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civilisation of our race。 But after the uses of vril became familiar to us；
all creatures inimical to us were soon annihilated。 Still； once a…year or so；
one of these enormous creatures wanders from the unreclaimed and savage
districts beyond； and within my memory one has seized upon a young Gy
who was bathing in this very lake。 Had she been on land and armed with
her staff； it would not have dared even to show itself； for； like all savage
creatures； the reptile has a marvellous instinct； which warns it against the
bearer of the vril wand。 How they teach their young to avoid him；
though seen for the first time； is one of those mysteries which you may ask
Zee to explain； for I cannot。*
* The reptile in this instinct does but resemble our wild birds and
animals； which will not come in reach of a man armed with a gun。 When
the electric wires were first put up； partridges struck against them in their
flight； and fell down wounded。 No younger generations of partridges
meet with a similar accident。
98So long as I stand here； the monster will not stir from its lurking…
place； but we must now decoy it forth。〃
〃Will that not be difficult？〃
〃Not at all。 Seat yourself yonder on that crag （about one hundred
yards from the bank）； while I retire to a distance。 In a short time the
reptile will catch sight or scent of you； and perceiving that you are no vril…
bearer； will come forth to devour you。 As soon as it is fairly out of the
water； it becomes my prey。〃
〃Do you mean to tell me that I am to be the decoy to that horrible
monster which could engulf me within its jaws in a second！ I beg to
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decline。〃
The child laughed。 〃Fear nothing；〃 said he； 〃only sit still。〃
Instead of obeying the command； I made a bound； and was about to
take fairly to my heels； when Taee touched me slightly on the shoulder；
and； fixing his eyes steadily on mine； I was rooted to the spot。 All power
of volition left me。 Submissive to the infant's gesture； I followed him to
the crag he had indicated； and seated myself there in silence。 Most
readers have seen something of the effects of electro…biology； whether
genuine or spurious。 No professor of that doubtful craft had ever been
able to influence a thought or a movement of mine； but I was a mere
machine at the will of this terrible child。 Meanwhile he expanded his
wings； soared aloft； and alighted amidst a copse at the brow of a hill at
some distance。
I was alone； and turning my eyes with an indescribable sensation of
horror towards the lake； I kept them fixed on its water； spell…bound。 It
might be ten or fifteen minutes； to me it seemed ages； before the still
surface； gleaming under the lamplight； began to be agitated towards the
centre。 At the same time the shoals of fish near the margin evinced their
sense of the enemy's approach by splash and leap and bubbling circle。 I
could detect their hurried flight hither and thither； some even casting
themselves ashore。 A long； dark； 99undulous furrow came moving along
the waters； nearer and nearer； till the vast head of the reptile emerged… its
jaws bristling with fangs； and its dull eyes fixing themselves hungrily on
the spot where I sat motionless。 And now its fore feet were on the strand…
now its enormous breast； scaled on either side as in armour； in the centre
showing its corrugated skin of a dull venomous yellow； and now its whole
length was on the land； a hundred feet or more from the jaw to the tail。
Another stride of those ghastly feet would have brought it to the spot
where I sat。 There was but a moment between me and this grim form of
death； when what seemed a flash of lightning shot through the air； smote；
and； for a space of time briefer than that in which a man can draw his
breath； enveloped the monster； and then； as the flash vanished； there lay
before me a blackened； charred； smouldering mass； a something gigantic；
but of which even the outlines of form were burned away； and rapidly
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crumbling into dust and ashes。 I remained still seated； still speechless；
ice…cold with a new sensation of dread； what had been horror was now
awe。
I felt the child's hand on my head… fear left me… the spell was broken… I
rose up。 〃You see with what ease the Vril…ya destroy their enemies；〃 said
Taee； and then； moving towards the bank； he contemplated the
smouldering relics of the monster； and said quietly； 〃I have destroyed
larger creatures； but none with so much pleasure。 Yes； it IS a Krek； what
suffering it must have inflicted while it lived！〃 Then he took up the poor
fishes that had flung themselves ashore； and restored them mercifully to
their native element。
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CHAPTER XIX。
As we walked back to the town； Taee took a new and circuitous way；
in order to show me what； to use a familiar term； I will 100call the
'Station；' from which emigrants or travellers to other communities
commence their journeys。 I had； on a former occasion； expressed a wish
to see their vehicles。 These I found to be of two kinds； one for land
journeys； one for aerial voyages： the former were of all sizes and forms；
some not larger than an ordinary carriage； some movable houses of one
story and containing several rooms； furnished according to the ideas of
comfort or luxury which are entertained by the Vril…ya。 The aerial
vehicles were of light substances； not the least resembling our balloons；
but rather our boats and pleasure…vessels； with helm and rudder； with large
wings or paddles； and a central machine worked by vril。 All the vehicles
both for land or air were indeed worked by that potent and mysterious
agency。
I saw a convoy set out on its journey； but it had few passengers；
containing chiefly articles of merchandise； and was bound to a
neighbouring community； for among all the tribes of the Vril…ya there is
considerable commercial interchange。 I may here observe； that their
money currency does not consist of the precious metals； which are too
common among them for that purpose。 The smaller coins in ordinary use
are manufactured from a peculiar fossil shell； the comparatively scarce
remnant of some very early deluge； or other convulsion of nature； by
which a species has become extinct。 It is minute； and flat as an oyster；
and takes a jewel…like polish。 This coinage circulates among all the
tribes of the Vril…ya。 Their larger transactions are carried on much like
ours； by bills of exchange； and thin metallic plates which answer the
purpose of our bank…notes。
Let me take this occasion of adding that the taxation among the tribe I
became acquainted with was very considerable； compared with the amount
of population。 But I never heard that any one grumbled at it； for it was
devoted to purposes of universal utility； and indeed necessary to the
civilisation of the tribe。 The cost of lighting so large a range of country；
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of providing 101for emigration； of maintaining the public buildings at
which the various operations of national intellect were carried on； from the
first educ