CHAPTER XIX. -The coming Race

During our walk back to the city, Taee decided to take an alternative route to show me the departure station for travellers and emigrants within their community. This exposed me to their unique means of transportation, divided into land and aerial vehicles. The land vehicles varied greatly in size and purpose, ranging from simple carriages to movable homes equipped with several rooms, all powered by the mysterious force known as vril. This same force also propelled their aerial crafts, which resembled neither balloons nor contemporary aircraft but rather seemed akin to boats equipped with helms, rudders, and large wings or paddles for navigation.

I observed a convoy embarking on a journey, primarily carrying goods rather than passengers, destined for a neighboring community. This highlighted the extent of commercial exchange between the various Vril-ya tribes. Interestingly, their economy doesn’t rely on precious metals for currency due to their abundance but rather utilizes a form of money crafted from a special kind of fossil shell, a remnant of a bygone era. This unique shell is used for smaller transactions, while larger dealings are managed with bills of exchange and metallic plates similar in function to our banknotes.

Furthermore, despite the considerable rate of taxation within this tribe, compared to their population size, there seemed to be a universal acceptance and lack of complaint regarding this matter. The taxes collected are invested back into the community, financing many projects essential for their advanced state of civilization and the maintenance of their extensive public services, including their sophisticated methods of illumination for the vast territories they inhabit. This system of taxation and expenditure reflects the harmonious and utilitarian ethos that underpins their society, distinctively marking the Vril-ya’s advanced and communal approach to governance and social welfare.