2. The existence of a clear hierarchy in this settlement is the main inconsistency with planetary mythology which I want to stress. As will become apparent, the social structure also relied upon the behaviour of two designated individuals which might seem to contradict the collectivism of the ideology, but I do not want to dwell as much on the possible conceptual trouble here. This is because, as we know from the Husband folio, the extent to which the idea of the individual was consistent with planetary mythology changed fundamentally during the Decline period. And besides, it is entirely possible that both roles that I am about to describe in relation to the structure of the diarist’s community were filled by collectives, rather than individuals (although I will continue under the assumption of the latter). Thus, my use of ‘they’ to refer to them covers both the ambiguities of the system of gender on the planet, and the role-holders’ genders in particular (about which we are given no information by the diarist), and ambiguities as to the number of people being referred to.