Notes from An Alien (6 page)

    Velu looked at Xela's dark form against the starry sky and hoped for her response. Xela sighed deeply and said:

    "Velu, your Angan leaders are more insane that any Purum priest and your World's people are much worse off than any devout believer of the Lord's Army or Faith of Eternity. They might be killed in a senseless ritual to appease a perverted concept of God but they die with a trace of faith in their hearts that can't help but serve them well in the Life Eternal. Your people, Velu, are dead every day of their lives and die in absolute estrangement from the spiritual realm."

    "There were the Haria on Anga but they're almost all gone. What the priests think is happening with their concentrated use of plasma communication isn't. Anga has trained cells of people to mimic the reception of the priests' efforts. Most die in the process."

    Xela clutched Velu's shoulders: "Is this your best guess, Velu, or are you seeing these things?"

    "I'm seeing them."

    Morna, as usual, summed-up: "Xela, it appears the Angans, your Params, are becoming viciously desperate. And, Velu, it appears you are growing in what you call spirit much faster than we thought was possible."

    "Morna, you know I have no desire to avow any particular religious claim but I feel like I'm beginning to experience what folks call visions."

    She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

    Beli-Pallos, with its visible plasma sheath of purple streamers, began its rise.

    Xela said: "Our Mother Planet has been said to inspire religious experience, Velu."

    "It's the plasma glow, Xela. It gives the conscious mind a reason to let the unconscious flow with the ever-present, invisible plasma."

    "Can you tell if Pallos' moon has life?"

    "We will go there."

    "You and I and Morna?"

    "No. The people who are left after the war has ended. Don't ask me how I know, Xela, I just do."

    Zena returned from his night wanderings by skittering down the slanting face of the cliff above the cave, sending down a cascade of rock chips. He jumped the last few feet and strode up to Velu and embraced her as he said: "Your Beli, my Pallos, the Mother planet of all our people can't do anything to help except just be herself and glow."

    They all gazed at the gas giant planet orbiting out beyond Anla-Purum, about eight million miles away, its glowing plasma sheath the width of a hand stretched wide open.

~~~

Burlim had received the news of Velu's recent vision of what the Angan leadership was doing. He was glad they were floundering in their efforts to keep the planet's infrastructure functioning but couldn't help mourn the imminent death of his people's ability to experience even a semblance of normal life. Normal life... What was that in the insanity of the World's war? Was his effort to save and relocate his people on Anla an act of sanity? The priests were killing off their own people as Gifts to their God and believing Anga would send more settlers. They thought their concentrated plasma attacks were affecting the Angans.

    Morna had predicted physical war between the Lord's Army and the Faith of Eternity and Burlim hoped it would happen soon. The distraction would let him relocate his people en masse and he could begin to hope that life with the Disciples of Faith would outlast whatever Anga threw at this planet.

    The defensive plasma weapons were in place and could be activated remotely. He thought the best plan would be to let Anga hit the Lord's Army territory first, then turn on the defensive weapons. Was there any way to hasten the civil war? Could he hope for a miracle?

    He snapped himself out of his reverie, deploring having thought, even briefly, about miracles.

~~~

Surgenta neared his destination. He'd walked nearly half-way around the planet and would soon fulfill his trust. He'd eaten very little. His clothes were filthy. His heart was joyous and his mind was clear.

    Akla had told him the landmarks and assured him the High Priest would be passing with his entourage when Surgenta arrived. He had no idea how Akla could know these things but he didn't care. He obeyed because he believed his mission was critical and just.

    He stopped on a small rise next to the road and sat. He was looking forward to his death and he prayed he would be given the right words at the right time.

    The religious caravan approached. Surgenta rose and walked to the cart carrying the High Priest. He offered the folded paper Akla had given him and said: "I bring word from your Lord. Heed and Rejoice."

    The priest read the message and immediately ordered his Protectors to seize Surgenta. The procession was ordered to erect the holy platform and stake. The Knife Bearers and Blood Tenders were ordered to prepare.

    The paper that Surgenta had carried half-way around the planet and that brought his death close said:

    "Oh, Priest! Your ways have overstepped the bounds of faith and reason. You have followed your own illusions and disregarded the Words of your own Prophet. Your kingdom is near to its destruction and one who boasts as you do, who makes the same claims of knowledge direct from God, will bring you low. I have visited you in your dreams and appeared before your face yet you have clung to your own way and not the way of the eternal God. Your death and the dissolution of your kingdom is a Gift from Me. Savor its sweetness."

~~~

Two years passed as the civil war raged. The Lord's Army had initiated it and had gotten the worst of it.

    The Angan settlers were integrating themselves into the Disciples of Faith's way of life.

    Soon Anga would launch ShipThree. Soon Burlim would activate the defensive weapons.

    The years had seen many visits by Narians but not a word from Akla. The Narians mingled with the Disciples and Angans, dispensing goodwill and helping in any way they could to ease the growing anxiety of the Angan's imminent attack. No one knew if the defense would hold. Velu was often questioned about how things would be but her powers seemed to have withdrawn. She and Zena had begun taking trips, for days, to the mountains and the sea, hoping the retreats would help her regenerate her powers. Xela was extremely busy working to integrate the Angans into her society. This was not easy with people inclined to completely dismiss anything spiritual. Still, the work was necessary to maintain the spirituality of her own people, especially since marriages were starting to happen between the two populations. She had her own form of retreat—seeking the darkest spots at night and meditating while absorbing the sight of the Mother Planet's glow. She'd learned from Burlim that Beli-Pallos was indeed the mother of Anga-Param and Anla-Purum. It had, according to the Angan scientists, expelled the planets in a long distant time when the gas giant was much larger, possibly a companion star to Angi. And the moon of the Mother, Angla-Palli? It was nearly the same size as her planet and the Angans' home world. Could it be reached with ShipTwo? Would the two Worlds annihilate each other? Would ShipTwo still exist after ShipThree began its attack?

    Xela pulled herself from the entanglement of meditation and worry. She hugged herself and returned to her duties.

~~~

ShipThree's attack began well before it attained orbit. ShipTwo had been moved behind the planet and the defenses had, just in time, been extended to the Disciple's territory.

    The first attack was, as expected on the capital city of the Lord's Army Dominion. The second was on the capital of the Faith of Eternity and the third on the capital of the Disciples of Faith.

    What was left of the Lord's Army was well-protected—Burlim hadn't waited till after the attack to initiate defense.

    Since no one had been able to install defensive plasmas for the Faith of Eternity, its people had been decimated.

    The Disciples of Faith's defense was only partially effective and many died.

    Burlim was busy rushing to the various control spots to see to repairs. Xela was underground. Velu and Zena were well on their way into the Unholy Lands.

~~~

In all, ShipThree had unleashed seventy-two bolts of highly-charged plasma in fifteen minutes. The defenses had cycled between working and failing twenty times and there was mass devastation. Burlim had been killed but one of his last acts before the attack had paid off—his rigging of the orbital laser that powered the ships so its frequency could be shifted. The failures of their defenses had initially kept the Angans from reaching the controls for the laser but, finally, ShipThree was no more.

    Xela discovered the journey her son and Velu had begun and immediately ordered the Assembly to rule in her stead as she swiftly took to the roads.

~~~

Xela was welcomed in the Narian's main city, Oaur. Zena and Velu soon joined her and she immediately began her questions:

    "What were you thinking of?"

    Velu took the initiative:

    "We wanted to anticipate your next move and prepare for what we knew you wanted."

    "What I wanted?"

    "Yes, an audience with Akla."

    Xela wasn't surprised at Velu's prescience but her questions were brought to a halt. Velu continued:

    "He's willing to see you but it can't be today. He feels you need time to acclimate yourself, make the transition from war to peace, in his words."

    "How did you get to him? He sees no one."

    "He was waiting to greet us when we arrived, Xela."

~~~

She approached Akla's tent with curiosity and confidence—she had many serious matters to discuss with this purported Prophet. As she entered and approached Akla she began to swoon. She steadied herself then fell to her knees. Akla rose and helped her to a cushion. He served her a cup of tea and gave her a cloth for her perspiration then returned to his divan.

    "I understand you have questions for me, Xela."

    She couldn't remember any of her questions.

    After a pause, Akla continued:

    "Your first question was to ask me for proof of my Prophethood. I ask you to search your mind for the answers in the knowledge you have of your own Holy Book. A pure heart will assure you of my claim.

    "Your second question deals with my using my influence to help you establish the Disciples of Faith as the ruling religion on this planet. That I will not do.

    "Your third question seemed to you of small consequence but is as important as the other two. Why were my followers leaving this land in the numbers you observed as you traveled here? They are pursuing their religious duty. They are going to the victims of the attacks, in all the other territories, to lend their assistance—physical and spiritual. Many will be killed in the territories of the Lord's Army and Faith of Eternity, martyrs to their Faith. They will resist no attack. Their example will spread My Message more quickly than hours of words."

    Akla paused then said: "What say you?"

    Xela sat and stared at his magnificent face. She felt reassured even though he had denied his help. She felt extremely humbled and wondered at the feeling.

    "Akla, it's very obvious you have masterful control of plasma communication. I thought Velu was the epitome of talent but you are far more proficient."

    "Dear Xela, Velu is a special individual. I chose her and have aided her since she was a child but what I display is of a different order, a different plane of existence. You still see Me with veiled eyes yet your study and service to your religion should have prepared you to see Me with My eyes. You will lead your people in securing the peace on this planet and will initiate diplomatic talks with the Angans. But, when the time comes to prove your faith in God, you will fatally falter. I forgive you for that now."

    Akla rose and helped Xela to her feet. He led her out into the night and set her on the track back to her tent. She walked in a daze, heart at peace and mind roiling in abysmal confusion.

~~~

Xela did begin the unification of the planet and did initiate peace talks with the Angans. Velu and Zena stayed in the Unholy Lands.

4 ~ Grandeur

Selections from the Trade/Peace Treaty between Anga-Param and Anla-Purum:

Article 12B:

It is hereby confirmed and covenanted that trade between our two Worlds will consist of:

    A: Settlers being sent from Anga-Param to Anla-Purum.

        Said settlers to have been given irrevocable access to endocrine implant deactivation techniques.

    B: Goods and considerations, to be determined by both Worlds in top-level discussions.

        Said goods and considerations shall be subject to thorough examination by the respective Trade Boards of each World, final approvals to be given by the Leadership Councils.

    C: Other critical items and people deemed necessary for continued free flow of trade.

        Said critical items and people to be cleared by Worlds' Trade Boards and Worlds' established Leadership Councils.

    D: Quantities and timing of delivery of the above mentioned trade items will be determined by joint approval by both Worlds' Leadership Councils.

Article 48A:

Concerning LightSail Ships:

    ShipTwo is hereby determined to be the property of the Leadership Council of Anla-Purum.

    ShipFour, when it arrives at Anla-Purum, will also become the property of its Leadership Council.

    For each close approach of the two Worlds one LightSail Ship will be automatically permitted to make the voyage to the World it is not orbiting. More flights than this must be jointly approved by both Worlds' Leadership Councils.