“Oh, for fifty years, we have been signalling back and forth. When the interstellar radiophone is an accomplished fact, as it is a proved theory for radios, and has the speed of light, we may in a hundred or five hundred years be able to receive messages that are passing us every instant of our day.” “Nothing surprises me any longer,” I said bravely. “But if you can perceive each other, why cannot you communicate intelligently?” “It is, of course, an insect language, and there is the difficulty. When we shall have learned the basis of insect communication here, we shall have taken a great step forward. We have already over a hundred of our great scientists engaged in this study. It is possible that this language is based on a musical vibration.” “What other strange civilizations are in the wonders of your firmament?” I asked eagerly. “There are over a hundred known planets, where the great bird civilizations flourish. If I had time, I could show you an example, for in beauty of color and form, nothing excels them. There are worlds where the feline or the canine is supreme and of course, backward civilizations where huge mammals live in crude organizations.” Stella stopped and gazed at me a moment. “Really, Bogardus, to see your wonder and enthusiasm is like a tonic to one who like myself is daily oppressed by the limitations we struggle against. If it seems to you we have accomplished miracles since your day, why should we doubt the genius that is imagination in woman, to conquer the seemingly impossible?” “Great heavens, what is there left!” I cried involuntarily. “What is there left?” said Stella sadly. “What, rather, have we accomplished? We can see, we may soon hear from planet to planet. But what shall we see and hear? Civilizations, that were, but are no longer. The thing that depresses us, is the tragically slow speed of light. Will any force yet undreamed of be discovered that can outdistance the beam that can only crawl through space at 184,000 miles a second? Will it ever be possible with all our knowledge, to visit other worlds, or must we remain eternally rooted here? And the problem of life itself? What a stupefying mystery, akin to infinity! We know that it can be prolonged immeasurably. Is the conquest of immortality possible? Have other worlds solved it? And you stand amazed, Bogardus, before the little veil we have lifted for you.” The great scientist seemed to have forgotten our presence as she stood immersed in the terrifying consideration of these mysteries. Acquilla signed to me and we moved away, unnoticed. “She may remain hours in her abstraction,” she whispered to me. “What a mind! What an imagination!” “Can we visit some of the observatories? I should like to see the great telescope in operation.”