“Every world has been at some time inhabited but with various forms of life. But to understand the infinite complexities of nature you must understand this. It was only the vanity of man” (she pronounced the word with the accent of Acquilla’s superior disdain) “that could conceive of intelligent life only in his own image. There are worlds where the inhabitants resemble us, but there are myriads of civilizations, perhaps at a much greater development than ours, where the dominant vertebrates are plainly of birdlike characteristics, or insects, or, various curious strains of fauna.” “Insects--creating an intelligent world, thinking, conversing, imagining?” I cried incredulously. “Why not? The determination of the dominant vertebrate in any world is largely a conjunction of accidents, in the first sanguinary struggles for existence. Yes, indeed, the insect worlds are of an astonishing degree of intelligence. You will be surprised to know that Neptune is inhabited by a race plainly derived from an insect ancestry.” “But an insect--how feeble!” “Bogardus, think a moment. The common flea or the grasshopper, has relatively a vastly superior muscular strength than man. And when you have insects ten times the size of a woman!” “Show me at once and don’t tantalize me with your explanations,” I exclaimed feverishly. “Here then, is a typical Neptunian community of today,” said Stella, leading the way into a small hall and signalling for a reel. “You see the type has some resemblance to the dragon fly, or the winged ant that we know. It is a true matriarchal state from the beginning, and for that reason has probably developed so rapidly. You speak of insects. Imagine woman twenty feet tall, equipped with wings and not two hands and feet but eight. Imagine the strength imparted and the power of locomotion that we cannot possess!” It was true, the Neptunians were of undoubted insect characteristics and as Stella had so proudly proclaimed, of a true matriarchal civilization. For I observed that, as in the ant colonies in this world, the male workers were rooted to the soil, while the female of a surpassing loveliness of gay colors and slender bodies had that gift of soaring, which we fondly dream of for ourselves in an angelic state. Presently I perceived an army of toiling ape-like laborers. “What are these strange slave-like figures that are laboring on that great pyramid?” I asked in wonder. “Speaking in terms of ourselves, they are undoubtedly an arrested development of ape or if you please, human beings. The pyramid you speak of is undoubtedly a great telescopic emplacement, immeasurably greater than any we have achieved. Now, look as we explore the country. You will see any number of these pyramidical structures. Some are for astronomical observations and others are for radio transmission.” “We are then in communication with Neptune and Mars?”