It came to a halt before his southern surface and broadcasted to him:

"Hail, Frost! Controller of the northern hemisphere!"

"What are you?" asked Frost.

"I am called Mordel."

"By whom? What are you"

"A wanderer, an antiquarian. We whare a common interest."

"What is that?"

"Man," he said. "I have been told that you seek knowledge of thisvanished being."

"Who told you that?"

"Those who have watched your minions at their digging."

"And who are those who watch?"

"There are many such as I, who wander."

"If you are not of Solcom, then you are a creation of the Altenate."

"It does not necessarily follow. There is an ancient machine high onthe eastern seaboard which processes the waters of the ocean. Solcom didnot create it, not Divcom. It has always been there. It interferes withthe works of neither. Both countenance its existence. I can cite youmany other examples proving that one need not be either/or."

"Enough! _Are_ you an agent of Divcom?"

"I am Mordel."

"Why are you here?"

"I was passing this way and, as I said, we share a common interest,mighty Frost. Knowing you to be a fellow antiquarian, I have brought athings which you might care to see."

"What is that?"

"A book."

"Show me."

The turret opened, revealing the book upon a wide shelf.

Frost dilated a small opening and extended an optical scanner on a longjointed stalk.

"How could it have been so perfectly peserved?" he asked.

"It was stored against time and corruption in the place where I found it."

"Where was that?"

"Far from here. Beyond your hemisphere."

"_Human Physiology," Frost read. "I wish to scan it."

"Very well. I will riffle the pages for you."

He did so.

After he had finished, Frost raised his eyestalk and regarded Mordel