Chapter 50

The creature disappeared. A moment later, one spotlight came on, which shone directly on Kezak. A small example of the creature's superior technology. As Kezak again addressed the crowd with reassuring words, several people converged on Kezak's position: Korn, two of his superiors, Koh, and Konti, still perched on Kirk's shoulders. Kezak finished with the crowd, stepped out of the spotlight, and spoke to the six gathered there.

"Konti, get down from there. Does Kirk know what's going on?"

"Not a clue, though I'm sure he knows something is going on."

At a signal, Kirk released Konti's feet, Konti jumped down, and Kirk stood quietly. Kezak continued.

"We don't have much time. First question: are we going to give him what he wants, or try to fight him? Second question: are we going to try to persuade him to take Kirk? And third question: what about the fear issue? And my opinion on the first question is that he probably can do whatever he wants, so fighting him is a useless waste of lives. Konti?"

"I will do what I am ordered to do."

He looked directly at his father. Korn got nods from his two superiors. He spoke quietly, but firmly.

"Kirk is expendable."

Konti did not reply. He was thinking that Kirk himself would agree. But Kezak was talking again.

"We have so little time. Korn, perhaps you could gather the other volunteers we need, while Konti and I try to figure out how to make him pick Kirk."

He handed Korn the megaphone, and drew Konti, Koh, and Kirk away from Korn and his two superiors. Korn addressed the crowd and called for fifteen volunteers, young adult males without families. They came, though reluctantly. It seemed no one was eager to be breakfast for a monster from space. Kezak talked quietly.

"Koh, can you loosen that head device so Kirk can hear, without it appearing that he can?"

"Yes." Koh did so.

"Kirk, can you hear me?"

"Yes."

"We have very little time, so just listen. The show has been interrupted by a visitation from outer space. He has cut power to the entire planet, and demands one live specimen to eat for breakfast, before he will go away and leave us alone. And he's made no promises not to come back, though he says it's unlikely. Korn's superiors have okayed the idea that you be the victim.

"We have two problems. The monster has demanded a lineup of twenty of us, from which he will choose one. We have to figure out a way to be sure he chooses you. Secondly, he has specified that the victim must be one who does not fear. I don't know whether he will judge by outward appearance, or if he has some way of knowing the true state of your emotions.

"I've left the head device on you, because we want the audience to think you have no idea what is going on. We know you're the best person in this whole building to face this without fear. But we can't let them know that. You'll have to ad-lib your last act. There's no time to script it. Any questions?"

"Eaten alive by a monster. This should be interesting." He smiled. "Konti, I'm glad it wasn't you. No time for goodbyes either." He looked at each of them as though he could see them. "I love you guys! It's been great fun! Don't grieve for me - remember the joy!"

The monster returned as Kirk was speaking. Konti took his right elbow, Koh his left. Kezak took up position on the other side of Koh. Korn stepped up to stand next to Konti. The other volunteers joined the line, and they waited in tense silence.

"Well, I'm glad to see you have decided to cooperate," the voice boomed. "Take one step forward, and spread out, please. Now starting at this end," he gestured with an appendage, "turn around slowly, so I can look at you."

Kirk thought the voice sounded artificial, but that was reasonable since it was speaking Klingon. This seemed highly unusual monster-behavior, almost civilized. Oh well, even the civilized had to eat. He began pondering what he could do to be noticed, that wouldn't be out of character. He heard Konti turn around. His turn next, but he waited for Konti to turn him. A few moments later the monster spoke again.

"Counting from the same end, will numbers 2,3,5,8,9,11,12,14,17, and 19 take another step forward. The rest of you can sit down."

Korn and Koh were out. Konti, Kirk, and Kezak were 11,12, and 14.

"Now starting from the other end, each of you say one word."

Kezak's word was a Klingon phrase that meant, 'the show must go on'. Then it was Kirk's turn. He remained silent. After an awkward pause, Kezak explained that he could not hear.

"Ah, a deaf-mute. That is unfortunate. Next, please."

Konti's word was, "Jesus."

Kirk whispered urgently to Konti.

"He's going to reject me! Do something! Pick me up and throw me down in front of the line. Now!"

Konti did, just as the monster had heard from the last person in line.

"What's this? Dissension in the ranks? For that, you will both stay. Also, 3,5,14, and 19. You others are dismissed. The six of you remaining, strip down to the waist. I want to see your muscles."

Kirk slowly stood up and faced Konti, with typical slave demeanor in his body language. Thanks to Konti's workouts, he shouldn't get rejected for lack of muscle mass. He waited quietly.

"All right. 3,5, and 19 dismissed. You three who remain take off any metal you are still wearing."

Konti and Kezak took off their belts, chainmail skirts, and boots, leaving them almost naked. Koh ran up and removed Kirk's handcuffs and the head device. Kirk took one look at the monster and turned to Konti.

"Wh...h...a...a...tt is tha...at!?"

Konti stepped in close, grabbed Kirk by the arms, and shook him til he rattled.

"You will be silent! Not a sound out of you, or I will tape your mouth. Do you understand me?!"

Kirk gulped convulsively and managed a nod.

"So, he is not a deaf-mute after all. Excellent. Now comes the most important test. The three of you will walk towards me until I tell you to stop. You will then stand motionless while I touch you; and we will see which of you fears."

Konti and Kezak each took one of Kirk's arms, and he allowed himself to be led, while appearing to be absolutely terrified. Within a few steps, they encountered a gravity threshold. Konti and Kirk, being spacemen, adjusted immediately with hardly a misstep. Kezak had no idea how to walk in one-third standard gravity.

"Just glide," whispered Kirk.

As they continued to move closer, Kirk got the impression that they had crossed a sound barrier as well. He suspected the audience would not hear anything they said. His guess was further supported by the fact that the monster's voice had lost its booming quality.

"That's far enough. Spread out. That's right - 12 must stand without being forced. Indeed, each of you must stand still, though it may interest you to know that if you must scream, no one except your two companions will hear you."

So Kirk's guess was confirmed. The monster extended an appendage towards each of them, waved it in their faces, and wrapped it around their waists, pinning their arms. Then without warning, he raked the end of his appendage across Kirk's chest. Konti and then Kezak likewise received the same treatment. Kezak gasped.

"You all right?" inquired Kirk.

"I guess so." Kezak's response was shaky.

Kirk glanced at Konti, who gave him a reassuring smile. Neither of them had reacted to the knife-like pain. Since there was no visible damage to either of his companions, Kirk didn't even bother to look at his own chest. The monster held them pinned while he resumed talking.

"Most surprising. Not what I would have guessed from your appearance. 14, how well do you know your companions? Tell me what you think the results of my test are."

Kezak looked at Kirk, who nodded fractionally.

"We are actors. It is our business to appear other than as we truly are. Of the three of us, I fear the most, though I have put on a bold face. Konti fears less, partly because of his experience with the unknown, partly because of his association with Kirk, and partly because he wishes you would choose him, though he knows you won't. Kirk simply doesn't fear. But it is important for Konti's future health, that the audience continue to think Kirk is a coward. So will you please not tell them that Kirk is fearless?"

The appendage holding Kirk squeezed him slightly.

"Is he telling the truth?"

"Yes. I have a request before you begin your meal."

"I thought perhaps the reason for your lack of fear was ignorance."

"That is what we want the audience to think. Do you understand the concept of honoring one's given word?"

"Yes."

"I want you to give me your word that you will take from this planet no one's life except mine."

"You are in no position to bargain. I told your companion that already."

"I am prepared to give you as pleasant a meal experience as you can describe. Do you prefer a victim who struggles and screams, or one who is relaxed and peaceful? Either Konti or Kezak will verify that I can deliver what I promise. Do you have any specific desires?"

"I would like for you to remain completely relaxed, and yet deliver a blood-curdling scream, choked off at the point of death, which I will broadcast to the entire building. Can you do that?"

"I can if I deliver the scream early. It will sound like the point of death, but I will still be conscious. Do we have any visuals to worry about?"

"No. You will be completely encased in my arms."

"Why are you concerning yourself with our need to have it appear that I am a coward?" Kirk asked.

"Because it amuses me. I have never encountered a victim whose concern was other than self-preservation."

"I don't mind dying; I don't even mind being your breakfast. What I do mind is the idea that my life is not enough, that you would come back and take others too."

"If you can maintain complete relaxation, I will do as you wish."

"Thank you. Will you release my friends now?"

Kirk turned first to Kezak.

"Thanks for everything. It was great fun. Talk to Konti about Jesus, Kezak."

"Goodbye, Kirk." Kezak turned and stumbled away.

"Konti, remember Jesus is with you even after I'm gone. Take care of Koh. Don't let him wallow in depression."

"Kirk - I'll never forget you!"

"Jesus is the reason I came. Don't ever let go of Him. Goodbye, Konti."

"Goodbye, Kirk."

Konti turned away. Kirk took a deep breath.

"Ready whenever you are."

The monster began wrapping his appendages around Kirk's body. Something about this felt familiar. Another ghost of a memory. Almost done with the aching void. Well, Spock had been right, as usual. Now why...(sigh) It hadn't been years, but it had been a lot longer than he expected. He'd enjoyed it very much. Life was hard to leave. He wondered what eternal life would be like. Undoubtedly worth this present unpleasantness, though so far, it wasn't particularly unpleasant.

He was now completely enclosed. He wondered what came next. The appendages began squeezing him. He thought briefly of a boa constrictor, but this squeezing was different - an undulating motion, and not severe enough to be painful. Kirk lost contact with the floor, lay back, and enjoyed the massage. When would it be time to deliver the scream? Certainly not before it started to hurt.

The squeezing was starting to become a little more aggressive, but nothing he would have called painful. He had assumed the whole process would be over in minutes. Perhaps he was wrong. He hoped Konti and the others wouldn't have to watch a lengthy death scene.

Suddenly the knife-like pain landed on his head, just for a second. A few moments later, he did it again, almost a caress, his touch was so light. A third and fourth time seemed to increase the intensity of the pain. Kirk wondered if the monster was trying to knock him out. If so, he'd have to work a lot harder than that. The next touch was much more prolonged, and he heard a voice in his head.

*Scream.*

"Well, if you insist. I'm nowhere near dying."

*Do it now.*

So Kirk gathered himself for the scream. As he did so, the squeezing suddenly became actually painful, though he was certain he had no broken bones, nor did it approach agony. The head pains increased in frequency, as the appendages repeatedly touched and withdrew.

Kirk screamed.

Konti heard it as he watched the monster eat Kirk. What a way to die! 'Interesting,' Kirk had called it. Well, it certainly wasn't boring! 'Remember the joy,' Kirk had said. They had been having a wonderfully joyous time, before this monster had spoiled it. 'Don't harbor bitterness against the one who kills me,' Kirk had said.

Konti prayed. Lord, this is hard. My soul hurts. I need Your peace, Lord, to be able to walk through this with joy. Kirk is still my friend and always will be. I am so thankful for everything he gave, for all that he was.

Konti moved outside himself to pray for Koh and Kezak. A few minutes later, the monster finished eating, thanked them for a delicious meal, and departed. The next minute, power was restored, and things could return to normal. As Konti turned away, he reflected that nothing would ever be normal again. But in spite of the pain of loss, he was not sorry that Kirk had come into his life. Kirk had changed him from the inside out, just by being who he was. And Konti would never be the same. He was profoundly glad.