Life In The Jovian Atmosphere

Life has not adapted to high Jovian mountain tops but has adapted to the upper atmosphere. On a very high mountain top, Theor sees swarms of flakes, grabs one, finds that it is lacy and star-shaped, touches it with his antennae, swallows it, then finds that, although it is oily and strange, his stomach accepts it. Next, hearing a whistle and turning around, he sees a vast, long-finned, fine-tendrilled whale-like organism "swimming" while eating the living flakes.

His people, dwelling in the dark depths, have never known of this upper life zone except as a legend. Theor is about to meet the Hidden Folk.