pdf file - Notes from An Alien

Beauty
Burlim had sent his most trusted people to attend the checkout of the new arrivals from ShipTwo, almost
all suffering from electro-shock trauma. He doubted the priests would allow them more than a cursory
examination. Even though they were becoming quite addicted to the technological marvels his people could give
them, the priests still showed them little in the way of real trust. He felt the most important thing they'd done, at
least as far as the priests were concerned, was making the transfer pods capable of re-docking in spite of any
attempt to lock them out. Once the re-docking had been accomplished, the short-range stunners they'd made had
been the key to taking ShipTwo.
He continued to wonder about the captain of ShipOne, Rednaxela—the man who had chosen a crew that
fought so well to save their ship—the man whose daughter he was about to meet.
Rednaxela was reported to be in the Unholy Lands with the supposed Savior of the Narians. Burlim's
people had come up with a way to filter their operatives into the region of the Disciples of Faith but this religious
group, even though light-years more rational than the Lord's Army, was still too cautious to aid the Angan
counter movement in its attempts to penetrate the Unholy Lands.
The method they were using to get their people into Suva, the main territory of the Disciples was
gruesome but effective. The Anlan priests were totally blind to the individuality of their followers. Except for the
sexual differences, they seemed to literally see them as interchangeable. This most propitious mental flaw made
it easy to substitute the more pliant followers of the priests for the Chosen Ones among his own people. His mind
was intrigued by how the Anlans and Angans had evolved to look essentially alike—so similar that the priests
would accept one of their own as a sacrifice when they'd intended to kill one of his people—make of them a fitting
Gift to their God for His Grace and Mercy in sending so many new people to their failing population. And, since
they took little notice of how many followers they actually had, the substitutions enabled his people to make their
way, ever so covertly, toward Suva. If this girl, Velu, was as remarkable as his people had said, she could be the
key that unlocked the path to the territory of Vaei and then to the Unholy Lands—the ultimate staging ground for
what Burlim planned as his people's new home. Even though those in the Unholy Lands were the avowed
enemies of the Lord's Army and the Faith of Eternity, the priests never considered going there to deal with their
most feared enemies. Their superstitions would be his people's protection.
Burlim wished he had time to fathom the incredibly fogged and twisted consciousness of these Anlan
priests, let alone the unnatural submissiveness of their followers. All he could do now was hope he lived long
enough to earn that time. And, if he did earn it, he was sure he would spend no more time thinking about such
strange people.
He nodded to Sousna, who was pointing out Velu and Jalur to him, and told her: "Make sure of things.
Auren is preparing the escape route."
As he approached father and daughter he was struck with a wonder that he found disturbing—Velu was
completely calm to the outer eye yet clearly communicated immense power to him. This should be impossible in
the convoluted layers of plasma his people had created in this area. Still, there was no doubt it was happening.
Velu spoke.
"We must begin our journey."
"How do you know I'm the person to say that to?"
"You have the right clothes on and others who have spoken to us about our plans defer to you."
"Jalur, this is not your natural daughter?"
"Natural? No, not biologically, but, naturally, she is my daughter because she wants to be. She wants two
fathers."
Burlim watched Velu hug Jalur's arm and barely saw the young girl behind the overwhelming thoughtpower
she was exuding.
"Velu, I assume I'm one of the few you're allowing to feel your thoughts?"
"Yes, but we must go."
"I respect your mental accomplishments, Velu, but unless you can make the priests do what you will, we
must take the necessary precautions and use circumspection."
Velu released her father's arm and stepped closer to Burlim: "Sir, for some reason, I have abilities that