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Words<br />
The Worlds' Council, along with the Territorial, Regional, and Local Councils, was evolving. Trade and<br />
commerce had been common on the former religious World of <strong>An</strong>la-Purum but the former corporate World of<br />
<strong>An</strong>ga-Param had only known the all-devouring authoritarian mentality that had developed high technology while<br />
turning its citizens into zombies.<br />
The former settlers <strong>from</strong> <strong>An</strong>ga-Param, now living on <strong>An</strong>la-Purum, had adapted quickly to the freeflowing<br />
market atmosphere, developing a nearly constant stream of new tech which made many of them wealthy.<br />
The ones who returned to <strong>An</strong>ga-Param became just as wealthy, though the citizens who had stayed on their home<br />
World were prone to being ruthlessly cheated in transactions.<br />
The former religious World was becoming technological and the former corporate World was becoming<br />
familiar with bribery.<br />
A third situation, the intermarriage of the citizens of both Worlds, was creating a totally new type of<br />
<strong>An</strong>gian...<br />
The Worlds' Council, working closely with all its subsidiary Councils, took five years to settle on<br />
permanent Territorial boundaries. Many people were unhappy, many were outraged; but, the lure of new inter-<br />
World activities and its promise of new arenas of employment, influence, or power helped them remain silent or<br />
encouraged them to scheme.<br />
Author's Note: Please refer to the <strong>An</strong>gian Simulator Files for 3-D Mappings of these<br />
Territories and Their Capital Cities: http://notes<strong>from</strong>analien.yolasite.com/<strong>file</strong>s.php<br />
Religion had certainly not disappeared. There were still believers in the Lord's Army, the Faith of<br />
Eternity, and the Disciples of Faith, though in far fewer numbers than the followers of Akla. The biggest<br />
difference in the role of religion, on both Worlds, was that all Territories began to have residents <strong>from</strong> all the<br />
Faiths, though Aklana was still predominantly Aklan and the Aklans were still extremely prone to travel and offer<br />
whatever aid to others they could. They only died in their travels, now, <strong>from</strong> freak accidents.<br />
Delva and Verluin were visiting the village of Ut in the Vesol Region of the Aklana Territory. Since their<br />
marriage, she had co-opted his presence with her—the Worlds' Council could find another prime physician.<br />
They were sitting in a cottage with Nii and Rzo, two local Aklans. Nii was calming her children and<br />
assigning them their evening tasks while Rzo finished bringing the evening meal to the table.<br />
Morna said: "I find the lives people are now living seem to be either intensely peace-filled or avidly<br />
tasking."<br />
Rzo set a plate in front of Delva and said: "Morna, you knew Rednaxela better than anyone and you spent<br />
time in Akla's Presence. Tell me how you view the role of religion in our rapidly changing Worlds' culture."<br />
"My view of religion is that it is a two-edged sword—either it carves a space for sharing and love or it<br />
cleaves the heart <strong>from</strong> the mind. There are many who love to cleave but the carvers are still with us. I think the<br />
principles of religion should be taught widely but only if the fanatic edge of faith is restrained."<br />
Delva chuckled and said: "So poetic, Morna."<br />
"I am learning, no?"<br />
Nii came and sat at the table: "Morna, I heard what you said and it's got my curiosity up about you. I find<br />
you to be not just poetic but deeply, well... Metaphysical. Do you essentially repeat things you've learned or do<br />
you have a creative component to your mind."<br />
"The jury is still out on that one, Nii."<br />
The shared laughter turned itself into the ritual of social dining. After a moment of various appreciative<br />
sounds, Delva spoke up:<br />
"Morna is extremely creative when she manipulates the vast amount of information she's gained over the<br />
years. She's a poetic journalist of sorts. I wish, when I have eighty things to decide immediately, that she could be