“It’s hard to accept but we are almost forced to conclude they are emanating from the mobile unit itself, or rather from the living part within the cocoon.”
“You’re positive they aren’t the product of some of the Rell-beings inside?”
“Almost positive. The mesh insists not. In fact, it claims this is an un-Rell like type of intelligence, though that appears to be a contradiction in terms. The thought pattern is completely outside our experience. In fact, it is so alien we haven’t broken it down yet to the meaning behind it.”
“But if the Rell inside are too large to have developed intelligence, how could this gigantic monster in which they live have done so?”
“We cannot yet say. Remember, the theory that intelligence cannot develop in creatures above a certain size is unproven, even though never before challenged. We’ve watched other races die through failure to adapt to change so apparently it is true of Rell-like creatures on this world. But who can say about organisms on another world or of the unprecedented size of this one? Completely different physical laws may apply.”
It was later that afternoon after the Rell had spent much time observing Brown while Brown was busy observing the landscape that the interpretive bank made the triumphant announcement, “We have it! We’ve broken the thought waves down to their meanings and know what he’s thinking. What would you like to know first?”
“Check and see if there are any Rell inside the other thing or on his home world. They might have constructed him.”
“Apparently there are none, or at least no intelligent Rell, on his world. We can’t guide his mind but the memory bank recorded all [94] ]the thoughts we’ve received and some time ago he was thinking of something he termed ‘vermin’. Apparently these are sometimes Rell-like creatures, although far larger. He regards them as a great nuisance, but mindless. The big thing, by the way, he calls a ‘ship’ and it is utterly lifeless. We needn’t fear the flame until this creature leaves.”
“What about him? What is he like?”
“That’s the most exciting part! He thought of his bodily needs once and we glimpsed