thin hair in place over the dome of his balding head.

"Come in, Burlet. Sit down. What's on your mind?"

"Thank you, sir." To my surprise he accepted my invitation and seated
himself opposite me. "I ave been speculating, sir."

"Really, Burlet? Silly thing to do. Lost all your wages, I suppose, and
would like an advance?"

"You misappre--end me, sir. Not speculating on Change. Speculating on
the Grass."

"Oh. And did you arrive at any conclusion, Burlet?"

"I believe I ave, sir. As I understand it, scientists and statesmen are
exerting their energies to fight the Grass."

"That's right." I was beginning to be bored. Had the butler fallen prey
to one of the graminophile sects like Brother Paul's and gone through
all this rigmarole merely to give me notice previous to immolating
himself?

"And so far they ave achieved no success?"

"Obviously, Burlet."

"Well then, sir, would it not be a sensible precaution to find some
means of refuge until and if they find a way to kill the Grass?"

"There is no 'if,' Burlet. The means will be found, and shortly--of that
I am sure. As for temporary refuge until that time, no doubt it would be
excellent, if practicable. What do you propose--emigration to Mars or
floating islands in the oceans?" Both of these expedients had long ago
been put forth by contestants in the _Intelligencer_.

"Journeys to other planets would not solve things, sir. Assuming the
construction of a vessel--an assumption so far unwarranted, if I may say
so, sir--it would accommodate but a fraction of the affected
populations. As for floating islands, they would be no more immune to
airborne seeds than stationary ones."

"So it was discovered long ago, Burlet."

"Quite so, sir. Then, if I may say so, protection must be afforded on
the spot."

"And how do you propose to do that?"

"Well, sir, by the building of vertical cities."

"Vertical cities?"

"Yes, sir. I believe sites should be selected near bodies of fresh water
and tremendous excavations made. The walls and floor of the excavations
should be lined with concrete, through which the water is piped. The
cities could be on many levels, the topmost peraps several miles in the
air--glass enclosed--and with pipes reaching still igher to bring air
in, and completely tight against the Grass. They should be
selfcontained, generating their own power and providing their food by
ydroponic farming. Such cities could hold millions of people now doome