The Eye of the Llama

by Gary D. Snyder

Part 12:

Carl struggled valiantly, his arms straining mightily and beads of sweat speckling his face.

"Come on, Carl," Sheen urged. "One more to go."

"Just…one…more," Carl hissed through clenched teeth. "Just…one…more!" Mustering his last ounce of will power he forced his weary arms to move, pushing upward inch by inch until, with a final Herculean effort, he locked the pitiless weight into place and collapsed in a heap on the floor. "That's it," he gasped; his chest heaving. "I'm done."

Sheen regarded him with arms folded across his chest, seeming less than impressed. "I don't know, Carl," he commented. "I think there's more to weight training than just putting the weights on the bar. You're supposed raise the bar over your head or at least try lifting it off the floor or something."

Carl's only response to Sheen's observation was a long drawn-out whimper of protest and the sound of him using his inhaler. After Jimmy's sudden and unexplained departure Sheen had contacted the Palace Head of Staff to locate a suitable facility for beginning Carl's training. She in turn had contacted the High Captain of the Royal Guard, who quickly set up a private corner in the Royal Guard's training facility in the basement. Sheen and Carl learned that the Royal Guard lived and trained in the palace, as their duty was to protect and serve the royal family, and that during their stay the humans were considered an extension of that duty. Sheen had been curious as to why the princess had been permitted to leave with Cindy and Libby without an escort when four guards had accompanied here when she had first greeted the humans.

The high captain seemed had amused at the question. "What makes you certain she doesn't have an escort?"

"I didn't see anyone," had been Sheen's response.

"You never will. The guards that you may see will always be there as a matter of propriety, but there are always unseen guards present to keep Her Highness safe. I'm kept informed of her whereabouts every five chronals and there are always more reserves on call in the unlikely event a situation arises that the assigned guards cannot handle alone."

"Why do you have hidden guards?" Carl had asked. "Wouldn't having guards everyone can see keep people from trying anything?"

The guard had nodded. "It probably would. But Princess Leama has her royal duties to perform. By placing her in such a cage every minute she would be incapable of effectively fulfilling her many obligations. It would also make her appear weak and fearful and perhaps encourage her enemies to strike, rather than discourage them." He shook his head. "No, it is necessary that it be done this way. The Royal Guard must be the most vigilant, responsive, and resourceful of all in Her Highness' service, but it is a burden we are proud to bear."

Once the training area was set up Sheen got to work attempting to train Carl for the up coming fight. Unfortunately, as he had stated earlier, all he had to go on was the fight movies he had watched.

"Now listen up, kid," Sheen had told Carl in a gruff voice, "to prepare for a 45-minute fight you have train hard for 45,000 minutes, and you haven't trained even one. Why is that?"

"We just started," was Carl's answer.

"Oh. Right. Well, the first thing we gotta do here is we gotta build up your strength. So I want you to work those weights. Ya hear me?"

"Sheen, why are you talking that way?" Carl had asked, moving away uncomfortably. "I said I don't like that."

"Hey, who's training who here?" Sheen had bellowed. "Ya want answers to questions, go on a quiz show. But don't tell me how to train fighters. I've been training fighters since…since…" Sheen had paused to think about that.

"This morning?"

"Well, yeah, but that's longer than you've ever done it."

Carl had hung his head and begun setting up the free weights, muttering, "I wish Jimmy were here." He was still wishing for this fifteen minutes later, after he had exhausted himself by placing the smallest weights he could find on the weight bar. Despite Sheen's threats and pleas he was still lying inert on the exercise mat when Princess Leama appeared, curious to observe how his training was going. Despite feeling fatigued Carl struggled to a sitting position in a poor pantomime of a sit-up.

"Good day, Carl," the princess said. "Is all going well for you?"

"Yeah, pretty well," Carl said patting his stomach. "I'm just doing some reps to tighten the old abs for the fight. You know."

The princess nodded. "Yes. I have seen similar exercises done by the warrior caste. Have you done many today?"

"He's just done a personal best," answered Sheen truthfully before Carl could reply. "And that was after working the weights." Carl looked at Sheen, not certain whether to be grateful or angry.

"Very impressive," the princess commented, sounding truly impressed and making up Carl's mind to feel grateful. "I have been speaking with Cindy and Libby and have learned that your species can choose their path in life. Is that so?"

"Yeah, pretty much," Carl replied.

"So it is true that you were not born a warrior, and yet despite this you choose to fight for the honor of your planet?"

"Uh…" Carl hesitated. "Sure, I guess."

The princess looked and sounded terribly impressed, and Carl found it hard to think of anything but the admiring gaze she was giving him. "How noble! For one to battle for a greater cause without the skills or instinct of a warrior is…"

"Suicide?" suggested Sheen.

"…magnificent," the princess finished.

"Yeah, I'm going to go with her answer," Carl added, as though in a trance.

"Speaking of the fight," interjected Sheen, "when exactly is the fight?"

"Why, the day after tomorrow," the princess replied with some surprise. "Did you not know?"

"It must have slipped my mind," offered Carl, still thinking of how the princess had said 'magnificent'. "I'll be ready. I just hope this Imax guy –"

"Vermax."

"Right, him. I just hope that he'll be ready to bring it to me."

"Bring what to you?" Princess Leama asked, confused.

"Figure of speech," explained Sheen. "He means he hopes that Vermax will be ready to put up a good fight."

"Oh, assuredly. I understand that he is ranked Number 4 in the galaxy."

This brought Carl out of his reverie. "In the galaxy?"

"Oh, yes. He is the best in his class on Felangie."

Sheen scoffed. "No problem. When it comes to heavyweights, Carl is the best in our class on Earth."

The princess smiled and Carl found himself unable to take his eyes off that smile. "I can believe that. He has a noble nature and valiant spirit. Although Vermax represents Felangie, I wish you the best of luck, Carl Wheezer of Earth. Good day."

"Yes, it is," Carl managed to get out as Princess Leama departed. "What a nice princess," he said aloud after she had gone.

"Yeah, what a nice princess." Sheen scowled and shook his head. "Ya got a ticker problem, kid."

Carl looked at his watch. "I do? Maybe there's a watch repair shop around here somewhere."

"No, Carl, I mean your head is on the princess and not on the fight. That's a sure recipe for disaster. You've got to stop thinking about her until after the fight is over."

Carl looked dubious. "I don't know if I can."

"Well, you better." Sheen leaned forward and said, "Just remember, women weaken legs."

"They do?" Carl blinked in confusion. "How?"

"I'm not sure," Sheen replied thoughtfully. "Maybe it's because they kick you in the shins a lot, like Libby does to me." He spread his hands in frustrated confusion. "I mean, just try complimenting that girl on shaking her bodacious booty."

"Doesn't 'bodacious' mean 'big'?"

"It can."

"Well," Carl said reasonably, "maybe girls don't like people telling them that they have a big booty."

Sheen thought about it. "Good point. I hadn't thought of that."

"How's it going, guys?" a familiar voice said.

Sheen and Carl turned to see Cindy and Libby entering the training area. "Not too bad, Libby. All done shopping?"

Libby nodded emphatically. "You got that right. I think I'm spoiled for life now." She suddenly winced and sat down, rubbing sneakered foot. "I think I may be ruined for life, too. I feel like I've walked twenty miles today."

"Me too," agreed Cindy.

"Oh, that's no problem," said. Carl. "Jimmy made some stuff to put on our shoes. It makes walking and standing a lot easier. Sheen and I already put some on our shoes."

Cindy sighed. "If figures that brainiac would do something like that, but since your shoes haven't dissolved it sounds like a plan to me. Where is Neutron?"

Sheen shrugged. "I dunno. He had to leave for a while, but he said he'd be back soon."

"Well, where did he go?" Libby wanted to know.

Sheen shrugged again. "He didn't say. But he'll be back pretty soon."

Cindy had a feeling that something was wrong. As a newcomer on the Felangie she couldn't imagine anything that would compel Jimmy to leave Carl without saying anything, especially when Jimmy had traveled 30 light-years to reach him. "How long has he been gone?"

"Well, he left about half an hour after you did, so…"

"Then he's been gone for over three hours." Cindy looked worried and shook her head. "It doesn't make sense that he'd leave without saying anything. And if he's not back yet something must be wrong."

"Hey, don't sweat it," Sheen assured her. "I mean, we're all royal guests here. Messing with Jimmy is like messing with the princess. Who in their right might would try that?"

Cindy's eyes narrowed in growing suspicion as they others looked on. "Exactly. Who? And more importantly, why?"

End of Part 12.

Author's Notes:

A question arose as to the meaning of the ending of the last chapter when it stated that Jimmy was "wrong on both counts". Basically it was referring to his assumptions about Carl being safe and him being back soon, although I expect this chapter has filled in a few pieces about that.

As most readers will have guessed by now the story will be going on for a while longer than my previous stories. Part of this is because some readers have requested longer stories and there are some parts of this story that can't be rushed. In compensation for the longer story I'm doing what I can to put out new chapters are quickly as possible while keeping the chapter lengths fairly reasonable.