Gentola—Adieu, and believe that I greatly appreciate the thoughtful kindness of our mutual friend, at whose request you have afforded me another strange and useful lesson.
De L'Ester—Gentola̤, at present we will look no further through the Galarēsa̤, but will turn our attention to the zoölogical department of this very comprehensive institution. This great corridor, lined with admirable statuary, gleaming whitely through a luxuriance of palmlike growths and blooming plants, conducts us to this broad flight of steps leading downward to the Rinvoh (aquarium) of which this spacious and imposing landing affords a fine view. You will attempt a description of some of its features.
Gentola—Extending eastward and a little northward I see a small lake divided into two sections by—and also surrounded by—a massive stone wall the top of which serves as a promenade on which many persons are passing to and fro. What appears to be heavy metal netting divides the lake into numerous compartments and there are lightly constructed bridges from which attendants are casting food to creatures in the water. A portion of the lake is roofed over by a substantial wire netting, and in many of the compartments are luxurious growths of aquatic plants. The lake extends a little further north than the northern wall of the Galarēsa̤, and bordering its northern extremity and around on its western side I see a grove of great trees and shrubbery, amid which are large and smaller structures and also numbers of men, women and children, who are passing from one building to another. In front and toward our right, basking in the vertical rays of the sun, is a huge creature of familiar, if not pleasing, appearance. Do you know its Ento name?
De L'Ester—Were the repulsive creature a denizen of earth we might with propriety call it an alligator. Its Ento name is Inadillo, which I shall translate as scaly armored. It differs from the alligator of our planet in having larger and very protuberant eyes, a shorter and more bulky head, a larger body and webbed legs. It is quite as much at home on land as in the water, but is a very sluggish creature and of a species nearly extinct. The lakes, for there are two, are wholly artificial. One is supplied by fresh artesian water, the other with salt water from nearby Indoloisa̤, and in their many compartments are specimens of Ento's various amphibious creatures and fishes. Now look into the adjoining wire-covered tank. Ah! you shrink back from the hideous creature moving its sinuous length through the limpid water. Yes, it is a veritable sea serpent, and it has been in this Rinvoh for about fifty years of our time. When captured in Tsoivan Cryfimo, it was about one-third its present length which is quite eighty feet. Extending backward from its neck are large webbed appendages with which it swiftly propels itself through the water. When angered or excited those folds at the back of its broad, flat head are erected and projected forward over its vicious looking eyes, which glow and scintillate in a most alarming manner. George is endeavoring to arouse his snakeship and, evidently, is succeeding. See how he arches his long, slender neck, turning his ugly hooded head this way and that in quest of his disturber. Naturally, he does not find his enemy, and now with hisses of fear or defiance he rushes away, lashing the water into a line of white foam. Now he has reached the further limit of the lake and is quieting down. George, we echo your requiescat in pace, for Gandûlana̤ rushing like a comet through the water is not a pleasing object.
From reliable authority we know that this serpent is the last of his species. In Ento's inland seas there are creatures of allied species, but in comparison with yonder great serpent, now gently rocking himself on the bosom of the tranquil lake, they are quite insignificant. If Gandûlana̤ has not quite fascinated you, you will please turn your attention toward this ungainly object which appears to be intent upon baking itself in the hot sunbeams.
George—I say, Gentola̤, if we could drop this fellow through space and he should arrive—say, in St. Louis—what do you suppose he would be taken for?
Gentola—Soup, I suspect.
George—Ah, thanks. And what, may I ask, do you imagine the soupmakers would name him?
Gentola—Without doubt they would think him a turtle.
De L'Ester—Certainly they would, for he differs very slightly from the large sea tortoises of our planet. You understand, Gentola̤, that we are not showing you these creatures for the mere purpose of gratifying a curious interest, but that you may through personal observation, note the striking resemblance of many of Ento's to many of Earth's life forms, and I pray you to observe closely, so that in coming time you may remember the object lessons we are presenting to your notice. I wish to reiterate that advanced Spirits of Planets of our, and of other Solar Systems, unite in declaring that everywhere life expressions are alike or very similar. That dissimilarities through environments pertain more to bulk and density than to form.