“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. (It was impossible to say at any given time just how many there were in their computer section, as several births and deaths had occurred
among the group since beginning the current observations. These would be suspended for the next several moments, however, as there was a strict prohibition against anyone being born, dying, or otherwise engaging in extraneous activity while their particular bank was either alerted or in action.)