Hopkins: “Bah!”
The Professor: “My friends, now that the Faculty has returned Erickson must interview them, explain our mission, establish scientific relations with them if possible, get the records, assure them of the astonishment which will be felt over their existence when we report it before the scientific bodies of the world, solicit from them some demonstration of their knowledge of transmutation, aeronautics, the X-ray; those powerful tubes they manipulate; and then really we should be thinking of getting home.”
I: “Professor, I don’t think we’ll find the Faculty, as you call them, very communicative (“Tight wads?” interjected Spruce.) I’ve learned some things from Ziliah, and judging from her communications I believe these people know very little about themselves and what’s more I believe they exercise their occult powers without knowing the rationale of them either. At any rate while I can get along with their speech I know I should be floored in any intricate matter. As to—getting home. I agree with you, but—HOW?”
The Professor: “But Alfred, be reasonable. Learn what you can. Try them. I do admit our return presents difficulties.”
Goritz: “There can’t be much of the naphtha launch left now.”
Hopkins: “But Antoine, you are not thinking of getting out! I believe you intended to apply for naturalization papers.”
The Professor: “There are the—Balloons? Perhaps—”
Hopkins: “Dear Professor, cut it out. There is some difference in size and weight between these midgets and us. Really, if you’re solicitous on the subject of the posthumous notices you are destined to receive in the learned journals of the world, try the balloons. None in mine. Rocking the cradle and watching Ziliah cook snakes is preferable. And seriously I could make a hunch at getting on here if somehow we could improve the brand of the religion—but this snake business has me going. I guess, too, a little eugenics might help the people. Interbreeding, I should say, with the huskies would add something to the linear dimensions of the inhabitants, for really the girls have some class.”
I: “It seems likely to me that one might reach Beaufort Sea by a short overland route to the west. It’s pretty clear that Radiumopolis is far towards the western border of the Valley of Rasselas, and the Rim, and the sea beyond that, are not far off. Our trip to the radium country showed that.”
The Professor: “The importance of this discovery outranks anything that has happened in the world since the discovery of America. It’s too astounding to be even indicated in a few words. The radium deposit alone is the most tremendous fact in nature today. For one, I should deplore the destruction of this most curious aboriginal culture with the ethnic problems displayed in it, but it is our indefeasible right to proclaim to the world the presence here of the radium. The whole aspect, industry, economics, finance, health of the world will be profoundly modified by its exploitation.”