“Now, this is where our food comes from.”  Whereupon she showed them a series of automatic machines, all working away there in the solid rock of the planet; and of such an extraordinary nature that Smith, the engineer, moved about in an atmosphere of supreme bliss.

“You will understand,” said Myrin, “that the usual processes of nutrition, on the Earth, depend entirely upon plant life.  We, however, cannot spare room enough for any such system; so we had to devise substitutes for plants.

“In effect, that is what these machines are.  They convert bed-rock into loam, take the nitrates and other chemicals [Footnote:  The geology of Venus is thoroughly described in Mr. Van Emmon’s reports to the A. M. E. A.] directly from this artificial soil, and by a pseudo-osmotic process secure results similar to those produced by roots.

“Likewise we have developed artificial leaves,” pointing out a huge apparatus which none but a highly trained expert in both botany and mechanics could half understood.  “This machine first manufactures chlorophyl—­yes, it does,” as the doctor snorted incredulously; “not an imitation, but real chlorophyl—­and then transforms the various elements into starch, sugar, and proteids through the agency of the sunlight recovered from the granite.

“In short, to answer your question, Mr. Van Emmon, as to how we are all fed—­we do not grow our food at all; we go straight to the practically unlimited supply of raw materials under our feet, and manufacture our food, outright!”

XI

THE SUPER-AMBITION

Billie was very quiet during their return to the surface.  She said nothing until they had reached the two cars; and then pausing as she was about to step in, she said: 

“Well, I never saw our old friend, the high cost of living, handled quite so easily!

“If that’s the way you do things here, Estra,” and the girl did not flinch at the gazes the others turned upon her, “if that’s your way, it’s good enough for me!  I’m going to stay!”

For the first time, Estra looked astonished.  He and Myrin exchanged lightninglike glances; then the Venusian’s face warmed with the smile he gave the architect.

“It is very good of you to say that,” he said impressively.  “I was afraid some of our—­peculiarities—­might arouse very different feelings.”

They stared at one another for a second or two, long enough for the doctor to notice, and to see how Van Emmon took it.  The geologist, however, was smiling upon the girl in a big-brotherly fashion, which indicated that he thought she didn’t mean what she had said.  Had he been looking up at her, however, instead of down upon her, he would have seen that her chin was most resolute.

Just as they were about to start again, both Estra and Myrin stopped short in their tracks, with that odd hesitation that had mystified the four all along; and after perhaps five seconds of silence turned to one another with grave faces.  It was Estra who explained.