Adobe .pdf - Notes from An Alien

their deaths and the unwillingness of anyone, except Velu and Zena, to venture into the Unholy
Lands. One thing was certain: their martyrdoms seemed to have no appreciable effect on how
many were being of service, except that the faces kept changing.
The settlers claimed some 1,087,000 people.
Exact numbers for any group were also suspect because members of one group became
members of another group with no predictability.
Anla-Purum was, to say the least, in flux.
Anga-Param, on the other hand, still had the technology to keep painstaking track of its
citizens. However, since the former Corporate government had evaporated, the tallying of citizens
had become an indicator, daily, of the remaining population's will to survive. The planet had, at
last count, 21,344 people.
War is, truly, hell...
~~~
Velu was sitting up during one of the resting spells between her bouts of exhausting labor. Zena
stood near. They were in their home, not far from where Akla's body was laid to rest. Three Aklan
women were in constant attendance and thousands of Aklans were outside, ranging up and down
the mountain valley. Every major turn of event in Velu's birth process was communicated, mouthto-mouth,
through the valley and down to the low lands, then on to the rest of the Unholy Lands'
residents.
Akla had hinted at a very special birth and the time to expect it. The character of Velu and Zena
had focused the hint on this birth.
Twenty-six hours since the beginning of Velu's travail and each hour had seen more visible
activity in the plasma streams in the atmosphere above their home—red and green and purple
waves and ribbons of color, giving a completely festive feeling to the birth process.
Zena handed Velu a warm drink and she said:
"Our child will rename this territory."
Knowing his wife was seeing what she said, he asked:
"What will she call it?"
"She?" Velu cocked an eyebrow and a small smile.
"Velu, you know I know."
"Your powers are resurging."
"Yes. I've needed raw, stark rationality to deal with the Worlds' situation but our child's energy
is calling my powers out."
"Are you ready to hear the name I've chosen?"
"If you're ready to reveal it."
"Delva."
"Sweet Breeze..."
"Good?"
"Perfect!"
Velu had a major contraction and Delva's crown peeped out. Velu slid her body off the bed and
crouched over the birth blankets. Two of her Aklan attendants sat in front and one behind. Zena
stood where he could see, his mind recalling one of Velu's favorite prayers. He sang:
"Oh, Eternal One!
Oh, our Hope!
Be with us and bring us joy.
Fill us with Your Spirit."
The plasma display intensified.
The Aklans began a cheering chant.
Baby Delva didn't cry...
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