"There is no answer to such a question," Thone replied gravely. "To our material existence, our consciousness, it is a finite area, yet within it some of us may go further than others. A mind unhinged takes its body very far--or so we believe--and yet sometimes returns safely. A mind departed from its physical shell which it then leaves behind--is gone forever. Yet that too, is illogical, for traversing a curved path such as ours--however slight may be the curve--one must eventually return. And out of this we have built a theory that such a mind--or as we call it, an Ego--untrammeled--will return sometime to take a new body. But I must not confuse you with mere theories when there is so much of fact which is confusing enough no doubt." "That's not confusing," said Will. "We likewise have such a theory--we call it reincarnation." Thone went on: "We have then, a void of curved Space. Within it exist Thoughts; material entities persisting in Space for a length of Time. Thus Time is brought into our Universe; but not Time as you have described it to me. Ours, like yours, is the measure of distance between two or more events. But the distance is very dimly perceived by our senses." "Wait," said Will, "Before you discuss Time, let me understand the other. All your material entities are Thoughts? That is incomprehensible to me." Thone deliberated. "I suppose that is natural," he declared at last. "Your substance--as it appears to you--has a greater solidity than the substance of your mentality." * * * * * It was Will's turn to smile. "The latter, with us, has no substance at all. The human mind--as distinct from our physical brain--is wholly intangible. And it is one of the things we know least about." "Perhaps that is why it seems so unsubstantial," Thone retorted. "At all events, with us mind-qualities are the basic substance out of which all matter is built. A variety of qualities, which vary the resultant product, be it an Ego, or a thing inert, all are from the same source--a thought." A Universe built from a Thought! Yet to Will then came the realization that our realm is of an essence equally unsubstantial--our own matter--rock, metal, living organisms, what are they of their essence save a mere vortex, a whirlpool of Nothingness? A question came to Will; and even as he asked it, he knew its answer. "Your Universe built from a Thought? Whose thought? You start with Nothing, yet you presuppose the existence of a Mind to think that thought." "A Mind All-Knowing," Thone answered very slowly. "A mind Omniscient. Have you not spoken of your own belief in such a mind? We call it our Creator-Mind--as quite literally it is." Will said, "Of itself; that is not concrete to me who am in a measure of scientific reasoning."