"How can that be true?"
"Because we were made without them."
"And have you no way of moving through the air at pleasure?"
"Not without artificial machinery."
"Artificial machinery?" she repeated. "What can you mean by that?"
Of course they have no word for balloon or flying machine, and I found it difficult to describe the shape and explain the philosophy of these things. I did the best I could in her language, and after I had finished my description she for the first time smiled and said:
"That sort of a construction would be a fine thing for the indolents of our world who, through misuse or lack of use of their wings, have no more ability to fly."
This was interesting to me and I closely inquired as to the cause of this loss of the wing power. Plume grew more and more familiar in her address and in a long conversation told me of the many conditions that make people unfit to fly. I deduce from our conversation a few of these causes.
1. Simple neglect.
2. Gluttonous life.