The Eye of the Llama

by Gary D. Snyder

Part 21:

As Carl rose to confront Vermax for the last time Sheen called, "Okay, Carl! Just do what you did the last round and you'll go great!"

"I'll try," Carl called back in an uncertain voice. Although bouncing around the ring like a rubber ball hadn't really injured him it had worn him out, leaving him feeling strangely weary. It was a major effort for him to raise his arms or move his legs and he found it difficult to even keep his balance. What worried him further was that the last few blows he had received from Vermax had stung him, and he had no doubt that being hit again would at the least hurt considerably. He circled towards the champion cautiously, wondering how he would get through this round.

Vermax was also slow in closing with Carl, seeming just as anxious as the human to avoid any immediate confrontation. Cindy noticed this and was worried. Was Vermax just playing with his opponent, waiting to crush Carl as he had in the first round? Or was there more to it? "Hang in there, Carl," she breathed softly. "Just a few minutes more."

"What?" asked Libby, looking at her.

Cindy shook her head. "Nothing."

The fight commentators were also quick to notice Vermax's seeming reluctance and speculated on what this might mean.

"That last round may have taken more out of the champion than anyone thought, Klag," commented Derl.

"He does seem to have lost some of his characteristic zip," Klag agreed. "That knockdown may really have shaken him up."

"In more ways than one, perhaps. No one has ever downed the champ, or even gone this far before. He has to be wondering now if he can take this opponent down."

The truth was that Vermax was considerably confused and in doubt. He had never met an opponent with the sort of resilience that Carl, with the help of the super-elasticizer, had demonstrated so far. It was also true that he had never been knocked down and Vermax knew that it was sheer luck that had saved him from being counted out. The unthinkable possibility that he might be knocked out for certain this round gnawed at him, slowing his judgement and his reflexes. Even despite these factors Vermax might have tried to finish the fight quickly had he not also been utterly exhausted. No one had ever gone the distance with him before and Vermax's great strength alone had always been enough to grant him victory. He had never needed great stamina then. Now at the end he found it wanting.

"The two opponents are circling each other, each looking for an opening."

"They're respect for each other has got to have grown during this match, Derl. Each of them know that they've been in a fight."

"Oh, there's a jab from Vermax that nearly catches the human! Carl barely managed to get out of the way that time."

"I'd have to say that there wasn't much behind that punch, though. That looked almost like a feint to me, Derl."

"All part of Vermax' strategy, I'm sure."

"Indeed."

Vermax swung again at Carl, this time connecting with the boy's head. Carl staggered sideways, but did not fall, as sheer momentum rather than strength had driven the blow. He steadied himself and moved forward again. Vermax again jabbed, his torso twisting as he did so. Carl sidestepped it and then, remembering the advice of the Royal Guard captain, he stepped in and drove a padded fist at the joint between Vermax's side plates. The punch had virtually nothing behind it, but Vermax nearly sagged to one knee just the same as the punch hit home. The Felangian sluggishly swung a massive arm sideways in self-defense, but Carl had remembered to roll backwards out of reach and Vermax sliced only air. Carl clambered to his feet, still tired but unhurt.

"Keep after him, Carl!" Sheen yelled.

Carl stepped forward again as Vermax slowly straightened. Again a huge fist flew Carl's way, and again Carl sidestepped it and followed through with a feeble blow to the side. Again Vermax staggered, but this time did not seem to have the energy for a counter-punch. Instead he drew his arm in, protecting the vulnerable side, and backed away from Carl with his other arm positioned directly in front of him. Cindy, Libby, and Princess Leama listened to the voices coming over the speaker with a mixture of disbelief and hope.

"I'm not sure what I'm seeing here, Klag. It appears that Vermax is fighting a purely defensive battle now. This is unheard of for the champion."

"A stunning turn of events to be sure. The human Carl appears to be exhausted, and barely on his feet, but he actually looks to be pressing the attack."

Klag was not mistaken. There comes a point in human endeavor where pain and fatigue strip away all thought or reason until only the driving purpose remains. Carl had reached that point, pushed beyond his limits by the hyper-oxygenated formula and super-elasticizer compound. He was weary and exhausted, more so than he had ever felt in his life, but stumbled forward doggedly to achieve the goal that was all that now remained to him. He could not remember the reasons why or even who had told him to do so. He knew only that it was important that he keep fighting the giant before him until the end and that he must not stop. With his failing strength he leapt at Vermax, causing the Felangian to instinctively bring both hands in front of him. Upon landing Carl then sprang to the Vermax's side and began pounding weakly at the champion's vulnerable spot. Too weak now to even cover up Vermax sidestepped, attempting to break free of the persistent assault, his knees starting to buckle. Sheen shouted encouragement, but it was lost in the roar of the crowd. Both Klag and Derl could barely get their words at.

"He's chopping the champion down…"

"It's might just be a question of time now…"

"…champion is starting to crumble…"

"…determination of this human is incredible…"

"…don't know what's keeping Vermax up…"

"…looks like this might be the final punch…"

"…could be the end of this fight…"

"…here it comes…"

Summoning the last of his energy Carl drew hi fist back and steadied himself for a second before throwing himself forward, all his weight and waning strength behind the blow. It struck Vermax squarely on the intended joint, rocking the Felangian and causing Carl to stagger forward from the momentum of his punch. For a split second everything seemed frozen in time, with Carl struggling to retain his balance, Vermax reeling from the impact, and the crowd motionless in stunned anticipation. Then Vermax's knees folded and he toppled forward onto the mat just as the bell sounded, ending the round and the fight.

Carl had gone the distance.

Around the ring pandemonium reigned. Sheen, Vermax's manager, and the fight official rushed into the ring to assist the two combatants. Carl collapsed wearily into Sheen's arms as Vermax struggled to his feet with the aid of his manager. Between gasps for air all Vermax could say was, "Ain't gonna be no rematch. Ain't gonna be no rematch."

"Don't want one," Carl gasped back as Sheen half-carried him to his corner. He sucked greedily on his inhaler and felt the burning in his oxygen-starved lungs subside as new strength slowly returned to his limbs.

"Boy, that was great, Carl!" Sheen exulted. "We gotta find a fighting nickname for you. You know, something like the Terran Terror, or the Retroville Slugger, or something like that in case you fight again."

Carl thought about it. "Well, my mom calls me 'Mommy's Favorite'."

Sheen stared at him. "'Mommy's Favorite'? What kind of fighting name is that?"

Carl sounded subdued. "A lot of kids used to try beating me up when they heard it."

"Oh, yeah. I forgot," Sheen replied in a thoughtful tone. Then he brightened. "But I'll bet they don't try picking a fight with you anymore."

Carl looked hopeful. "Really?"

"Maybe. I guess it depends on if they get galactic cable and saw the fight."

The official had been conversing with the fight judges and was now in the center of the ring with a handful of forms. As he began speaking the hubbub in the arena died. Cindy, Libby, and Princess Leama leaned forward to hear as well.

"We have a split decision," the official announced, his voice echoing in the silent arena. "The judges score it 2 to 1 for Vermax, champion of Felangie."

This announcement was greeted with a mixture of cheers and catcalls from the spectators. Sheen in particular was outraged. "What? A 2-to-1 decision for Vermax? What fight were the judges watching? I demand a recount! Or a rematch! Or a…a…rerun or something!"

"Don't harangue the officials, Sheen," Carl begged. "I don't want to fight Vermax anymore today."

"But we were robbed!" Sheen argued. "There's pride at stake here!" He suddenly stopped and stared at Carl. "'Harangue'? What does that mean?" Just as suddenly he shook his head. "No, it doesn't matter. We were cheated!"

"But –" Carl tried.

"Listen, all of you!" Sheen yelled at the crowd as he pointed at Carl. "I don't care what those judges say, this here's the guy that won the fight!" A chorus of voices broke out in apparent agreement with what Sheen said, while just as many spectators seemed to disagree. The official and judges looked troubled, but shook their heads to indicate that the decision would stand. Vermax hobbled to the center of the ring and lifted his hands in triumph for a brief second before dropping them exhaustedly to his sides.

In the royal box Cindy sagged back into her seat in relief. Win, lose, or draw Carl had kept the fight going for the hour Jimmy had asked for with no permanent physical damage. Now that the fight was over she wondered idly what Jimmy had intended and why it was so important for the fight to finish.

In his own private booth Minister Khormak clenched his fists in fury. Beyond any reason Vermax had not only failed to crush the human in a humiliating defeat, but the fight had actually ended in a contested decision. He had hoped to have a clean Felangian victory to simplify matters. But he could still salvage the situation. It would be risky, he knew, but the result of the fight left him no choice. The time for subtlety was over.

End of Part 21

Author's Notes:

After a longer than anticipated delay the story resumes again. The climax is coming so there's not too much longer to wait.

Some readers may have noted that the incident with Carl drinking the super-elasticizer and it's results the last chapter seemed familiar. This is because a similar incident was the origin of a minor DC comic book hero – Bouncing Boy of the Legion of Super-Heroes.