Preacher Man

Next, the Vicate, second in line to the Papal See, Delgan Delcourdo, stepped to the mike. He was a short, slime colored male. Right now, sweltering in the last of this day's heat, the he was kicking himself for suggesting this trip. He just wanted to get these ceremonies over with. The sooner he got done, the sooner he could get back to his cool habitat in the Summer Palais and those fresh breeders that he had just shipped in from home. The rings on his fingers and fat belly said little for his vows of piety and poverty. He waved to the crowd’s cheers.

  “What's on the Father Visitor's mind, Par?”

  She shuddered mentally, “Ewww. Part’s of it even I can’t look at. Mostly, he's wishing that he had not been in such a hurry to show up his idiot cousin, the commandant. He hates this weather."

  “Don't we all.”

  Zac laughed, “I’ve never been happier.”

  “He's got some big plans, though.”

  “Plans?” He looked at her sternly as the other Frog droned on, “What plans?”

  “I wish to surprise thee...”

  Wishing he was better at mind searching these Frogs, “Paris, ma sweet, this is no time for games.”

  “Hear for thy self, you silly buzz gwump. Focus, lad, ye kin do this.” Suddenly the thoughts of the Father Visitor were clearly into his own mind.

  “Now yer gettin' it, laddie.”

  “Hush, Dad, I'm tryin' ta concentrate.”

  “Dinna concentrate, sonny. Relax, let yer mind go.”

  “Hush, the bot’ of yas.”

  “Sorry.”

  What he was hearing was the inside chatter of this Frogs mind. The Vicate had never known such heat. At this moment, he felt as if all of the baths in the world could not remove the greasy feeling from his skin caused by this frightful heat and humidity. But, he was a trooper. He could still play to the cameras. Placing his brightest smile on his face, he beamed into the cameras, "We are most proud of this Brother."

  (cheers)

  Holding up his hands for quiet, he continued, “His Majesty and myself feel that this man should be raised to the post of permanent local Father. He will be Sheppard of this entire district.”

  (cheers)

  He put his hands out, "Kneel, Father."

  Zeer knelt. “Are you ready to Sheppard this flock?”

  “I am ready, Holiness. I gladly accept the souls that the Mother Church or the Master give to me to tend. I will make them into a flock.”

  (cheers)

  A Blue Sheppard’s Cloak was laid over his shoulders, covering the brown cowl of a Brother.

  (more cheers)

  “Thee will travel no more. You will serve on this rock called Tarra, you will plant a great church.”

  (more cheers)

  “Rise. Your work is now here (cheers)These,” he waved his hand grandly over the crowd, playing it big for the viddies, “Zzeeze people are yours to bring to Him who called us both.”

  He knelt again, The Vicate placed his green webbed hands on Zeer’s head. When the crowd had settled, he said, “With the Master’s strength, will you do His work…”

  “I will…”

  (the crowd noise drops to a hush)

  “O main…”

  “O main,” said the crowd and more cheering broke out. When the cheers had died down, Zeer asked the Visitor, "Holy Father, does this mean that a larger permanent church building will be built here?”

  The Visitor gave a quick look to the Viceroy. The Viceroy was quick. The Viceroy’s squeaky voice piped in, “We have no church at this place?" he said with a great flourish of pretended surprise.

  They had intended to embarrass the commandant if they got the opportunity. Here it was, dropped in their fat little laps.

  The Viceroy, glutton for publicity that he is, stepped foreward, “We must reward the efforts of this hero. I will pay for the new church myself.”

  Now, the crowd cheered and leaped for joy. Actually, this new building project had been planned for months. The Father Visitor had known there was no church and that having a Sheppard in this parish would require a permanent facility. He also knew that the church was completely at the mercy of the government for funding.

  Luckily, caught up in the moment, the Viceroy had agreed that this planet needed a focus for its religious energy and another monument to his great leadership. A Cathedral with his name on the corner stone was a perfect response to this act of heroism.