The Aliens of the Flaming Red Sun/15 Who will like the boy?

Proxima Centauri and the Aliens of Porrila/17 Who will like the boy?
"Whenever dad's away you're talking to somebody far away. Please talk to me mum." Mother’s maid took the boy reluctantly away. Blue Tentacles longed for a mudbath but he longed for his mother even more. The maid was basically compassionate. She could hardly bear to watch him sticking mud dispiritedly onto his tentacles. “Am I so horrible now? Even my mother won’t speak to me." “I don’t think you’re horrible just.....” “What’s wrong? Whatever I do it’s never good enough.” “May the Great Lord Sun give you the comfort you need.” “Why won’t mother speak to me?  She should speak to me.” “I don’t know.  It’s sinful to question my mistress.” “I want my mother to talk to me.” “Let’s go to the Sun Temple and find out what the priest says.“

The maid felt uncomfortable in the Family Chapel as without the boy she would not have been worthy to approach there. The Family Chapel was smaller than the Sun Temple the servants used but much better decorated. The maid and the boy lowered themselves ritually before the big glowing red image of the Great Lord Sun in the centre of the Family Chapel. “What ails you, Blue Tentacles?” the Priest asked. “Please ask the Great Lord Sun to make them all friendlier to me and to make me happy again.” The Priest was uncomfortable. They had taught him ethics. He felt he should do something to help the sad boy. He also knew his employer’s orders and wanted to keep his job. “We must all bear the burdens the Great Lord Sun puts onto us.” was all he dared to say. “Does the Great Lord Sun hate me?” “You mustn’t say that. The Great Lord Sun loves everybody.” “How?” “Don’t question, only believe.” The Priest went through the rituals of comfort. The Priest assured Blue Tentacles the Great Lord Sun was with him, protecting and comforting him. Blue Tentacles couldn’t feel any protection or comfort.

Proxima Centauri and the Aliens of Porrila/18 What next?

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