In the center of the clearing rested a spaceship! From where they stood they could see that its hull was rusted and weather-beaten.
"That hasn't flown in a long time," Saxton said, after the first few minutes of wonder.
"Probably not since it first landed here," Wallace answered.
The clearing about the vessel had been kept free of brush and bushes, and when they went across, and through the open portal of the ship, they found the inside immaculate.
"They certainly keep it clean," Saxton observed.
"It may be a shrine to them," Wallace said. "That would explain why we found Al-fin kneeling when we landed, and yet why he treated us so nonchalantly. He was worshipping our ship, not us."
"I hope they don't find us here," Saxton remarked. "We might be violating some taboo."
Most of the interior fittings of the vessel, they found, had long ago rotted away. Only the metal parts still remained intact. The instrument board was unfamiliar to them. "Pretty definitely an early model," Wallace said.
Saxton found something on one wall that held his absorbed interest. "Come here, Ivan," he called.
"What is it?" Wallace asked, going over to stand beside him.