pdf file - Notes from An Alien

Verluin closed the distance, grabbed Delva in his arms and said: "We've been approved for residency!"
"Morna told me."
"What a snoop she is!"
Morna united with them in their laughter.
Anglana increased the surge of wavelets at the shore and spoke through Delva:
"Anglana is happy."
Delva's lower, more liquid tone of voice prompted Verluin to ask: "Was that Anglana talking?"
"Yes. She can apparently urge me to vocalize what she makes me feel. How marvelous!"
Verluin felt an urge to approach the water. Delva sensed it and gave him a small nudge in that direction.
Morna nearly screamed: "Stop!"
Verluin crouched and scooped a bit of Anglana into his mouth and swallowed.
He embraced Delva and said: "Faith, sweet Morna, faith."
After Verluin had united with Anglana, both of their interactions with the new life-form took on more of
the nature of thought transference, though the strong emotional component wasn't lacking. Morna's analysis was
constant. Reports to the Worlds' Council was constant. An official statement was being prepared for the Worlds'
News Mesh.
Emigration considerations were postponed until the carefully selected group of people chosen to ingest a
portion of Anglana had had time to be studied.
That is, until their remains could be studied.
Every person of that group had fallen into a state of complete ecstasy and quickly died.
Morna thought this was a breakthrough for her analysis. She postulated that enhanced plasma
communication ability was a key. She composed reports to the Worlds' Council, detailing the plasma
communication abilities of Rednaxela, Velu, Xela, Zena, and Delva plus indications that none of the dead had the
ability. She also included a method for determining potential focused plasma communication ability.
Delva's immunity was a prime consideration for future selection methods. Morna couldn't account for
Verluin's immunity.
He'd told her it was Akla's Will. She set up a separate stream of analysis, incorporated her previous
cogitations relating to possible correlations between religion and science, and set an alert if probabilities reached
85%.
The funeral of those who'd died in ecstasy was broadcast on the Worlds' News Mesh. The Council hoped
it would serve as a potent weapon against future settlers' irresponsibility.
Several months after the funeral, Delva had completed her indoctrination of the elected members of the
new Worlds' Mediation Board. The Worlds' Council had insisted she retain her title of Worlds' Mediator and
maintain abundant contact with the Board. Shortly after the announcement of the Board's incorporation, the
Council released the Proclamation of Settlement for Angla-Palli.
There were a list of requirements for emigration that alone could deter those who wanted to be settlers
solely from urges for excitement or adventure. Among them was the stipulation that all emigres be subjected to
approval by all existing Local, Regional, and Territorial Councils before the Worlds' Council could approve or
deny their acceptance. This assured two things: The people selected would be, as best as was possible, those most
suited to establish a population that expressed the many facets of the existing Worlds' culture. And, those
desiring inclusion would have to wait at least a year before the approval process had run its course.
Chirzt and Laiy were meeting with the twenty-six people who had been recruited for their cause.
Nineteen were Independents—those who wanted to influence the Worlds' Council toward more liberal attitudes
—attitudes that included measures that fostered more control by individuals over the flow of goods and the
practice of services. Seven of the recruits were Dissatisfieds—those who could be used to foment various forms of
insurrection to support the desires of the Independents.
One of the Dissatisfieds was a former Aklan. Her name was Haalii. She was an old friend of Verluin's.
She had met Delva numerous times. She was prone to vast silences and had what most called a seductive