bly proud of their interpreters. With the race
shrinkage it had proved impossible to properly train new interpreters.
So, not without a great deal of sacrifice, the old interpreters, dating
back to when the canals still flowed with water, had been kept alive.

They were incredibly ancient but there was no doubt as to their ability.
It was a truism among the Rell that the interpretive banks arrived at
their conclusions faster than any other group and that these conclusions
could be checked to hundreds of decimal places without finding
inaccuracy.

So it was no surprise to have the interpretive bank respond almost
instantly, "It is quite odd but the flame appears to be of artificial
origin."

"Artificial!" came the rough and questing probe of the speculative bank.
"But how could Rell possibly be out there?"

"Who mentioned Rell?" was the interpretive bank's smug answer. They were
not utterly averse to demonstrating their superior mental abilities on
occasion.

The speculative bank replied, "Artificial implies intelligence, and
intelligence means Rell..."

"Does it?" the interpretive bank interrupted. The speculative bank
waited but the interpretive bank failed to enlarge on the provocative
query.

The Rell had found certain disadvantages accrued to abnormal
prolongation of life and thus were not unused to the interpretive bank's
occasional tendency to talk in riddles.

"Perhaps not," the speculative bank replied after a quick check with the
logical formulae held in reserve by the historical bank. "It is
theoretically possible that Rell-like individuals might have developed
elsewhere, and perhaps even have developed intelligence, although,
according to the historical bank, such an idea has never before been
subjected to consideration. But what is the flame doing?" they
continued, a trifle resentful at having been left to do work properly in
the interpretive bank's province.

The observation and interpretive banks once more came into play,
studying the situation for several minutes. "The flame appears to be the
exhaust of a fairly crude vessel," the interpretive bank finally
reported, "propelled by ignition of some gaseous mixture."

"Is it moving?"

"Quite rapidly."

"Where is it going?"

This called into play the prophecy division of the mind and Raeillo/ee13
and Raellu//2, who had been merely interested onlookers before,
hurriedly meshed themselves with the other forty nine hundred odd of
their fellows