curate one possible for the massed intellect of Arisia to construct
from the information available at the moment. The Moulders therefore,
after describing briefly what they have already done, will inform us as
to what they deem it necessary to do in the near future."

"We have observed, and at times have guided, the evolution of
intelligent life upon many planets," the fusion began. "We have, to the
best of our ability, directed the energies of these entities into the
channels of Civilization; we have adhered consistently to the policy of
steering as many different races as possible toward the intellectual
level necessary for the effective use of the Lens, without which the
proposed Galactic Patrol cannot come into being.

"For many cycles of time we have been working as individuals with the
four strongest races, from one of which will be developed the people who
will one day replace us as Guardians of Civilization. Blood lines have
been established. We have encouraged matings which concentrate traits
of strength and dissipate those of weakness. While no very great
departure from the norm, either physically or mentally, will take place
until after the penultimates have been allowed to meet and to mate, a
definite general improvement of each race has been unavoidable.

"Thus the Eddorians have already interested themselves in our budding
Civilization upon the planet Tellus, and it is inevitable that they will
very shortly interfere with our work upon the other three. These four
young Civilizations must be allowed to fall. It is to warn every Arisian
against well-meant but inconsidered action that this conference was
called. We ourselves will operate through forms of flesh of no higher
intelligence than, and indistinguishable from, the natives of the
planets affected. No traceable connection will exist between those forms
and us. No other Arisians will operate within extreme range of any one
of those four planets; they will from now on be given the same status as
has been so long accorded Eddore itself. The Eddorians must not learn of
us until after it is too late for them to act effectively upon that
knowledge. Any chance bit of information obtained by any Eddorian must
be obliterated at once. It is to guard against and to negate such
accidental disclosures that our Watchmen have been trained."

"But if all of our Civilizations go down...." Eukonidor began to
protest.

"Study will show you, youth, that the general le