The Eye of the Llama

by Gary D. Snyder

Part 16:

Cindy completed the call and left the booth to rejoin Libby. She was not surprised to find the chauffeur waiting with Libby for her. Libby shrugged, subtly signaling that she had not summoned him and had no idea what had prompted him to come inside. Seeing the expressions on their faces the chauffeur hastened to explain his presence.

"You were in here for a considerable amount of time, Miss. I was beginning to worry. I am responsible for your welfare. Her Highness would be most irate if anything were to happen to either of you."

I'll bet, thought Cindy. But all she said was, "Of course."

"Will either of you be needing transport anywhere else, Miss?"

Cindy thought about it. She had done everything in her power to help Jimmy, and that situation was now completely out of her hands. With Jimmy gone it seemed that helping Carl was all she could do until he was back. "I don't think so. I suppose we should be returning to the palace. I expect that it's almost suppertime."

"Indeed yes, Miss. I expect you're both famished." He half-turned and gestured with an open hand towards the door. "Shall we go? I understand that Her Highness has requested a special Earth repast in honor of your visit."

"Great," said Cindy listlessly as she and Libby trudged towards the exit. "I can hardly wait."

The ride back to the palace was made in silence. Cindy had a lot to think about and Libby could tell from discreet signs that Cindy wasn't ready to discuss them with her. She also had to remind herself of what Cindy had said regarding the driver and the princess. While it was still difficult for her to believe that their hosts had any sinister intentions it made sense not to divulge too much until they knew for sure. Upon returning to the palace the girls were each met by a personal servant who escorted them to their rooms, helped them freshen up, assisted them in donning fashionable dinner attire, and escorted them to the spacious dining room. The Carl and Sheen were already there in what was apparently the Felangian equivalent of a dinner jacket and tie.

"Won't the princess be dining this evening?" Libby asked the butler standing beside her chair. There were several other butlers around the table, standing slightly behind and to the side of each occupied chair. In addition there was one more standing next to the chair at the head of the table.

"Certainly, Miss," the butler replied patiently. "But it would never do for Her Highness to wait for the guests to arrive. It is customary for the guests to arrive first and for them to await Her Highness."

Makes sense, thought Libby. It's good to be the king…or princess. "Is there anything I should do when she arrives? Curtsy or something?"

"Simply stand when she enters the room, and resume your seat when she takes hers and bids you to be seated."

After a few minutes the princess arrived and took her place at the head of the table, the guests standing and sitting as the butler had advised Libby to. Apparently Sheen and Carl had been briefed as well, as they performed the required courtesies without any prompting. Cindy was somewhat accustomed the ritual, as she had on occasion been called upon to perform them at her mother's fanciest dinner parties. Despite the long day and their worries about Jimmy both Libby and Cindy found that they were famished and were curious as to the Earth cuisine they would be served. The meal began with a hot vegetable soup, followed by a cool, crisp salad, and then by several other unfamiliar but tasty courses. When the main course was brought in they were prepared for just about anything, from fresh lobster with drawn butter to crowned rack of lamb, but when the ornate covers were removed from the silver platters it took them a moment to respond.

"Hot dogs and rolls?" Libby finally asked, staring at her plate.

"Yes," the princess replied proudly. "I understand that it is quite a popular dish on your planet."

"Oh…yes," Cindy answered, recovering from her surprise. "It is."

The princess beamed. "And if I am correct, it is suitable for vegetarians such as yourselves. I have heard from reliable sources that they do not put real meat in hot dogs."

Libby stalled, trying to think of something to say. "Well…I've heard something like that, too," she finally answered.

"Excellent. I hope that the dish is prepared to your satisfaction." The princess picked up a knife and fork and began slicing off bite-sized portions of hot dog and bun. After carefully chewing and swallowing the first portion she announced, "It is quite tasty. Perhaps I shall have this at all my formal receptions."

"Certainly, if it pleases Your Highness," commented Cindy trying to keep a straight face. "Well, this is a first. I've never eaten a hot dog with silverware before," she whispered to Libby.

"I just hope they didn't take 'hot dog' literally when they made these," Libby whispered back.

"So, Carl, how is your training going?" Princess Leama asked, playing the part of attentive host.

"Oh, hey, great," Carl replied enthusiastically. "I was getting totally ripped today."

"Actually, Carl, 'getting ripped' means something besides tearing your sweatpants," Sheen explained.

"Oh. Okay," Carl answered, looking crestfallen.

"The Captain of the Guard informs me that you have a most unusual training style," the princess continued, attempting to keep the conversation going. "He says that you should prove a most formidable and challenging adversary for Vermax."

Carl brightened at that. "Well, I'll sure try," he said. "One of the guards promised to show me the way I'm supposed to fight in the competition."

The princess nodded. "I'm pleased to hear that. No doubt our combat styles and methods are unfamiliar to you. Several of the Royal Guards have some experience in competitions and I asked that they provide whatever assistance they could."

"Well, I sure appreciate that," said Carl.

"So do I," agreed Sheen. "I mean, Carl is pretty good at dodging eggs but he definitely needs help with smashing pumpkins."

This surprised Libby. "You have him listening to rock music?"

"No, he had me breaking melons with my head," Carl answered.

"Why?" Cindy asked.

Sheen looked disgusted. "Because he was too chicken to try breaking the cinder blocks. He wouldn't even break the pumpkins until I let him carve them into jack o'lanterns first."

"Why are you having Carl break pumpkins with his head?" Libby wanted to know.

"I figure he's going to take some head shots," Sheen explained. "This should toughen him up."

"Or give him a concussion, put him in the hospital, and have him forfeit the fight," Cindy argued.

Sheen looked guilty. "Yeah, well, that was Plan B," he said.

The princess had been looking from one to the other during this exchange. "Most interesting," was all she could say.

"Wait a minute," Libby suddenly said. "Where did you get the pumpkins?"

"Oh, those," answered Sheen. "I got them from the kitchen."

"Yes," the Princess Leama said. "I requested that the head baker prepare a traditional Earth dessert. He selected pumpkin pie and there were plenty left over for Sheen and Carl to use. I hope you will enjoy it."

"I love pumpkin pie," said Libby.

"So do I," agreed Cindy.

"I'm all for it," enthused Sheen.

"Bring it on," added Carl, rubbing his hands.

With that the dinner plates were cleared away and the dessert brought in. It was pumpkin pie, although not the pumpkin pie the humans were accustomed to eating. Rather than turning the pumpkins into a custard filling the head baker had simply diced them, added some spices, and baked them in a pie shell much the way most fruit pies are made.

"On, second thought, I guess I should watch those carbs," said Libby in a queasy voice.

"Too much of a good thing really isn't a good thing," Cindy offered weakly.

"And I just remembered that I'm allergic to Hallowe'en," added Sheen.

"Bring it on," repeated Carl, stuffing forkfuls of the dessert into his mouth. "Wow, this is even better than those gut chunks," he mumbled, his mouth full. He held out a forkful of pie to the others. "Don't you guys want any?" When Sheen, Cindy, and Libby only gave him incredulous stares he simply shrugged and continued his voracious assault on the pie. The princess didn't seem at all disturbed or offended.

"He certainly has the appetite of an athlete," was all she said as she daintily finished her slice of pie.

Following dinner the four young people took their leave of Princess Leama and retired to their quarters for the evening. After a few minutes Cindy called them together for a meeting in her room. She knew that they were taking a chance as any or all of their rooms might be bugged, but she knew that they had to take that risk.

"What's up, Cindy?" asked Sheen. "They were having a really cool science fiction movie on TV. Or maybe it was another nature documentary. It's hard to tell when you're on another planet."

"Don't tell me that you're still suspicious," said Libby.

"You bet I am," said Cindy quietly. "And keep your voices down."

"Suspicious of what?" whispered Sheen.

"Cindy thinks that maybe the princess isn't being totally straight with us," Libby answered soto voce.

"But she seems nice," objected Carl. "I think that maybe she even likes me." He sighed loudly. "Did you notice her name is almost like 'llama'?"

"Keep it down!" hissed Cindy. "Listen, did you notice that not once did she ask about where Jimmy was?'

Sheen considered this. "Well, maybe she figured he was out sightseeing or something."

"Then why wasn't there a setting laid out for him?" Cindy pointed out.

The others thought back, trying to remember if there had been an unused place setting or not. "Wasn't there?" Libby finally asked.

"No, there wasn't," Cindy said firmly. "And for a planet that's supposedly so unfamiliar with Earth, how does she know so much about the foods we eat? And getting the ingredients for them?"

"Actually, I wouldn't call that dessert food that we eat," commented Libby.

"I would," said Carl, licking his fingers.

"That's beside the point. You probably remember that she said something about 'reliable sources'. Something is going on here, and I'm certain that Princess Leama or someone in this place definitely knew that Jimmy wasn't going to be around for dinner."

"You think maybe she had something to do with his disappearance earlier?" asked Libby.

Cindy shook her head. "I don't know. But I'm sure she knows about it. She may even have known it would happen."

Carl looked worried. "Do you know where Jimmy is?"

"Halfway to Yolkus by now, unless…" Cindy's voice faded away.

"Unless what?" asked Sheen.

"Yeah, Cindy. Unless what? You never said who you called or what came of that," Libby added. "It sounded then like you had a plan."

Cindy shook her head. "I can't tell you."

"Because someone might be listening?" asked Carl.

"Well, that," Cindy answered slowly. "And because I don't know myself how it will work out." She let out a long slow breath, her normally clear green eyes clouded with worry. "All we can do is hope for the best."

End of Part 16