"Well, I understand all that," replied Maskull, after listening
attentively. "But what I don't grasp is this--if living creatures
here sport so energetically, how does it come about that human beings
wear much the same shape as in my world?"

"I'll explain that too," said Panawe. "All creatures that resemble
Shaping must of necessity resemble one another."

"Then sporting is the blind will to become like Shaping?"

"Exactly."

"It is most wonderful," said Maskull. "Then the brotherhood of man
is not a fable invented by idealists, but a solid fact."

Joiwind looked at him, and changed colour. Panawe relapsed into
sternness.

Maskull became interested in a new phenomenon. The jale-coloured
blossoms of a crystal bush were emitting mental waves, which with his
breve he could clearly distinguish. They cried out silently, "To me
To me!" While he looked, a flying worm guided itself through the air
to one of these blossoms and began to suck its nectar. The floral
cry immediately ceased.

They now gained the crest of the mountain, and looked down beyond. A
lake occupied its crater-like cavity. A fringe of trees partly
intercepted the view, but Maskull was able to perceive that this
mountain lake was nearly circular and perhaps a quarter of a mile
across. Its shore stood a hundred feet below them.