded Billie swiftly. A great shout came from below; the attackers had forced their way through the crowd of Estra's friends. "Well!" Van Emmon stood squarely in the middle of the room. "So far as I'm concerned, Estra and his sister can face that crowd alone! I don't approve of the scheme!"
We have eliminated everything that is disagreeable, all that is painful, from our lives to such an extent that there is never any cause for pity." The three young people could say nothing in answer. The doctor, however, spoke thoughtfully: "Perhaps it is superfluous; but tell me have you done away with injustice, Estra?" "That is just the point," agreed the Venusian.
Progress having come to an end, I don't see what you find to interest you, Myrin." "The fact is," Billie put in, "we feel somewhat disappointed that your people have shown so little interest in us." And she gave a sidelong glance at Estra, who returned the look with a direct, smiling gaze which sent a flood of color into the architect's face.
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