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Her look was clear and truthful and she did not advance this
astonishing statement as if it was astonishing； but quite as a matter of fact。
〃Butthe peoplethe children；〃 he protested； not believing her
in the least； but not wishing to say so。
〃Oh yes；〃 she smiled。 〃I do not wonder you are puzzled。 We
are mothersall of usbut there are no fathers。 We thought you would
ask about that long agowhy have you not？〃 Her look was as frankly
kind as always； her tone quite simple。
Terry explained that we had not felt sufficiently used to the
language； making rather a mess of it； I thought； but Jeff was franker。
〃Will you excuse us all；〃 he said； 〃if we admit that we find it
hard to believe？ There is no suchpossibilityin the rest of the world。〃
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〃Have you no kind of life where it is possible？〃 asked Zava。
〃Why； yessome low forms； of course。〃
〃How lowor how high； rather？〃
〃Wellthere are some rather high forms of insect life in which it
occurs。 Parthenogenesis； we call itthat means virgin birth。〃
She could not follow him。
〃BIRTH； we know； of course； but what is VIRGIN？〃
Terry looked uncomfortable； but Jeff met the question quite
calmly。 〃Among mating animals； the term VIRGIN is applied to the
female who has not mated；〃 he answered。
〃Oh； I see。 And does it apply to the male also？ Or is there a
different term for him？〃
He passed this over rather hurriedly； saying that the same term
would apply； but was seldom used。
〃No？〃 she said。 〃But one cannot mate without the other surely。
Is not each thenvirginbefore mating？ And； tell me； have you any
forms of life in which there is birth from a father only？〃
〃I know of none；〃 he answered； and I inquired seriously。
〃You ask us to believe that for two thousand years there have
been only women here； and only girl babies born？〃
〃Exactly；〃 answered Somel； nodding gravely。 〃Of course we
know that among other animals it is not so； that there are fathers as well as
mothers； and we see that you are fathers； that you come from a people
who are of both kinds。 We have been waiting； you see； for you to be able
to speak freely with us； and teach us about your country and the rest of the
world。 You know so much； you see； and we know only our own land。〃
In the course of our previous studies we had been at some pains
to tell them about the big world outside； to draw sketches； maps； to make a
globe； even； out of a spherical fruit； and show the size and relation of the
countries； and to tell of the numbers of their people。 All this had been
scant and in outline； but they quite understood。
I find I succeed very poorly in conveying the impression I would
like to of these women。 So far from being ignorant； they were deeply
wisethat we realized more and more； and for clear reasoning； for real
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brain scope and power they were A No。 1； but there were a lot of things
they did not know。
They had the evenest tempers； the most perfect patience and
good natureone of the things most impressive about them all was the
absence of irritability。 So far we had only this group to study； but
afterward I found it a common trait。
We had gradually come to feel that we were in the hands of
friends； and very capable ones at thatbut we couldn't form any opinion
yet of the general level of these women。
〃We want you to teach us all you can；〃 Somel went on； her firm
shapely hands clasped on the table before her； her clear quiet eyes meeting
ours frankly。 〃And we want to teach you what we have that is novel and
useful。 You can well imagine that it is a wonderful event to us； to have
men among usafter two thousand years。 And we want to know about
your women。〃
What she said about our importance gave instant pleasure to
Terry。 I could see by the way he lifted his head that it pleased him。 But
when she spoke of our womensomeway I had a queer little indescribable
feeling； not like any feeling I ever had before when 〃women〃 were
mentioned。
〃Will you tell us how it came about？〃 Jeff pursued。 〃You said
‘for two thousand years'did you have men here before that？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Zava。
They were all quiet for a little。
〃You should have our full history to readdo not be alarmed it
has been made clear and short。 It took us a long time to learn how to
write history。 Oh； how I should love to read yours！〃
She turned with flashing eager eyes； looking from one to the
other of us。
〃It would be so wonderfulwould it not？ To compare the
history of two thousand years； to see what the differences are between us；
who are only mothers； and you； who are mothers and fathers； too。 Of
course we see； with our birds； that the father is as useful as the mother；
almost。 But among insects we find him of less importance； sometimes
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very little。 Is it not so with you？〃
〃Oh； yes； birds and bugs；〃 Terry said； 〃but not among animals
have you NO animals？〃
〃We have cats；〃 she said。 〃The father is not very useful。〃
〃Have you no cattlesheephorses？〃 I drew some rough
outlines of these beasts and showed them to her。
〃We had； in the very old days； these；〃 said Somel； and sketched
with swift sure touches a sort of sheep or llama；〃 and these〃dogs； of two
or three kinds； 〃that that〃pointing to my absurd but recognizable horse。
〃What became of them？〃 asked Jeff。
〃We do not want them anymore。 They took up too much room…
…we need all our land to feed our people。 It is such a little country； you
know。〃
〃Whatever do you do without milk？〃 Terry demanded
incredulously。
〃MILK？ We have milk in abundanceour own。〃
〃ButbutI mean for cookingfor grown people；〃 Terry
blundered； while they looked amazed and a shade displeased。
Jeff came to the rescue。 〃We keep cattle for their milk； as well
as for their meat；〃 he explained。 〃Cow's milk is a staple article of diet。
There is a great milk industryto collect and distribute it。〃
Still they looked puzzled。 I pointed to my outline of a cow。
〃The farmer milks the cow；〃 I said； and sketched a milk pail； the stool； and
in pantomime showed the man milking。 〃Then it is carried to the city
and distributed by milkmeneverybody has it at the door in the morning。〃
〃Has the cow no child？〃 asked Somel earnestly。
〃Oh； yes； of course； a calf； that is。〃
〃Is there milk for the calf and you； too？〃
It took some time to make clear to those three sweet…faced
women the process which robs the cow of her calf； and the calf of its true
food； and the talk led us into a further discussion of the meat business。
They heard it out； looking very white； and presently begged to be excused。
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CHAPTER 5
A Unique History
It is no use for me to try to piece out this account with adventures。 If
the people who read it are not interested in these amazing women and their
history； they will not be interested at all。
As for usthree young men to a whole landful of women what
could we do？ We did get away； as described；