By and by, however—­“We have just seen what it meant, there on Mercury,” said the doctor, in a low voice, “for the principle of ’the survival of the fit’ to be carried to its logical end; for who is to decide what is fitness, save the fittest?  One man, apparently, outlived every one else on the planet, and then he also died.

“But here you have gone the limit in the other direction.  Of course, we might have known that you long ago abolished poverty, unearned wealth, pestilence, drunkenness and the other causes of premature death; but as for three and a half trillion!”

“Nevertheless,” remarked Myrin, “every last one of us, once born, lives to die of old age; and in most cases this means several hundred of your years.”

Smith involuntarily rubbed his eyes; and they all laughed, a nervous sort of a laugh which left the visitors still in doubt as to their senses, and their guides’ sanity.  Van Emmon’s suspicions came back with a rush, and he burst out: 

“Say—­you’ll excuse me, but I can’t swallow this!  Here you’ve shown us houses as thick as leaves; not a sign of a farm, much less an orchard!  No vegetation at all, except for a few flowers!

“Three and a half trillion!  All right; let it go at that!” Out came his chin, and he brought one fist down upon the other as though he were cracking rocks with a hammer, and with every blow he uttered a word: 

“How—­do—­you—­feed—­them—­all?”

X

LOAVES AND FISHES

Without a word Myrin drove her machine toward the ground, and, as before, Estra followed despite the lack of any visible signal.  Within a minute the two machines had come to rest, softly and without disturbance, on the roof of a handsome building, much like an apartment house.  There was the usual transparent elevator, and a minute later the four were being introduced to the occupants of a typical Venusian house.

These two people, apparently man and wife, did not need to be told why the explorers had been brought there.  They led the way from the dimly lighted hallway in which the elevator had stopped, into a group of brightly decorated rooms.  Here the four were given seats in the usual saddellike chairs, and then Myrin answered Van Emmon’s question: 

“I knew that this point would arise soon, and you will pardon me if I handle it in a prearranged fashion.  I will admit that it is not an easy question Mr. Van Emmon has put; not because the answer is at all complicated but, on the contrary, extremely simple.”

The four were listening unanimously.  Despite himself, Van Emmon was highly impressed by the Venusian woman’s serious manner.  Perhaps it was because, in her earnestness, she was not quite so affable as before.  She went on: 

“From where you are sitting, you can see all the rooms in this house.  You will look in vain for anything even remotely resembling a kitchen.  There is not even a dining-room.