“Presently the conversation ended with courtesy as deep as that which started it. Yet we were no longer quite the same. Friends to ourselves, yet differing on one point, which, being Nature’s pinnacle, was an important one, needing consideration. War had been declared, that difference of opinion which always ends in it, and they were first in the field.
“For, rising up from sleep one morning, we beheld a difference in the spheres, visible only to the spirits’ eye. Not all were changed, but many; and one, your little earth, I will describe. Round it shone a mist, so delicately wrapped that it gave it quite a beauty of its own. This was the wreath of Mystery. We knew it well, and because its mystery was mysterious we approached and floated through its wide expanse to reach the earth—when suddenly we came upon a chain that bound the whole sphere round and stopped our passage. It was like an iron network, yet very fine and pliable like a fisherman’s. I, for one, cut the net and descended. It was very easy work, though it closed over our heads when we were through. Earth was no different from what it had ever seemed. No life was yet apparent on it. That followed.
“There was nothing there to be discovered; beyond the mist and chain things were as usual. At our next convocation this change was mentioned.
“They had seized the earth and other spheres, which henceforth belonged to them until such time as they cared to give them up.
“I had scarcely seen Vestasian in more excellent humour than on that day.
“‘We have considered your plans well,’ said he, ‘and have decided that after all a free will is the best thing for man. He shall choose betwixt Good and Evil, and shall receive whate’er his choice may fall to. If Evil, then he shall reap the fruits of Evil. If Good, then you must see to it. We have decided to make Man in our own image; allowing, of course for some slight divergences of Nature, who, not comprehending us to the full, cannot draw us altogether truthfully, yet the likeness shall be such that all can tell it. We intend to make them also male and female, so that they will be blessed even as ourselves and rank themselves our equals. Moreover, we invite you to behold and criticise our labours, which, though poor, are the nearest reflection of your own that we could find. Our system is comprehensive, it includes everything.’
“‘Therefore,’ remarked Plucritus, looking towards me, ‘you will, of course, expect to find it very muddled.’
“‘Let me ask one question,’ I broke in. ‘Does your system embrace physical decay and death?’
“‘Why, yes,’ Vestasian answered. ‘Of course. It is necessary in order to prevent overcrowding. Moreover, we have tried to combine your system with our own, and death would have been a phase in any case.’
“‘Yes,’ I argued. ‘But there is death and death.’