“The wrong way to approach the problem,” said Acquilla, shaking her head. “Our civilization is based on a hundred acres to each woman.” “Then the world is run by women?” “Oh, absolutely, for the last one hundred and fifty years, from 2030 when the collapse of male civilization became evident to all, and men were finally disenfranchised.” “But--” I stopped, confused by the flood of questions which rose to my lips. Acquilla who had been watching me carefully and had noticed my heightened color and startled eyes, here interposed. “I think, Bogardus, we have talked seriously enough for the first day. In fact, I’m afraid in my eagerness that I have gone too far ahead.” I passed my hand over my forehead and noticed how the veins in my temples quivered. “I feel as though I had been transplanted to a strange planet. Everything is gone that I knew or could reason by. It leaves me with the feeling of terrible depression, a terrible loneliness.” Acquilla sprang up and held out her hand. “Come. We will relax. I have a surprise for you. Dianne, the famous soprano, and Schiappa are singing in ‘Tristan’ tonight. A familiar sensation is just the mental relaxation that you need. Though I must say to your credit, you extraordinary man, that you have stood the shock remarkably well. In some cases of early Frigidrome treatment, we have had serious lapses into brain disorders.” CHAPTER V I rose and followed Acquilla to the circular theatre which I learned formed the principal axis of every house. “There are a number of interesting things going on,” said Acquilla, “particularly in Arcturus III, where there is a war on with Stella IV. Then you will be interested in the historical records of the wars of 1984 and 1994, but not tonight. Nine o’clock. The opera is beginning.” She went to a switchboard at one side and made certain adjustments. A heavy screen immediately shut out the glass dome above us through which the stars had been shining down. “How near do you want to be, Bogardus?” “What! Can you regulate that, too?” “Easiest thing in the world. It will probably be more interesting to you to have a front seat. Afterwards, if the orchestra is too loud, we can move back.”