The problem, at least, was down-to-earth. Even a creature that lived in the clouds had to have food.
"I should have known," Dr. Duerkes' thoughts staggered from his confused brain. "It is perfectly plausible. Everything is plausible, if one studies it long enough. It is inevitable that life should move some day into the stratosphere, just as it once moved out of the sea onto the land."
"Primitive thoughts," rebuked the woman. "We would not feed such slop to our half-wits." She turned to the aviator. "And what is the best you can do?"
Hawes was feasting his eyes on the cloud woman. "If I weren't sure I was awake, I'd say you were a nightmare," he began. "But you can't be a nightmare—nightmares are hideous—" he stopped abruptly.
Loetta smiled. "I liked that," said she.
"What?" Captain Hawes blushed mentally.
"What you did, just then. You pressed your lips against mine and made a loud smacking noise."
The flustered captain stammered: "But I—I didn't. Not really."
"In your mind you did," Loetta said. "It was a swell idea. A perfect feast."
"You mean that's what you live on?"