Then he recalled it.  Once, many years earlier when gigantic chemically powered rockets were used for the earliest probing of space from the third planet, he had watched a count-down in a block house... and he recalled now the same low voices, the same relaxed, very diverse but coordinated actions, the same rising exultant expectancy as the count grew ever smaller.  They were "waiting for fullness," that was certain.  But for what?  Why were they so happy?  Their Temple and all they had built had just been destroyed... yet they seemed like kids on the night before Christmas.