Father Emilio Alverez eyed his new little congregation with determination. He was the fourth missionary to be sent to teach the natives of Alpha Tau (formerly known to its inhabitants as Libreg). The other three priests had disappeared without a trace. Supposedly, they'd gone native. At least, that's what Father Alverez had been told. Of course, his knowledge of the native language left a lot to be desired.
He had been traveling and ministering in this sector of the galaxy for over a standard decade now, bringing Christianity to the alien populations, but this trip was his first time on Alpha Tau. He stood before his parishioners, a few little grey people with large black eyes, who gazed back with intense interest. He'd discovered just how much the natives had learned about the Lord, from the reports by the former priests. Apparently, they'd made great headway in their ministry, before they'd mysteriously disappeared into the planet's desert wilderness. The celebration of Mass had been encouraged by the Unified Galactic Church, and-- according to the reports-- the indigenous population had readily embraced it.
So he stood before the small congregation of perhaps 30 people, the pivotal part of the ceremony about to be preformed. He paused, raising the Host above their heads (not hard to do, they being so short), concentrating on the miracle he was about to reenact for them. Then he spoke THE WORDS:
"Take this, all of you, and eat it. This is my Body, which will be given up for you."
How was he to know that his invitation would be taken so literally?
