Drawers turned back to Persum in curiosity. "This plant deadly? Why it has a delightful fragrance. The most pleasing I've ever smelled."
It was obvious that Persum was disconcerted.
"I do not understand it. A small whiff of the odor exuded by that plant is enough to render any of my race unconscious. A few minutes under its influence often brings death. You are the first man I have ever known who has been able to inhale its gases without succumbing. This is most curious. I must inform others of my race."
They walked on, Persum shaking his head in bewilderment.
Drawers began to realize that this plant, although affecting him only to the extent that a pleasant perfume affects an individual, could be deadly to the golden people. From Persum's description of its effects it acted almost like an anesthetic—a few breaths induced temporary unconsciousness, but if released to its influence for more then a few minutes it resulted in death.
Abruptly a lovely city of golden towers and soaring minarets appeared resplendently before them—a city of incarnate beauty and craftsmanship—a city that might have been designed by a master draftsman—with an eye to blending harmoniously to the surrounding color scheme.
Drawers stopped for a moment to take in the wonder of it.
"You like it?" Persum queried.
"It's great!" Drawers rumbled enthusiastically.
"We take delight in the development of our cities," Persum continued. "There are seven cities, all constructed along the lines of this one. These seven cities contain the total populations of our people; about one hundred thousand people to a city. They are built with great care. The smaller buildings form the general limits of the city, and then we construct the buildings taller toward the center of the city. They are all unlike in structure for we try to give each and every one a distinct artistic touch. We do not believe in building row after monotonous row of dwellings that are of value for efficiency alone. The human pride and joy in beauty amply compensates us for any loss in efficiency."