AN alien visited Earth to research the local customs.

Back at his ship he told his commander about a religious ceremony he had seen.

"I went to a large green field. Around the edges, several thousand worshippers gather.

"Then two priests walk to a rectangular area in the centre of the field and hammer six spears into the ground, three at each end.

"Then eleven more priests walk out, clad in white robes. Then two high priests wielding clubs walk to the centre and one of the other priests starts throwing a red orb at the ones with the clubs."

"What happens next?" said the commander.

"Then it begins to rain."