Com) In the decades that followed the global energy and food shortages, andthe subsequent collapse of various economies, the old polities disintegrate...into city states and feudalism. The rich were excessively so, and exploited thepoor for their own private gain. Inside thecomplex on the far side of the mountain, near the ruins of the Oratory, a slavegirl was retained for the Master's personal indulgences. Her name was Shana.Having been trained by the Understudy for display before the Master. Suicide was a mortal sin. For a priest it must be an immediate fall to Hell. His soul would be damned for an eternity! Frank was quite torn: he had half a mind to rejoice, and half a mind to mourn. He could do neither. He was numb with grief over the loss of his daughter, her fleeing to the west, and his impotence at bringing the priest to account. He feared he hovered on the verge of a mental breakdown. Nothing had prepared him for such rage and anguish and helplessness.Madeline felt no. Of course, we were from a different culture, and our esthetics might be grossly different. The only way to be certain was to land and ask somebody.There was a moderately large building near the farm, so we figured that we could find someone to talk to with a minimum of difficulty. Unfortunately, the Efftwenty-seven AI was partially damaged, reason currently unknown, so that queries to it were not very helpful. The local AI didn't even know that it was damaged.We landed and smeared our faces. .. hey Alan..." What now?" Hey, come up here. Quick. Look at that." Oh, can't we just go?" No, no. Come on. Hurry."Trudging up the steel steps reluctantly, Alan caught a glimpse of something through the window. Moving up closer, and standing behind Janice, he could see it was the attractive lady he had noticed while they were in the pool.She was about twenty five years old, well shaped, and wearing a skimpy burnt orange bikini. She was standing right up against the window, facing it, and.